A conveyor is a machine that transports bulk or single-packaged goods from the loading point to the unloading point evenly along a certain route in a continuous manner. Compared with lifting machinery, the conveyed goods are continuously transported along a certain route when working; the loading and unloading of working parts are carried out during the movement, without stopping, and there is less starting and braking; the bulk goods to be transported are distributed on the load-bearing parts in a continuous form, and the conveyed component goods are also moved in a continuous manner in a certain order.

Since conveyors can continuously transport a large amount of goods in one area, the handling cost is very low, the handling time is more accurate, and the flow of goods is stable, they are widely used in modern logistics systems. From the perspective of a large number of automated stereoscopic warehouses, logistics distribution centers, and large freight yards at home and abroad, most of their equipment, except for lifting machinery, are continuous conveying and handling systems, such as in-and-out warehouse conveying systems, automatic sorting conveying systems, automatic loading and unloading conveying systems, etc. The entire handling system is controlled by a central computer, forming a complete set of complex and complete cargo conveying and handling systems. A large number of goods or materials entering and leaving the warehouse, loading and unloading, sorting, sorting, identification, and measurement are all completed by the conveying system. In modern cargo handling systems, conveyors play an important role.

The conveyor has the following characteristics.

① It can use a higher moving speed and a stable speed.

② Higher productivity.

③ Under the same productivity, it is light in weight, small in size, low in cost, and low in driving power.

④ The load on the transmission mechanical parts is low and the impact is small.

⑤ Compact structure, easy to manufacture and maintain.

⑥ The fixed action of the conveying goods line is single, and it is easy to realize automatic control.

⑦ The load is uniform during the working process, and the power consumed is almost unchanged.

⑧ It can only be transported along a certain route, and each model can only be used for a certain type of goods. It is generally not suitable for transporting single items with heavy weight, and the versatility is poor.

⑨ Most continuous conveyors cannot pick up goods by themselves, so certain feeding equipment is required.

Classification of conveyors.

According to different installation methods, conveyors can be divided into two categories: fixed conveyors and mobile conveyors. Fixed conveyors refer to the entire equipment that is fixedly installed in one place and cannot be moved anymore. It is mainly used in fixed conveying occasions, such as special docks, warehouse moving, conveying between factory production processes, receiving raw materials, and issuing finished products. It has the characteristics of large conveying volume, low unit power consumption and high efficiency. Mobile conveyor means that the whole equipment is installed on wheels and can be moved. It has the characteristics of high mobility, high utilization rate, and can arrange conveying operations in time to meet loading and unloading requirements. This type of equipment has a relatively low conveying capacity and a short conveying distance, and is suitable for small and medium-sized warehouses.

According to different structural characteristics, conveyors can be divided into conveyors with flexible traction parts and conveyors without flexible traction parts. The working characteristic of the flexible component conveyor is that the material or goods are transported in a certain direction through the continuous movement of the traction component. The traction component is a closed system of reciprocating circulation. Usually, one part transports the goods and the other part of the traction component returns. Common belt conveyors, slat chain conveyors, bucket elevators, vertical lifting conveyors, etc. The working characteristic of the non-flexible component conveyor is to use the rotational motion or vibration of the working component to transport the goods in a certain direction. Its conveying component does not have a reciprocating form. Common pneumatic conveyors include pneumatic conveyors, screw conveyors, vibrating conveyors, etc.

According to the different force forms of the transported goods, conveyors can be divided into several categories, such as mechanical, inertial, pneumatic, hydraulic, etc.; according to the nature of the goods, conveyors can be divided into continuous conveyors and intermittent conveyors. Continuous conveyors are mainly used for bulk cargo loading and unloading. Intermittent conveyors are mainly used to transport assembled unit cargo (i.e. packaged goods), so they are also called unit load conveyors.