The Role of Vibratory Conveyors in Material Handling

Vibratory conveyors can be used in almost every conveying application in material handling systems, including the food and pharmaceutical industries. As they have effective and smooth material handling using controlled vibrations.

Vibratory conveyors have a tray or pan on which materials are placed on a mounted base connected to leaf springs. Our powerful electromagnetic drive causes vibrations in the tray, which moves the products in an effective and controlled manner. This vibration causes several minor throws, shifting material along the conveyor’s length. This system is simple but very effective and can handle various materials.

One of the many unique benefits of using vibratory conveyors is that they are versatile in the type of materials they can process. These conveyors can move almost any dry powdered (which we can also fully enclose in a tubular conveyor) to bulky materials, no matter how small or large, elongated or angular they are. For this reason, they are instrumental in industries like food and pharma manufacturing, where various materials must be transported within a hygienic environment.

Vibratory conveyors have many other advantages in terms of practical use in material flow operations. First is their care when handling products. This is because the controlled vibrations give a smooth movement that does not affect the quality of the conveyed material. This is particularly important when delicate materials need to be transported without any product wastage.

Another major pro is that you can regulate the feed rate provided to downstream equipment e.g. mulitihead weighers or baggers. The operators can control the frequency and amplitude of the vibration to maintain the product’s feed rate in the subsequent processes. Such a level of control is fundamental in specific applications where accurate measuring or dispensing is called for.

Vibratory conveyors also perform best when it comes to energy efficiency, particularly energy utilisation. In comparison with other conveyor types, they are relatively power-saving, as most of the energy is used for vibration rather than constant movement. This lowers the costs of running the conveyor and has a smaller impact on the environment.

Another activity that favours the use of vibratory conveyors more than other conveyors is maintenance. They have fewer components than belt or roller conveyors so require less maintenance and cannot break as easily. In general, the reduced maintenance requirement translates directly to less time down time, therefore, lower recurring ownership costs for the long term.

Space in numerous industrial facilities is quite limited. Vibratory conveyors can be inclined; that is, they can convey materials vertically without the need for a vertical moving element such as an elevator. This capability can greatly minimise the space requirements of material handling systems and is particularly advantageous for factories with limited floor space.

Maintaining high cleanliness levels is essential in many industries, especially food manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries. Because of their simplicity, these environments are ideal for vibratory conveyors. There are no crevices for bacterial growth, making cleaning easier and maintaining a high standard of hygiene. This is due to the continuous welding of the conveyor trays and the smooth design.

In fact, besides transportation, vibratory conveyors can combine several functions. For instance, they can be fitted with screens where it is necessary to match materials according to their size or remove unwanted particles. Certain models can distribute the materials evenly across the conveyor width, which is useful in subsequent processing, such as drying and inspection.

Vibratory conveyors are and will remain one of the critical parts of material handling systems. This principle can transport literally anything within a rather broad freight spectrum while doing it gently, which is a major step to keeping maintenance low and energy utilisation efficient. In line with improvements in manufacturing and processing technologies, vibratory conveyors are projected to improve as advancements in this area add value to the system’s application.