A bulk material conveyor is a machine or device designed to transport large quantities of loose materials. These types of conveyors can be found in factories, warehouses, and agricultural settings, where they are used to move items ranging from powdered chemicals to grains. A bulk material conveyor may feature manual or automatic operation, and can vary in complexity and design based on the application. Businesses rely on these machines to help them process bulk materials or manufacture items more efficiently, with less input from laborers. They may serve as part of a standard assembly line, or carry goods from one area to shipping or storage facilities in another part of a facility.

Bulk material conveyors come in a number of different designs, which vary based on the types of goods they can transport and where they can be used. The chute conveyor is the most basic, and features a design similar to a children’s playground slide. This manual device carries bulk materials on an incline via gravity. To transport bulk items vertically, companies can use a bucket conveyor. These machines pick up a bucket full of materials at one level, then carry them up a vertical shaft to deposit them on another floor.

The vibrating pan bulk material conveyor can be used to transfer individual loads of bulk materials. These machines rely on motor-driven vibration to deposit a pre-determined load of materials for processing, assembly or storage. Pneumatic tube bulk material conveyor systems use blowers and vacuum power to draw bulk items through large pipes and tubes. While more expensive than many other types of conveyors, they also serve as one of the most efficient means for moving bulk materials over a large area.

Read more: What Is a Bulk Material Conveyor?