A conveyor cover is a component installed on a conveyor system to protect other components as well as materials in transport from the elements or from potential impacts. Such a component is usually installed on conveyors used outdoors over long paths, though a conveyor cover can be installed on an indoor conveyor as well if the materials need to be protected from moisture or other contaminants. The cover may also be used if workers or other machinery needs to be protected from the contents being transported; this is common if the materials run the risk of being ejected from the conveyor belt at any point.
In most cases, the conveyor cover will be made from a durable metal such as steel. This ensures the cover will not be dented or otherwise damaged easily, though in some cases it may be susceptible to rust. Some covers are therefore made from galvanized steel, which is more resistant to rust and corrosion; others may be painted or otherwise covered with a protective coating to prevent rust, corrosion, or other types of damage. Aluminum covers are available as well; such conveyor cover models will be lighter-duty than steel and will be more susceptible to damage, but aluminum is more resistant to rust and corrosion and can actually be less expensive than steel. While not common, plastic covers are available as well for lighter-duty applications.
The conveyor cover will usually create a sealed system, as it will attach to the conveyor frame with no gap between the frame and the cover. Some covers, however, can be mounted on legs that create a gap between the conveyor frame and the cover itself. This may be done to ensure proper ventilation of transported items, or to facilitate monitoring of the transport process. The cover will not be as effective at protecting the contents of the conveyor system if it is raised off the frame, but it will still protect the components and materials to some extent.
Sometimes the cover will only run over part of the conveyor system, while other parts of the system may be left open to facilitate loading and unloading of the conveyor system. The conveyor cover generally will not run all the way to the end of the conveyor system, as the ends of the system are generally where loading and unloading take place; if transported materials need to be monitored or inspected midway through the system, the cover can be broken to accomplish this.
By Dan Cavallari