12373980

TYPES OF MATERIAL HANDLING
EQUIPMENT
MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT
Material handling includes a number of operations that can be

executed either by hand or by mechnical means or devicse to
convey material and to reduce the human drudgery.
The most common types of mechanical devices for grain handling
are;
1. Belt conveyor
2. Bucket elevator
3. Screw conveyor
4. Chain Conveyor
5. Pneumatic conveyor
BELT CONVEYORS
A belt conveyor is an endless belt operating between

two pulleys with its load supported on idlers. The belt
may be flat for transporting bagged material or V-
shaped. The belt conveyor consists of a belt, drive
mechanism and end pulleys, idlers and loading and
discharge devices. On the belt conveyor baggage/
product lie still on the surface of belt and there is no
relative motion between the product and belt. This
results in generally no damage to material.
Diagram of a belt conveyor
 On the belt conveyor baggage/ product lie still on the surface of
belt and there is no relative motion between the product and belt.
This results in generally no damage to material.
 Belt can be run at higher speeds, so, large carrying capacities are
possible.
 Horizontally the material can be transported to longer distance.
 The initial cost of belt conveyor is high for short distances, but
for longer distances the initial cost of belt conveying system is
low.
BUCKET ELEVATOR
A bucket elevator consists of buckets attached to a chain or
belt that revolves around two pulleys one at top and the other at
bottom. The vertical lift of the elevator may range between few
metres to more than 50 m. Capacities of bucket elevators may vary
from 2 to 1000 t/hr. Bucket elevators are broadly classified into
two general types, (1) spaced bucket elevators and (2) continuous
bucket elevators.
The spaced bucket elevators are further classified as,
(1) centrifugal discharge elevators,
(2) positive-discharge elevators,
(3) marine leg elevators and
(4) high-speed elevators.
The continuous bucket elevators are classified as
(1) super capacity bucket elevators and
(2) internal-discharge bucket elevators.
 The bucket elevator is a very efficient device for the
vertical conveyance of bulk grains.
 Bucket elevators with belts are employed in food
industries for vertical conveyance of grains, derivatives
and flours.
 Bucket elevators are usually mounted at a fixed location,
but they can also be mounted in a mobile frame.
 Bucket elevators have high capacities and it is a fairly
cheap means of vertical conveyance.
 It requires limited horizontal space and the operation of
conveying is enclosed in housing, thus it is dust free and
fairly quite.
 The bucket elevator has limited wear problem since the
product is enclosed in buckets.
Bucket elevator's discharge methods
The bucket elevator's capacity mainly depends on bucket size,
conveying speed, bucket design and spacing, the way of loading
and unloading, the bucket and the characteristic of bulk material.
Belt speed is the first critical factor to consider. Bucket elevators
with a belt carrier can be used at fairly high speeds of 2.5 to 4 m/ s.
 The main parts of a bucket elevator are,
(1) elevator head section,
(2) elevator boot section,
(3) elevator legs,
(4) belts for bucket elevator and
(5) buckets.
SCREW CONVEYOR
The screw conveyor consists of a tubular or U-shaped trough
in which a shaft with spiral screw revolves. The screw shaft is
supported hanger bearings at ends. The rotation of screw pushes
the grain along the trough. A typical screw conveyor is shown in
the following Figure. The screw conveyor is used in grain
handling facilities, animal feed industries and other installations
for conveying of products generally for short distances. Screw
conveyor requires relatively high power and is more susceptible
to wear than other types of conveyors. The pitch of a standard
screw which is the distance from the centre of one thread to the
centre of the next thread is equal to its diameter. For example a
10 cm diameter screw has a pitch of 10 cm.
Screw conveyor
As the screw conveyor's driving mechanism is simpler, and no

tensioning device is required, the initial cost of the conveyor is
lower than any other conveyor with the same length and capacity.
Screw conveyor details
1. screw diameter 2. pitch of screw 3. screw length
PNEUMATIC CONVEYOR
 The pneumatic conveyor moves granular materials in a closed
duct by a high velocity air stream. Pneumatic conveying is a
continuous and flexible transportation method. The material is
carried in pipelines either by suction or blowing pressure of air
stream. The granular materials because of high air pressure are
conveyed in dispersed condition. For dispersion of bulk
material, air velocities in the range of 15-30 m/s is necessary.
The pneumatic conveying system needs a source of air blowing
or suction, means of feeding the product into the conveyor,
ducts and a cyclone or receiving hopper for collection of
product. There are three basic systems of pneumatic conveying.
These are pressure or blowing system, suction or vacuum
system, and combined push-pull or suck blow system.
Separation of product particles from air by means of a fabric filter
 For separation of product particles from air, air-product separators
are used. Cyclones are mostly used to collect the particles. Cyclone
is a device which removes the bulk of the product particle from the
conveying air stream by centrifugal force. In some cyclone, a fabric
filter is attached to remove residual dust and fine product particles
from the air stream
Limitations of Pneumatic Conveying
 Erosion of solid surfaces and equipment surfaces by solid particles
with conveying air stream.
 In case of bends or misaligned sections, the erosion problem
becomes severe.
 Chances of repeated impacts between the particles and the solid
surfaces are high. Due to such impacts, product degradation results.
CHAIN CONVEYOR
 Chain Conveyor
A chain is a reliable machine component, which
transmits power by means of tensile forces, and is used
primarily for power transmission and conveyance systems.
The function and uses of chain are similar to a belt. Chains
are divided into five types based on material of composition
or method of construction.
Cast iron chain
Cast steel chain
Forged chain
Steel chain
Plastic chain

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TYPES OF MATERIAL HANDLING

Material handling includes a number of operations that can be

A belt conveyor is an endless belt operating between

As the screw conveyor's driving mechanism is simpler, and no

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