1.

Analysis of the conveyor system.

1.2.1

Components in the system

Casting
The elevator is usually enclosed in a steel casing, to provide a means of support and as a matter
of safety and dust retention. A casing can be made dust-tight, either by using a sealing medium,
or continuously welding the comer angles to the plate. The upper casing of the elevator contains
manholes providing access for inspections and repairs.
Bucket
It is the essential part of this conveyor. It carries the bulk material to the required place. Bucket
types and capacities. Buckets are made of different materials and come in different shapes and
sizes, depending on requirements. The buckets are uniform, smooth, and proportioned for fast
filling and quick, clean discharge.

Chains/Belts

A chain serves as a pulling member of bucket elevators. The buckets were attached to two chains
bolted to the rear of buckets. The power of the sprockets transmits through the chains. It also
helps to pull up the bucket with full of bulk materials.
Four types of belts are used for bucket elevators and belt conveyors: 1) duck, 2) balata, 3)
stitched canvas, and 4) solid woven cotton. Any of these belts may be treated with special
preparations or covered with natural or synthetic rubber.
Sprocket
It serves as driving unit. It holds the chains of the conveyor which hold the bucket. With the help
of sprockets the power of motor is transmitted from one side to the other side of the conveyor.
The sprockets were attached to the shafts rigidly and the shafts were attached to the frame with
the help of bearings and bearing holders.
Explosion relief vent
An explosion relief vent is conveniently located in the back hood side of the head housing to
eliminate interference or turbulence from elevator bucket material discharges.
Inspection doors
Inspection doors on each side of the boot section provide access to the heavy duty drum or selfcleaning winged pulley.

Working Principle

Depending on the Load

Directly to the input hopper
Used for transport of abrasive and big size materials.
Chain/belt travelling speed is low.
By digging
Used for transport of materials that offers no resistance to extraction, like fine grain and dusty
materials.
Depending on type of discharge
Centrifugal
It is the most common. Great travelling speeds (1.2 and 1.4 m/s).
Loading is carried out by dredging the material at the bottom of the elevator.
The separation distance between the buckets is 2 to 3 times the bucket height.
Gravity or continuous
Lower travelling speeds (0.5 and 1.0 m/s). It is taken advantage of self weight.
Classification:
Free gravity. It is necessary to change the free branch line or incline the bucket.
Forced. The buckets are situated one after the other without separation between them. The
discharge takes place due to gravity by means of the lower part of the preceding bucket that acts
as a discharge spout.
Positive
Similar to the gravity elevator safe that buckets are fitted at the edges with two cords.
Bucket speed is low are appropriate for light, aired, sticky materials.

Continuous Bucket Conveyors

Continuous bucket conveyors are specially designed to convey bulk materials from one or more
feed points to a central discharge. The conveying paths can be horizontal, vertical or inclining
without any additional transfers.

Principle
The rice grain is fed into the moving bucket belt at a controlled rate in a similar manner
to feeding a normal belt conveyor. At the end of the conveyor, the buckets are emptied by gravity
into the discharge section.
Continuous bucket conveyors are very adaptable where space is limited. High
throughputs can be achieved with low power requirements, and conveying heights over 50 m are
possible. The total conveying length is almost unlimited. At the same conveying capacity,
continuous bucket conveyors take up considerably far less space than pendulum bucket
conveyors.
Bucket belt

Two endless rubber block chains reinforced with steel cables are the driving element. The
robust thick-walled plastic or steel buckets running between the parallel rubber chains are joined
with flexible bucket strips to create a closed, gap-free and resilient conveying system. Of course,
food-safe or conductive options are also available.
The relation between bucket width and pitch provides the best possible conditions for
feeding and discharge. The materials of construction for all components make the bucket belt
corrosion-free and largely chemically resistant, even with abrasive, humid or hot products at up
to 220 C.
Modular design of the continuous bucket conveyors allows for rapid and cost-effective
replacement of parts suitable for the particular application.

Spillage
For some products available in the market, continuous bucket conveyors can be supplied
in a self-cleaning version: any product spillage in the bottom horizontal section is collected by
the return strand of buckets and returned to the process. Alternatively, cleaning drawers, mesh or
hinged bottom panels can be installed.

Feed section

Depending on the application, the continuous bucket conveyor is equipped with one or
more infeeds. The length of the feed opening is variable to suit the application, although the
width is related to the bucket size. At the infeed, the rice grain is fed into the buckets from the
top at a controlled rate. Appropriate equipment can be supplied to provide a controlled rate of
feed. The feed opening is sealed to the bucket belt.

Discharge section
Continuous bucket conveyors have just one discharge section. The length of discharge
will be determined by the discharge characteristics of the product. A pendulum bucket knocker
can assist product discharge from the buckets. Discharge chutes complete the connection to silos,
packaging machines or other equipment in the production line.
The drive is mounted in the discharge section. A geared motor is either directly connected
to the drive shaft or via a transmission chain. On the opposite side of the drive shaft a backstop
bearing prevents the bucket belt from running back.