Flexible Conveyor

Core Structure and Working Principle

A typical flexible conveyor consists of the following main components:

1. Base Frame (Fixed Section): Houses the drive system, control cabinet, and connection interface for the telescoping sections.

2. Telescopic Truss: Composed of multiple sections of metal truss that slide and nest within each other, enabling flexible length adjustment.

3. Conveying System (Core Distinction):

• Powered Roller Sections: Key parts of the conveying path (usually the entry, middle section, or the entire length) are equipped with motor-driven powered rollers. Each roller or roller group is driven by a motor (typically motorized rollers or motors with gear sets) to provide the pushing force for the goods.

• Non-Powered (Gravity) Roller Sections: In certain areas, especially the extended section reaching into the vehicle, non-powered rollers may be installed. These rely on the goods' own weight or inertia for movement on a slightly inclined truss. A more common solution is to use powered rollers throughout the entire machine to ensure reliable conveyance.

• Roller Material: Typically steel rollers with a rubber coating to increase friction, provide cushioning, and protect the goods.

4. Drive and Control System:

• Telescoping Drive: An independent motor drives chains or wire ropes to extend or retract the truss sections.

• Conveying Drive: Multiple dispersed motorized rollers work in coordination, with the control system ensuring synchronized operation.

• Control System: Utilizes PLC control for precise management of telescoping, conveying, speed regulation (e.g., via frequency inverter), and features accumulation conveying (zero-pressure accumulation)—when goods ahead are blocked, rollers in that zone automatically stop to prevent crushing.

5. Lifting Device: The head section is usually equipped with a lifting mechanism (hydraulic or electric) to adjust the roller bed plane to align with the vehicle floor height.

6. Mobility and Stabilization System: The base is fitted with castors and adjustable support legs for easy movement and secure positioning.

   Workflow:

1. Position and secure the equipment.

2. Operate the telescoping and lifting functions to smoothly extend the roller bed into the vehicle interior and align it with the floor.

3. Start the system. Goods (e.g., pallets, metal bins, large appliances, bundled goods) are placed onto the rollers at the entry end.

4. The powered rollers rotate, steadily conveying the goods to the designated position inside the vehicle. Workers can continuously feed goods at the entry point.

5. For unloading, the process is reversed, with goods conveyed from inside the vehicle to the dock.

Core Features and Advantages (Compared to Telescopic Belt Conveyors)

• Extremely High Load Capacity: Designed specifically for heavy, unitized loads, capable of easily conveying palletized goods weighing from hundreds of kilograms to several tons, whereas belt conveyors are typically suited for medium-to-light carton loads.

• Stable Conveyance, No Slippage: Rollers drive directly against the bottom of the goods, making them especially suitable for goods with hard, flat bottoms (e.g., pallets, steel racks, large equipment), eliminating the risk of belt slippage.

• Easier Implementation of Accumulation and Merging/Dividing: The independent control of powered rollers makes integration into complex automated systems easier, enabling goods queuing, merging, and sorting.

• Wear-Resistant and Durable: The roller structure is more resistant to scratches from sharp objects and impacts from heavy goods compared to belts, offering longer service life and relatively simpler maintenance.

• Different Suitability for Goods Types: It is the ideal choice for conveying unitized goods like pallets, containers, appliances, stone slabs, and industrial components. Belt conveyors are better suited for loose cartons, parcels, bagged goods, etc.

Primary Application Scenarios

• Palletized Logistics Centers: For loading and unloading full pallet goods onto/from trucks.

• Manufacturing and Factory Logistics: Handling large components, molds, finished equipment.

• Home Appliance and Furniture Industry: Conveying large commodities like refrigerators, washing machines, and cabinets.

• Cold Chain Logistics: Loading/unloading palletized frozen foods.

• Ports, Railway Freight Yards: As auxiliary equipment for rapid loading/unloading of small unitized goods inside containers.

• Automated Storage/Retrieval System (AS/RS) Interface: Serving as a flexible connecting bridge between the warehouse system and transport vehicles.