Overhead conveyor

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An overhead conveyor system or (on a small scale ) an overhead conveyor is used to transport piece goods. A support profile is either suspended from the ceiling of the hall or, if the ceiling is too high, attached to an additional stand construction.

Carriages or so-called trolleys are moved on this support profile. Simple systems are driven by hand (by pushing the trolleys) or by a drag chain drive. The drag chain runs all the way around in a guide profile. A tensioning and drive station tightens the chain and generates the propulsion in the desired direction. At regular intervals, carriers that grip and pull the trolley are mounted on the drag chain .

The trolleys are loaded with the associated general cargo.

Typical process:

  • Loading station
  • one or more workstations
  • Unloading station
  • Empty trip to the loading station.

In the case of small systems, this results in a closed cycle. In large systems, branches (and thus switches for entry and exit) are the rule.

Such systems are generally used for rationalization.

Execution types

  • Manual overhead conveyor without drag chain: in the simplest case, the support profile is horizontal all the way around. In special cases, height differences can be overcome with elevators. The trolleys can usually be easily placed on or removed from the support profile (or hanging profile or rail) by hand.
  • Hand overhead conveyor with drag chain and without a separate support profile: in this case, the trolleys are firmly connected to the drag chain. Such systems are rare.
  • Hand overhead conveyor with drag chain and with a separate support profile: this is the industrial standard. In connection with the possible sub-tasks of order picking, storage and processing, there are various possibilities for rationalization.

Applications

A hand conveyor system is typical for small slaughterhouses. The beef or pork halves can be pushed to the workplace on hooks .

Overhead conveyors (with drag chains) are widespread in paint shops.

Clothing textiles are often picked with this. The truck bed can accommodate the trolleys.