Bucket Elements

One of the basic components of any manufacturing system is its Material Handling Systems. We shall first study the different types of material handling systems that are currently in use. Next, we shall pick a common type of MH system, a conveyor, and look at some details of how to go about designing a conveyor system for a factory.

Defination :Material Handling refers to activities, equipment, and procedures related to the moving, storing, protecting and controlling of materials in a system.

The shape of the conveyor is often determined by two factors: (1) Existing machines and their relative positions (which are typically determined by the sequence of operations on the parts;) and (2) Existing space and floor-plan of the shop floor.

The width of the conveyor is determined by the size of the part carriers. Usually, parts are kept on bins or carriers which travel above the conveyor. These carriers are usually rectangular. Their size is determined by two factors: the size of each part, and the number of parts being carried on each carrier. Given the size of the carrier, it is easy to determine the width of the conveyor. Typically, if it is important to retain a fixed orientation for each carrier, then it must travel in the direction along its longer side; thus the width of the conveyor is just greater than the shorter side of the carrier.