Conveyor belt drive

Powered Conveyor belt

An end-driven conveyor belt is exactly what it sounds like. The drive unit is located at the end of the belt and drives it by setting the idler roller on the conveyor belt in motion. Ideally, the drive unit should be located at the end of the belt, not the beginning, to “pull” the belt or chain. This type of drive can also be called a “head drive” since the goods are transported toward the drive unit, the “head of the conveyor.” There are also end-driven Conveyor Systems with the drive unit located at the start of the belt. These Conveyor Systems drive the belt by “pushing” the belt or chain, which means driving the conveyor’s first roller.

Centered Driving

A conveyor system with a center drive, also known as a mid-mounted drive, means—just as the name suggests—that the drive unit is located along the length of the conveyor belt. Either underneath or on the side. This means that the drive unit does not drive any of the end rollers, but rather a drive roller located beneath the belt. This is typically constructed using two return rollers, one on each side of a larger roller driven by the drive unit. This type of more complex drive system means that these Conveyor Systems are usually more expensive than end-driven Conveyor Systems.

Integrated Drive

In both previous drive types, the drive unit is mounted externally on the conveyor. In this type of drive, however, the motor is located inside the drive roller. Conveyors with an integrated drive can have the drive roller positioned at one end or centered; however, it does not have to be in the middle.

Location of the Drive Unit

The drive unit’s position doesn’t just refer to whether it’s at the end or centered, but also to which side the motor is mounted on. Left and right are determined based on whether you were riding the treadmill facing forward; in that case, your left side is where the unit is mounted. In an integrated drive system, the motor isn’t mounted on either side, so “left” and “right” refer to which side the cable is on.

Direct vs. Indirect Drive

With externally mounted motors, it is possible to conveyor belt have both direct and indirect drive. This therefore does not apply to integrated drive.

Direct drive is a less complex option and is therefore usually the most economical choice. In a direct drive configuration, the motor drives the conveyor’s drive roller directly. Indirect drive, on the other hand, means that the motor drives the drive roller via, for example, a series of gears or a chain. The chain, also known as a timing belt, is then referred to as the drive train. Indirect drive can result in power loss between the motor and the gears/sprockets. However, this configuration is very useful because it allows for a change in speed ratio between the motor and the drive roller—which makes it possible to run the conveyor belt at precise speeds or at speeds that would otherwise be unattainable.

If you want the ability to operate the conveyor belt at multiple speeds, a variable frequency drive is worth considering. A variable frequency drive is a suitable option if you have individual conveyor belts that are not controlled by a control system. If you have an existing control system, you can often connect the conveyor belt to it and use the control system to regulate the speed.

What to Consider When Choosing a Type of Drive System

When it comes to choosing the type of drive for your future conveyor belt, there are three main questions to ask yourself:

• What kind of Belt conveyors Do you need it?
• What kind of motivation do you need?
• How much space do you have?

The type of conveyor system you need is the most important factor. This is because not all conveyor systems are compatible with all types of drive systems. Furthermore, both the available drive power and the space you need depend on the type of conveyor system you choose. For example, if there is no room for a motor at the conveyor’s inlet or outlet, a centered or integrated drive system is required.