In today’s manufacturing world, it’s important to move products efficiently and steadily. As production rates increase and plastic bottles become lighter, the ability to convey these lighter bottles becomes more difficult. An effective solution is the use of vacuum to give a stabilizing effect.
Vacuum conveyor belts provide a smart solution to these problems. They use negative air pressure to gently and securely hold products, which helps with control and stability during transport. This introduction discusses how vacuum conveyor technology works and its increasing importance for industries that need dependable and high-capacity material handling solutions.
By introducing a small amount of vacuum through the belt, we can create artificial weight to the bottle. A deeper conveyor is used allowing the plenum (air chamber) to be incorporated into the conveyor design. The size of the vacuum holes and placement in the tabletop belt is determined by the size, weight and profile of the bottle bottom. A removable blast gate on the blower adjusts the vacuum level. Nercon has also incorporated vacuum technology into MatTop and fabric belt conveyors. Nercon’s engineering expertise provides the correctly sized blowers, plenums, holes in the belts, and the amount of vacuum required to convey the product.
Q: What challenges in production can a vacuum conveyor system help solve? A: As production rates increase and plastic bottles become lighter, conveying them can become difficult. A vacuum conveyor system offers an effective solution by using a small amount of vacuum to stabilize these lighter products.
Q: How does a vacuum conveyor work to stabilize lightweight products? A: By introducing a slight vacuum through the conveyor belt, artificial weight is created on the bottle. This suction effect helps to hold the product in place as it moves along the conveyor.
Q: What design elements are incorporated into a vacuum conveyor? A: Vacuum conveyors typically utilize a deeper conveyor design to accommodate a plenum (air chamber). The size and placement of vacuum holes in the tabletop belt are specifically determined based on the product's size, weight, and bottom profile.
The size of the blowers and plenums are dependent on the type of product and speed of the application.
A vacuum bottle handling system; photo taken during assembly.
A close up photo of the vacuum system integrated into the conveyor system.
