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Bucket conveyor mainly has two types. That is to say the z type bucket elevator and vertical bucket elevator. As vertical conveyor system manufacturer, we can design & customize high quality elevator conveyors with good price. Besides, we can also supply many components. So it is convenient for bucket elevator maintenance. It can be chain type and belt type bucket conveyor.

Vertical conveyor has wide applications, such as conveying grain, beans, candy, nuts, feed, pet food, cat litter, hardware, powder or other particles. So we can use elevator conveyor in silo, rice mill, flour mill, food factory, packaging industry, etc.

What is z type bucket elevator?

It conveys materials through several buckets suspended on a chain. It’s z shaped. Z elevator conveyor can transport materials horizontally-vertically-horizontally. On the one hand, z bucket conveyor can feed the materials by single or multiple feeding ports. On the other hand, it can also accomplish unloading by multiple discharge ports / outlets.

Fully enclosed, no leakage, no pollution. Z bucket elevator is suitable for conveying various powde and granular materials. It is better to transport non-sticky substances. The advantage of this equipment is its flexible composition. The damage rate to the material is low. Therefore, the production of defective products can be prevented. Forms of composition: Z shaped, C type, mixed, and horizontal.

Z style bucket conveyor applications:

At present, Z vertical conveyor is mainly used for the feeding of weighing packaging machines and color sorters. In addition, it’s also suitable for cyclic loading and unloading of automated production lines. What is the application of bucket conveyor? The following are its common specific applications:

Food industry: biscuits, potato chips, flour, dumplings, chocolate, frozen food, candy, peanuts, coffee beans, peas, melon seeds, pistachios, walnuts, almonds, rice, etc.
Chemical industry: plastic particles (PP, PE, PS), activated carbon, preservatives, additives, fertilizers, feed, cat litter, etc.
Pharmaceutical industry: capsules, tablets, pills, etc.;
Hardware industry: screws, nuts, metal accessories, etc.;

Technical specification of z type bucket elevator:

For the vertical conveyor, it can choose different materials and configurations according to the lifting materials and user’s requirements.

1. Casing: semi-enclosed / dustproof / stainless steel or carbon steel sprayed shell.
2. Bucket material: SS304 stainless steel bucket / carbon steel bucket / food grade ABS or PP bucket.
3. Elevator bucket capacity: 1.8L, 2.4L, 3.6L, 6L, 10L.
4. Drive device: explosion-proof gear motor / ordinary gear motor.
5. Sprocket: alloy steel sprocket / stainless steel sprocket.
6. Chain: alloy steel chain / stainless steel chain.
7. Control devices: manual start and stop / automatic start and stop, frequency conversion control.
8. Feeding type of elevator conveyor: ordinary hopper feeding / electromagnetic vibration feeder.
9. Conveyor voltage: 220V, 380V (single-phase or 3-phase).
10. Bucket conveyor type: Z shape, C type, single or multiple feeding ports, single or multiple discharge outlets.

Model of Bucket Conveyor

ZD-1.8

ZD-3

ZD-4

ZD-6

ZD-10

Elevator Capacity

100%

m³/h

6

8

10

15

22

75%

m³/h

4.5

6

8

11

16.5

Bucket

Bucket Capacty

L

1.8

2.4

3.8

6 .5

10

Bucket Length

mm

418

530

475

489

870

Chain

Pitch

mm

38.1

Single Chain Breaking Load (Min)

kv

37.6

Sprocket

Number of teeth

——

26

Diameter

mm

316.09

Bucket Speed

m/min

speed adjustable (10~15)

Lifting Height

m

0~50m (custom)

Horizontal conveying distance

m

0~100

Power

KW

0.75~3.7

Structure and Principle of Z Vertical Conveyor

The structure of the z-type bucket conveyor is similar to the traditional vertical bucket elevator. They both use chain buckets for conveying. But there is some difference in the feeding and discharging. Z style elevator conveyor increases the conveying part of the upper and lower horizontal sections (the shortest 1.5 meters). So it is convenient for customers to transport at a horizontal distance. Thereby customers don’t need to buy other horizontal conveyor equipments.

The Z series bucket elevator composes of the following parts, such as conveying parts, driving device, upper device, middle casing, and lower device. Among them, the conveying parts include buckets and chains.

Z Vertical Conveyor Structure

Bucket elevator components: 1~elevator body, 2~feeding port, 3~discharge port, 4~drive motor, 5~bucket, 6~cylinder, 7~driven sprocket, 8~drive chain, 9~guide wheel, 10~slider, 11~tensioning device, 15~studs.

How does a bucket conveyor work?

It is suitable for lifting items from a low place to a high place. First of all, feed the material into the buckets through the hopper. Then the vertical conveyor automatically runs continuously and upwards. To put it simply, the two circular chains are full of elevator buckets. Afterwards, the motor drives the chain to rotate. So the bucket rotates with the chain. Finally, the material is lifted and transported to the designated location for unloading. The buckets discharge materials by centrifugal force and gravity. So as to realize the vertical conveying.

