A belt conveyor consists of two or more pulleys, with a continuous loop of material, the conveyor belt which rotates about them. One or both of the pulleys are powered, moving the belt and the material on the belt forward. The powered pulley is called the drive pulley while the non powered pulley is called the idler. There are two main industrial classes of belt conveyors; Those handling such as those moving boxes along inside a factory and bulk material handling such as those used to transport industrial and agricultural materials. Generally in outdoor locations. Generally companies providing general material handling type belt conveyors do not provide the conveyors for bulk material handling. In addition there are a number of commercial applications for belt conveyors such as those in grocery stores.

Conveyer Belt

A belt conveyor consists of two or more pulleys, with a continuous loop of material, the conveyor belt…

Two arrangements of pulley: crossed belt and uncrossed belt. The pulleys are constructed with two circles that have the radii labeled and tangent lines drawn (strings).

Pulley

Two arrangements of pulley: crossed belt and uncrossed belt. The pulleys are constructed with two circles…

"In the single fixed pulley (fig. 1) there is no mechanical advantage, the power and weight being equal. It may be considered as a lever of the first kind with equal arms. In the single movable pulley (fig. 2) where the cords are parallel there is a mechanical advantage, there being an equilibrium when the power is considered as a lever of the second kind, in which the distance of the power from the fulcrum is double hat of the weight from the fulcrum." -Marshall

Pulley

"In the single fixed pulley (fig. 1) there is no mechanical advantage, the power and weight being equal.…

"In a system of pulleys (figs. 3,4) in which the same string passes round any number of pulleys, and the parts of it between the pulleys are parallel, there is an equilibrium when the power is to the weight as 1 to the number of strings at the lower block" -Marshall

Pulley

"In a system of pulleys (figs. 3,4) in which the same string passes round any number of pulleys, and…

"In a system in which each pulley hangs by a separate cord and the strings are parallel (fig. 5), there is an equilibrium when the power is to the weight as 11 to that power of 2 whose index is the number of movable pulleys." -Marshall

Pulley

"In a system in which each pulley hangs by a separate cord and the strings are parallel (fig. 5), there…

"The belt is thrown on to set the machine in motion, the loose pulley is pressed aside by the spiral springs on the bolts, its rim entirely touches that of the fast pulley and helps to set this latter in motion by friction." —Grimshaw, 1902

Loose Driving Pulley

"The belt is thrown on to set the machine in motion, the loose pulley is pressed aside by the spiral…

"A system of pulleys in two blocks, so arranged that the parts of continuous rope are approximately parallel. The order in which the rope passes round the pulleys consecutively is shown by the figures in the cut. Named after the engineer who invented it." —Whitney, 1889

Pulleys - Smeaton's Blocks

"A system of pulleys in two blocks, so arranged that the parts of continuous rope are approximately…

"In machinery, the system of shafts which connects machinery with the prime mover, and through which motion is communicated to the former by the latter. a, shaft; b b1, pulleys; c c1, belts; d d1, hangers; e, drip-cup to receive oil dropping from the bearing in d1." —Whitney, 1889

Shafting

"In machinery, the system of shafts which connects machinery with the prime mover, and through which…

"Nautically, a block with two sheaves, whose axes are at right angles to each other, used for the buntlines of the courses." —Whitney, 1889

Shoe Block

"Nautically, a block with two sheaves, whose axes are at right angles to each other, used for the buntlines…