Continuous conveyors – areas of application and special features

Continuous conveyors are a central component in material flow technology, their main purpose is to transport materials such as bulk goods, unit loads or flowing goods continuously and efficiently from one point to another, which distinguishes them from discontinuous conveyor systems such as cranes and forklift trucks.

The choice of the right continuous conveyor depends on various factors, such as the type of material, the required conveying capacity, the conveying distance and the specific environmental conditions. The versatility of continuous conveyors makes them indispensable in many industrial and agricultural processes, as they not only increase productivity but also contribute to the safety and reliability of material handling. In an environment where time and efficiency are of the essence, continuous conveyors play a key role in optimizing and increasing the efficiency of production and transport processes.

Conveyor technology, as a branch of mechanical engineering, deals with the design, planning and construction of internal transportation systems in companies. The main task is primarily to transport goods efficiently from the source to the destination – taking into account both technological and economic aspects. The means of transportation used can be divided into two main categories:

Non-continuous conveyors are characterized by their high flexibility when transporting goods and are often operated manually. They are divided into stationary, rail-bound or rail-free means of transportation. A classic example is industrial trucks, such as those frequently used in the form of forklift trucks for the irregular in-house transportation of individual items and bulk goods.

Troughed belt conveyors are often used for large conveying volumes over distances of several hundred meters. The three-part troughed belts are primarily suitable for heavy bulk goods with high throughput rates. Maximum flexibility is guaranteed in combination with trolleys that can discharge at any point on one or both sides.

Air belt conveyors are often used for gentle transport on conveying distances of up to 250 meters. They impress with their dust-free and low-noise operation and minimized maintenance requirements. They can be realized with large support distances. Their conveying speeds are up to 3 m/sec. The optimum troughing protects the belt during heavy-duty operation. Belt widths of up to 1.6 meters can be realized.

Chains and belt bucket elevators are used in modern industry. The material to be conveyed plays a decisive role in selecting the right conveyor. Gypsum, for example, is only conveyed using chains, otherwise it will stick to the drum. The continuous temperature of the material to be conveyed must also be taken into account; if this is continuously above 130 degrees Celsius, only chain bucket elevators can be considered.

Belt and chain bucket elevators from AMF-Bruns stand for economical vertical conveying with maximum availability – even in continuous operation and under the most extreme conditions. This makes them a cost-effective, space-saving and product-friendly alternative to long, inclined or steeply inclined conveyor belts. Right from the design phase, our engineers ensure that buckets, belts, chains and drives are precisely tailored to your requirements. Of course, this also applies to the individual adaptation to the technical and spatial conditions on site. In this way, our bucket elevators guarantee maximum efficiency and investment security right from the start.

Trough and scraper chain conveyors from AMF-Bruns are extremely versatile. They transport bulk materials with a grain size of 0 to 300 mm, whether they are dry, pulverized, free-flowing, granular, small or flaky. We are also happy to produce trough chain conveyors for coarser grain sizes or for transporting hot bulk materials.

The conveying process can be technically linked to other processes, such as discharging, dosing, collecting, distributing and cooling. Depending on the nature of the material to be conveyed, we realize volume flows of up to 1,500 m3/h.

Screw conveyors from AMF-Bruns allow gentle transportation of your bulk material in any desired direction – whether horizontally, vertically or on inclines. Volume flows of up to 1,400 m3/h and conveying lengths of up to 60 meters per unit can be achieved.

The way a screw conveyor works is simple but extremely effective. A spiral-shaped screw, which is located in a pipe or chute, moves the material from one point to another. The rotating movement of the screw continuously pushes the material forward, mixing or loosening it at the same time. Whether powdery, granular or semi-moist bulk material, our screw conveyors are extremely robust and can withstand the toughest demands, even in continuous operation. And they do so with minimal space requirements, maximum efficiency and minimum maintenance. Screw conveyors from AMF-Bruns are available in many designs for different applications – also gas and pressure-tight on request.

With the residual emptying system from AMF-Bruns, the residual quantities – for example sugar or grain – are discharged after the gravimetric emptying of a cylinder or dome silo. Depending on the size of the silo, the residual quantities can amount to up to 15,000 tons. The residual emptying system ensures a constant and even material flow.

AMF-Bruns offers residual discharge screws for silo diameters of up to 55 meters. Depending on the flowability of the sugar, we can realize the following discharge capacities: Screw shaft diameters from 900 mm to 1400 mm with a discharge rate at maximum speed of approx. 70 t/h to approx. 150 t/h are possible.

Most of the silo emptying takes place gravimetrically, so that no mechanical components need to be operated inside the silo during this time. In addition, there are no mechanical components above the material column. This prevents contamination of the stored material by lubricants or falling components. The perfect mixture: By feeding the silo system with a proven AMF-Bruns feeding system, we achieve a largely uniform grain distribution of the stored material – this leads to good mixing results during subsequent discharge. In addition, the silo volume is optimally utilized.

We are constantly developing ourselves and our products for our customers. This results in innovative conveying equipment and special systems that are precisely tailored to the specific requirements of our customers. And if you can’t find the exact technology in our product range that suits you and your processes: Talk to us – we look forward to developing a solution for you that meets every detail of your application.