The simple, durable and reliable conveyor
belt is found in surprising number and types of applications…even in automated
car parking systems. Conveyor belts can be miles-and-miles long or less than a half-meter.
They move tons or grams…fast or slow…continuously or intermittently…people,
products, groceries, mail, sushi, sand, cars and much more.
The basic conveyor belt system consists of
two pulleys (or drums) with a continuous belt running between them. One or both
pulleys can be powered “drive pulleys” or one can be an unpowered “idler
pulley”. To prevent the belt from sagging, either rollers or a flat plate/pan
can support the belt between the pulleys. The choice of rollers or plate
usually depends on the characteristics of the material or whatever that’s being
moved. Flat plates are resistant to dirt and dust and support the belt
uniformly. Rollers are better at distributing and carrying heavier, rigid
objects.
In automated car parking applications,
conveyor belts are used to move cars horizontally without the need for a driver
and while the car engine is off, in parking mode and the doors locked. Rather
than a single, wide conveyor belt, car parking uses two narrower conveyor belts
to go under the cars’ tires with only the drive pulleys for the belts connected
by a single drive shaft. The connected drive pulleys permit both conveyor belts
to be driven by a single motor.
Compared to other car parking transport
systems, the conveyor belt is very simple, straightforward and has a minimum of
moving and part numbers. It is also extremely fast moving cars since there is
virtually no wasted motion and very safe. Other systems typically waste up to
50% of their motion and operation time since they must extend or retract arms
to pick up or place a car. Furthermore, unlike with other systems, the conveyor
belt does not require the car be physically lifted up to be moved: the car
always sits on its tires on the conveyor belt and is not touched in any other
way.
Fancy robotic and other transport systems
may be more intriguing and fun to watch, the conveyor belt system offers
unsurpassed reliability, durability and performance.
Contact us to learn all about Skyline
Parking’s unique conveyor belt system.
