Creating a successful material handling system is like piecing together a complex puzzle where every piece plays a crucial role. It’s not just about having the right equipment; it’s about ensuring everything works in harmony to streamline the flow of materials from one point to another.
One often overlooked but important aspect is the creation of gaps between conveyed products. These gaps, also known as product spacing or gapping, are vital for optimizing the flow of goods through a facility, ensuring that each item is processed accurately and efficiently.
What is a Gapper Belt Conveyor?
Gapper conveyors, or gapping belt induction conveyors, are essential for any efficient sortation system. These conveyors work by creating a precise gap between products, ensuring there’s a clear space from the back of one item to the front of the next.
This spacing is crucial because it boosts both the speed and accuracy of the sortation process, helping your system run more smoothly and efficiently.
Why Does Product Gapping Matter?
Gaps between products on a conveyor system are essential for several reasons. First, they allow for the smooth transition of products between different stages of production, packaging, and distribution. Whether it’s for scanning barcodes, applying labels, or sorting items, having sufficient space between products ensures that each task is performed without interference from adjacent items. This reduces the risk of errors and increases the overall reliability of the system.
Additionally, gapping is crucial for preventing product collisions and jams. When products are too close together, they can collide, causing damage and creating bottlenecks that disrupt the entire production line. By maintaining proper spacing, conveyor systems can operate more smoothly, reducing downtime and ensuring a continuous flow of products.
Types of Gapping Belt Conveyors
There are several options for creating gaps, including specialized equipment. Hytrol Conveyor Company offers two types of gapping conveyors: the Gapper D and Gapper O.
Hytrol Gapper D Conveyor:
This conveyor creates gaps using a method known as “blow-through” gapping. It’s particularly effective in systems where products are of similar sizes.
The Gapper D uses a fixed speed to generate consistent spacing between items, making it ideal for applications like feeding sorters or merges. The Gapper D also features enhancements such as auto belt tracking, which adjusts the belt during operation to reduce downtime and maintain efficient operation.
Hytrol Gapper O Conveyor:
The Gapper O is designed for more complex systems where products vary in size. This conveyor utilizes sensors along its length to monitor the gaps between items and adjusts the speed accordingly. This ensures that gaps are consistently maintained, regardless of product size, optimizing throughput and efficiency.
The Gapper O is particularly useful in environments with diverse product lines, where flexibility and precision are required.
Your Path Forward
With decades of experience in optimizing product spacing and gapping solutions, Advanced Equipment Company is well-equipped to help you harness the power of gapping conveyors. Our material handling experts will ensure that these solutions are tailored to meet the unique demands of your operation.
Need a hand with this process? Our seasoned experts, armed with decades of experience, are here to guide you toward the perfect decision. We’re dedicated to making sure you feel confident and informed every step of the way.
Fill out this quick form or give us a call at 704-527-3141.
Written by AEC Sales Coordinator, Josh Hamrick.
