Efficient material transport is an essential need in the industry, and bucket elevators stand out as an ideal solution for vertical bulk material handling.
HIHERO Product Page
In this article, we will analyze in detail the operation, applications, and benefits of using these machines in the industrial sector.
Bucket elevators serve the same function as conveyor belts, with the goal of transporting bulk solid materials. However, they operate vertically or at steep inclinations, making them ideal for spaces with height restrictions.
The system consists of buckets attached to a conveyor belt or chain, which collect the material at the bottom of the elevator and transport it to the top, where it is discharged. The elevator can be loaded from a hopper, through a chute (a method used for large and abrasive materials), or by dredging if the material is fine and offers little resistance to extraction. The discharge can be performed by gravity or centrifugal force.
At JLM Ingeniería, we design bucket elevators with a wide range of height, speed, and structural options, depending on the type of material to be transported.
Bucket elevators are widely used in industrial processes. Some of their most common applications include:
Implementing bucket elevators in industrial settings offers numerous benefits, including:
They enable continuous and automated material flow, improving production process efficiency.
Their modular design and ability to operate in constant cycles minimize loading and unloading times compared to other mechanical transport systems.
Their capacity to handle large volumes makes them ideal for industries requiring intensive material transport.
Unlike other mechanical conveyors like belts or screw conveyors, bucket elevators operate vertically, significantly reducing the required floor space.
This is especially beneficial for facilities with space constraints or those needing to maximize vertical space for equipment distribution.
One of the biggest risks in bulk material handling is spillage and particle dispersion, leading to material loss and unsafe working conditions.
Since bucket elevators operate within a closed system, they minimize these risks by reducing material exposure to the environment and preventing dust accumulation, contributing to a safer and cleaner workspace.
JLM Ingeniería’s bucket elevators are highly customizable, allowing them to be adapted to different material types.
Various configurations are available in terms of bucket arrangement and type.
Designed and built to operate in demanding industrial conditions, they can be manufactured using abrasion-resistant, corrosion-resistant, and fatigue-resistant materials.
We offer bucket elevators in carbon steel, stainless steel, or with special coatings to extend their service life.
Their design minimizes the number of moving components exposed to wear, reducing maintenance needs and improving operational continuity.
At JLM Ingeniería, we specialize in providing innovative and customized solutions to optimize industrial processes. Our commitment is to offer high-quality equipment designed specifically to meet each customer’s needs.
Are you interested in learning more about Bucket Elevator Conveyor Belt? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
Both incline belt conveyors and bucket elevators help food producers maximize their production, efficiency, and footprint by elevating their products within a processing line. These machines share benefits such as optimal product handling, flexible configurations, easy integration, and sanitary design. Though incline belt conveyors and bucket elevators serve a similar purpose, these machines have numerous differences. This article will discuss what makes each machine unique and provide insight into which machine would be more effective for various applications. This article will cover:
Incline belt conveyors are driven by a pulley, belt, and drive lugs. In effect, an inclined belt moves continuously, transporting materials along the conveying path.
The four primary components of an incline belt conveyor are a conveyor belt, rollers, drive system, and head and tail pulleys.
The three fundamental steps in an incline belt conveyor’s operation are as follows:
The top three benefits of incline belt conveyors are as follows:
Unlike an incline belt conveyor, a bucket elevator is driven by a chain and sprocket. Its buckets are attached to the chain and move vertically to elevate bulk materials.
The four primary components of a bucket elevator are buckets, a chain, a drive system, and head and tail pulleys.
The three fundamental steps in a bucket elevator’s operation are as follows:
The top three benefits of bucket elevators are as follows:
As discussed above, though these two machines serve a similar purpose, they differ in how they operate and how they handle materials. The table below summarizes the similarities and differences between the two machines.
Incline Belt Conveyors Bucket Elevators Design Drive System Pulleys, belt, and drive lugs Chain and sprocket Material Handling Mechanism Belt Buckets Incline Angle Varies 90 degrees Maximum Width 72” 48” Infeed Options 1 1 Discharge Options 1 Can have multiple discharge points Sanitary/Food-Grade Design ✔ ✔ Stainless Steel ✔ ✔ CIP Available ✔ ✔ Fragile Foods ✔ Raw/Sticky/Wet Foods ✔ Bakery Items ✔ Fruits & Vegetables ✔ Bulk Dry or Wrapped Food ✔ Nuts ✔ Pet Food ✔ Candy ✔ Pasta & Rice ✔ Cereal ✔A primary advantage of incline belt conveyors is that they are easier to clean. A smoother surface and more open frame provide easier access for cleaning and fewer places for bacteria to build up and hide. This makes them the ideal conveyance solution for raw or sticky products, bakery products like cookies or bars, and fruits and vegetables. If the product you need to convey requires a full washdown sanitation, we recommend an incline belt conveyor.
As compared to bucket elevators, incline belt conveyors require less maintenance. This allows you to spend less time training employees on maintaining the machine and less money on labor and other maintenance costs. If you have a smaller or less experienced staff, an incline belt conveyor may allow you to more effectively use your resources by saving time and money on machine maintenance.
Another benefit of choosing an incline belt conveyor is the additional customization opportunities. Although both machines can be custom-configured for your application and facility requirements, incline belt conveyors are a bit easier to customize. If your process and/or application constantly evolves, an incline belt conveyor may allow you to be more nimble and update the necessary machine features as your application changes.
A significant advantage of bucket elevators is that they allow for more space savings in your facility. By elevating your products vertically at no angle, a bucket elevator is the easy choice if you have horizontal space restrictions in your building’s layout. Also worth noting is that the maximum width of a bucket elevator is 48” while an Incline Belt Conveyor can be as wide as 72”, allowing for a smaller footprint.
Bucket elevators are the ideal solution for producers of bulk-wrapped or dry foods such as nuts, candy, pet food, pasta, rice, and cereal. These products need gentle handling to avoid breakage and degradation, move in large volumes, and often have fewer sanitary requirements.
A bucket elevator is also the preferred option for food producers with significantly high throughput requirements. For example, an 18” wide Incline Belt Conveyor at a 90° angle has a throughput capacity of 0.2 Cu/FT, while an 18” wide bucket elevator has a throughput capacity of up to 0.525 Cu/FT; in this example, a bucket elevator has over double the throughput capacity as compared to an incline belt conveyor of equal proportions.
Another notable advantage of bucket elevators is that they can be customized to have several discharge points on the same unit. This allows food producers to keep their products flowing into several different processes from a single machine, providing a more streamlined operation.
Two additional considerations regarding these machines are their total cost of ownership and machine lifespan. For the same application, the initial prices of these machines are very similar, with Incline Belt Conveyors, on average, being slightly more expensive. As for machine lifespan, bucket elevators tend to last much longer if properly maintained. Though they require a bit more maintenance, they can operate successfully longer.
Whether you’re still unsure which machine would work best for your application or you’re certain which machine is the right choice, PFI is here to help. Contact us to speak with one of our food conveyance experts to ensure you’re food processing line runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible or click the link below to explore our incline belt conveyors and bucket elevators.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Steel Cord Conveyor Belt.