Regardless of the products being conveyed or the processes with which the conveyor system interacts, all conveyor systems have the same basic components: belts, rollers, guides, bearings, and drives, to name a few.
These are the components that provide the power and motion that enable the conveyor system to function.
However, the one conveyor system component that is easy to overlook is also one of the most critical – the conveyor transfer plate.
In this post, we'll discuss conveyor transfer modules and plates, what they are, and why they're important to your conveyor system but often overlooked.
The conveyor transfer plate is the key part of the system that enables the things being conveyed to safely and efficiently move from one part of the conveyor system to another.
There are two types of transfer modes:
Transfer plates provide a smooth surface that allows for products to slide over the plate onto the next conveyor. Meanwhile...
Transfer Modules are constructed of an acetal frame and rollers or beads that provide a reduced friction solution for transfers.
And these two apply in two different transfer applications. Let's take a look at them.
An end transfer takes place when one conveyor system ends and another begins or products are deposited in an accumulation area, with a conveyor transfer plate making the connection between the two.
A side transfer features two conveyor systems connected perpendicularly, with one system feeding parts or finished products into the stream of the other system.
Both types of transfer take advantage of motion, gravity, and/or back pressure to move or push the conveyed products over the transfer modules and onto the next conveyor system or into an accumulation area.
So why are conveyor transfer modules and plates so important?
Because they have to efficiently and effectively handle the dynamic forces at play where two systems interact and enable products to safely and reliably make the transfer–often at different speeds and directions–without disruption.
Conveyor transfer plates, like the other components in a conveyor system, are subject to varying degrees of wear and tear, depending on the products being moved and their speed and volume.
Natural UHMW, oil-filled UHMW, or other oil-filled plastics are commonly used in producing transfer plates. These plates are often used in moving heavier, more stable items.
Transfer modules are produced from acetal with acetal beads and rollers of acetal or stainless steel rollers and are usually used for transferring smaller, lighter items.
To learn more about conveyor transfer plates and the various models and configurations available, contact the material handling systems experts at Slideways.