Conveyor belts are a popular material handling choice for many manufacturers. Composing many constituent parts, one of the most critical components is a conveyor bed. Furthermore, one can choose between either slider beds or roller beds in this regard. In this blog, Norpak Handling, manufacturers of quality conveyors in Port Hope, Ontario, will explore the definition of a conveyor bed and also examine which of the above-mentioned beds is the better choice for conveyor belts.
What Is A Conveyor Bed?
Conveyor beds are the base of a conveyor system which is responsible for supporting the entire structure. A properly installed conveyor bed can aid in safe and efficient transportation of unit loads on a conveyor. With the definition out of the way, it’s time to explore the two types of conveyor beds.
Slider Bed
A typical slider bed comprises a flat, sheet metal surface atop which the conveyor belt is laid out. The flat surface offers maximum stability for oddly shaped objects. Conversely, the friction between the underside of the belt and the top of the bed is pronounced. As a result, it is important to use a high-horsepower motor for such a bed configuration. However, in spite of these measures, the belt can face increased wear and tear over prolonged use. Therefore, they must be inspected routinely.
Roller Bed
As the name suggests, these beds are made of a series of conveyor rollers atop which the belt is laid. The conveyor roller offers smooth motion of the belt, resulting in less wear and tear. Therefore, they consume less power in the long run. However, the downside of these types of conveyor beds lies in the fact that the gaps between the conveyor rollers can be inefficient for oddly shaped objects. Moreover, the conveyor can’t operate at high speeds with this bed configuration.
You can count on us at Norpak to provide you with the best support for your conveyor systems. Offering a wide range of conveyors such as roller conveyors, belt conveyors, chain conveyors, and more, you can rest assured that our team is committed to providing you with complete solutions irrespective of the requirements. Contact us today for more in-depth information.
