Material handling knowledgebase

December 18, 2013

Pallet and container lifts	fixed height spring-loaded floor flush overhead portable turntable manual pump
Conveyors	standard belt and roller flexible multidirectional inclined overhead auger/screw air
Slides	standard steel slippery plastic skid bars hinges air tables flush unique
Conveyor gates	standard spring or cylinder crossovers counter-balanced hinged roll-out ultra lightweight belt conveyor gates
Carts	fixed height adjustable spring-loaded drop-down side powered dollies and hand trucks handles
Lifter-Transporters	lightweight end effectors pallet sized front end support
Wheels	wheel diameter axles quality and material fixed vs. swivel tracks and runways wheels for flexibility temporary wheels
Air casters	material handling equipment movement common pitfalls adaptations
Tuggers/pushers	tow motors heavy walkie tuggers lightweight maneuverable tuggers specialized pushers
Large containers	access doors spring-loaded platforms (false bottoms) removable sides
Hand held totes	hand holds size and weight depth hand clearance formal guidelines handling technique
Tilters	low cost standard tilters lift and tilt cart version potential hazard
Dumpers	low cost manual low cost hoist systems forklift mounted self-dumping standard powered
Pallets	plastic open-bottom inverters stackers sliding technique
Hoists (standard)	alternatives to hoists increasing loads electromagnets small portable common pitfalls
Vacuum hoists	vacuum hose integrated vacuum pump end effectors
Manipulator arms	post gantry small
Lift trucks	“walkie” forklifts standard forklifts forklift design issues
Specific applications
Drum handling	lifter-transporters forklift adapters drum transporters
Hopper loading	Steps/platforms Support surface Hoist dumper Vacuum loaders Semi-automated Mini-dumper
Spool handling	carts and dollies loaders hoists rollers vertical carousel long handle for rolling
Paver and block lifts	manual grips vacuum lifts powered lifts
Paint line hang/unhang