Z-Type Incline Conveyor

Z-Type Incline Conveyor

This is a conveyor that carries material up from floor level. The body consists of three stages: a horizontal section at the feed point, an inclined section that does the lifting, and a second horizontal section at the discharge point. The Z-like profile seen from the side gives this type its name.

At the lower end there is a wide-mouthed feed hopper. The hopper collects material that is poured in irregularly and directs it onto the belt; so precise alignment is not needed at the feed point.

When is this type chosen?

• If material is collected at floor level and is to be delivered to a high point
• If there is a palletized container, a large box or a storage container at the discharge point
• If the feed opening of the granulator is high off the floor
• If there is a difference in level between two machines

If no lifting is needed and the material is carried at the same level, a flat belt conveyor is both cheaper and takes up less space.

Why a cleated belt?

On the inclined section a flat belt alone is not enough: the part slides back down the slope. That is why on incline conveyors cleats (flights) are fixed upright on the belt at set intervals. The cleat spacing and height are determined by the material to be carried — close, tall cleats for small, free-flowing material, and more widely spaced cleats for large parts.

The angle of incline also depends on the material. As the angle increases, the same height is gained over a shorter distance but the risk of slipping back rises; that is why the angle and the cleats are determined together.

When taking measurements

With this type the two most critical dimensions are the discharge height and the position of the feed point on the floor. The horizontal distance between them and the difference in height determine the angle of incline; and the angle determines the cleat arrangement.

We also ask about the hopper opening size, how the material will be poured in (by hand, from another conveyor, from a machine) and the hourly throughput. If it is to be connected to a granulator outlet, the discharge arrangement of the granulator is also taken into account.

Contact us for measurements and a quotation.