16) Minimum pressure accumulation conveyor
Conveyor minimum pressure accumulation is when product is accumulated and the driving force is not removed. It is called minimum pressure because the pressure of the driving force is kept to a minimum. Pressure will build up as more product accumulates, but can be overcome with controls designed specifically for the application. The advantage to minimum pressure conveyor is a higher discharge or single load release rate than with zero pressure accumulation.
17) Non-contact accumulation conveyor
Non -contact accumulation on a conveyor occurs when the product is accumulated with a definite space between each accumulated load. This is accomplished by controlling the speed of the carrying surface. Most zero pressure conveyors are of the non contact type.
18) In-line diverters
Moving surface or in-line diverters are an integral part of the main conveying surface and in all but one case pop up on controlled command, coming in direct contact with the underside conveying surface of the load.
19) Shoe sorter conveyor
The conveying surface consists of continuously linked slats. The linked slats move in a manner similar to a belt. Between each slat, along one side, there is a shoe that moves along with the slats. Each shoe is capable of simultaneous independent lateral movement from one side of the conveyor to the other at the same time as it continues to move forward. At the appropriate time, controls sequence as many shoes as necessary, depending on the size of the load, to move from one side of the conveyor to the other, contacting the side of the load, thus directing the load to one of multiple discharge or take-away lanes. The take-away lanes can be powered by gravity. At the end of the run, after the last take-away lane, and on the return (remember the main sort lines move like a belt), the shoes are all reset to their original side. Such sorters are capable of higher sort rates in the range of 150 cases per minute. Another name for this type of sorter is surfing sorter .
20) Tray sorter
A high speed type of sorting conveyor with sorts in the 250 cases per minute range, this type consists of a continuously moving train of independent trays that move in a straight line and recirculate in either a horizontal or vertical (over and under) closed loop. At the proper moment, controls cause the tray to tilt to either side, thereby discharging the load to the desired take away lane.
21) Vertical reciprocating conveyor
A conveyor that moves perpendicular to the floor and provides intermittent operation of a single load-carrying platform or cage which travels up and down on steel rails or guideways. There are many configurations of vertical reciprocating conveyors (VRCs) including those with a single mast, single rail, double mast, double rail and even models which offer incline travel versus strict vertical travel. There are also numerous platform configurations ranging from a simple flat steel surface to a powered roller conveyor deck with controls that are integrated with the controls of powered feed and take away conveyor lines at the different levels.
22) Car-in-track conveyor
A sophisticated version of asynchronous carriers with greater flexibility inherent in the drive systems in terms of acceleration, speed of travel and the manner by which idling is achieved. One of the earliest version of car-in-track systems of a flat, platen-like carrier with four horizontally mounted wheels on each corner. These wheels run both on and against two parallel tracking rails providing support for the carrier as well as lateral guidance. The driving force is derived from a constantly spinning tube running parallel to the guidepath, beneath the carrier. A fifth drive wheel mounted beneath the carrier makes contact with the spinning tube, resulting in a variation of worm style transmission. By controlling the set angle of the drive wheel the carrier speed can be infinitely varied up to a maximum in the 400 feet per minute range.
23) Pneumatic tube system
Also referred to as a vacuum tube system. In all but the simplest of applications, the pneumatic/vacuum tube system however, such as at drive through banks, these systems are capable of very complex networks (upwards of 1000 origin/destination stations) involving branching, switching or merging. The computer control in modern systems make these systems very flexible.
The carrying units appear much like a projectile that has to be opened so that the load to be transported can be placed inside. There are units installed where carriers approach 12 inches in diameter and are capable of carrying fairly large parts. The speed of a pneumatic/vacuum system averages 1500 fpm.
24) Manipulator
A stationary (does not mean that nothing moves) movement assist device that is often equipped with end effectors for handling different types of loads. End effectors include all forms of grippers, forks, barrel grabs, etc. Manipulators counteract the weight of the load, rendering it almost weightless by way of hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders, or simply by way of counter weights and the exercising of very limited manual control. Most manipulators require manual actuation and control and are therefore manual assist devices. They are mounted to the floor, wall or ceiling. In some cases, manipulators are mounted to a fixed base plate and the entire unit can be moved via a trolley, cart or frok lift truck.
25) Loading dock door
The openings in the loading dock area to the outside of a building. Loading dock doors are an important topic in planning and constructing a building. The rapidity of loading dock door opening is a consideration where some control of ambient temperature and humidity are required and often doors of this type are equipped to open automatically as a moving object approaches the door.
26) Material Handling
Material Handling is the movement, storage, control and protection of materials, goods and products throughout the process of manufacturing, distribution, consumption and disposal. The focus is on the methods, mechanical equipment, systems and related controls used to achieve these functions. See also, Supply Chain, Supply Chain Management, Logistics and Third Party Logistics. Note that all of referenced terms are highly interrelated and their definitions are frequently intermingled.
27) Automatic Storage & Retrieval Systems
AS/RS is becoming a generic term that today refers to a variety of means under computer control for automatically depositing and retrieving loads from defined storage locations. See also Carousels . Although both of these technologies have roots that go back some 40 to 50 years, it is only since the late 1990s that AS/RS has been used to refer to more than crane and aisle applications.
28) Horizontal Carousels
As a storage device, a horizontal carousel consists of a fixed number of adjacent storage columns or bays that are mechanically linked to either an overhead or floor mounted drive mechanism to form a complete loop. Each column is divided into a fixed number of storage location or bins which in most applications are constructed of a welded wire frame. Loads consisting of containers or totes may be inserted and retrieved either manually or by an automatic inserter/extractor mechanism. However, rotation of the carousel, whereby a specific storage location is brought to the picking location, is almost always controlled automatically. See also Vertical Carousel , Vertical Lift Module , Rotary Rack , and/or AS/RS .
29) Tugger AGV
A tugger AGV is a powered, wheel based transport vehicle that is capable of pulling one or more non powered vehicles (with loads) behind it in a train. AGVs operate under computer control without the need for human operators or drivers. See also AGVS .
30) System Integrator
A System Integrator is a company that possesses the resources required to provide a full set of engineering services needed to take a project from the problem definition stage all the way through to implementation and system acceptance by the end user. In some cases, but not always, a company that defines itself as a system integrator may also manufacture equipment and controls. A system integrator will also assume financial responsibility for system performance. See also Consultant and/or Integrated Systems & Controls.