A new belt conveyor developed by materials handling specialist Geo Robson & Co (Conveyors) Ltd is designed to bring major reductions in energy and maintenance costs associated with glass batch preparion and distribution. Instead of conventional idlers, the belt of the totally enclosed Airglide conveyor is supported on a cushion of air. This is an adaptation of the hovercraft principle that ensures a smooth, spill-free ride for the product and reduces the amount of power needed to drive the belt. The low friction effect is achieved by blowing low pressure air into a continuous sealed chamber beneath the U-shaped bed plate of the conveyor. Regularly-spaced performations in the bed plate allow the air to pass through, providing support for the belt immediately above.