When the Z elevator conveyor works, the gear motor drives the two sprockets to move synchronously through the bearings. So the two chains move synchronously on the closed track. When conveying the material to the feeder, it slides and falls into the horizontal forward buckets. Since the material is slipped into the elevator buckets, so the material will not be broken.

In addition, the Z style bucket conveyor is usually closed. So it prevents dust from flying. Of course, bucket elevator has inspection door. Therefore, customers can observe vertical conveyor operation at any time.

Bucket Elevator Conveyor Advantages & Features

The Z-type bucket elevator integrates the horizontal conveying and lifting of materials. Thus, one Z vertical conveyor can replace the traditional three conveyor equipments. That is to say, the two horizontal conveyors + one vertical lift conveyor.

1. Firstly, the conveying range is wide. This type of elevator conveyor does not have high requirements for the types and characteristics of materials. Z vertical conveyor can not only lift powdery and small granular materials, but also lift bulk materials. Good airtightness and less environmental pollution.

Of course, the bucket conveyor has a plexiglass cover. So it is convenient to observe the condition. At the same time, the large window door is convenient for maintenance.

2. Secondly, there are a variety of shapes and structures for choice. Therefore, the layout is flexible. And vertical conveyor can save factory area. The conveying track is horizontal-vertical-horizontal transportation. So it can greatly reduce unnecessary space occupation.

In addition to Z conveyor, bucket conveyor can also be C shape and T-shaped. Moreover, both the feeding port and the discharging port can have multiple ports.

bucket conveyor types

How to Select Bucket Elevator Conveyor?

When customizing the vertical conveyor, you need to inform the manufacturer of the specific application. Of course, before you select the vertical conveyor, you should confirm which shape you need. Z style or C shape bucket elevator or other shapes? In addition, if need multiple discharge ports or feeding ports, just tell us.

  1. 1.Firstly, Material Characteristics

It mainly include various parameters, such as bulk density, temperature, viscosity, etc. Moreover, different conveyed products, different elevator body & bucket materials. The outer casing of bucket conveyor can be carbon steel and stainless steel. Additionally, there are several kinds of elevator buckets materials, such as ABS plastic, carbon steel, SS304 stainless steel, SS316 stainless steel, etc.

So what materials to select? For example, if your appliation is to convey food, it must to use the sanitary ABS or stainless steel buckets. At the same time, the machine casing should be also stainless steel. And if you want to transport the high temperature products, it can’t to use the plastic elevator buckets. In addition, when lifting the corrosive goods, it should use the SS304 or SS316 buckets.

2. Secondly, How to calculate the volume / capacity of a bucket elevator?

Usually, the capacity of bucket conveyor is determined by several aspects, such as elevator conveyor size, bucket volume and conveying speed. Here is a simple calculation formula. Conveying volume per hour = (bucket volume * single row bucket number) * T * 60 * 75%. (Among them, T is the number of times a single-row buckets run in one minute). In addition, why is there 75%? That’s because, in the actual conveying process, it is difficult to achieve 100% conveying efficiency. In other words, the elevator buckets are difficult to fill.

For example, the height of the vertical conveyor is 3.5 meters. The bucket volume is 6.5L. In addition, the width of the 6.5L bucket is 223mm. The operating speed of the elevator conveyor is 10 m/min. Then the number of buckets in a single row is 16pcs. And T=10/3.5≈2.86 times. Therefore, the conveying capacity of the bucket conveyor per hour = (6.5L*16)*2.86*60*75% = 13384.8L ≈ 13.38m³.

3. Thirdly, electric motor of elevator conveyor

Above all, you can choose mount the electric motor on the top or bottom of bucket conveyor. Both are ok. More importantly, it must consider the explosion-proof property of the motor in some special occasions. Bucket elevator often conveys powdery materials, for instance flour. Therefore, in order to avoid dust explosions, it needs to use explosion-proof motor. At the same time, during the design of the vertical conveyor, it is necessary to consider preventing the generation of static electricity.

How to install / assemble Z type bucket conveyor elevator?

Below are the detailed steps of Z-type bucket elevator installation:

1. After receiving the elevator conveyor, unpack the wooden box. Firstly take out the bucket elevator components. Then check the number of spare parts against the packing list.

2. Secondly, correct the horizontal position of the base. So it can ensure the stability of the Z shape vertical conveyor.

3. Thirdly, before installation, choose the long and short screws and nuts. Then, start the formal installation. Install the lower right plate firstly. Align and tighten the screws. Then, install the lower left plate. Align and tighten the screws. Finally, install the middle fixing frame and tighten the screws. Ensure the stability of the elevator machine body.

4. Fourthly, assemble the left and right plates of the middle elevator. The method and steps are the same as the third step.

5. Fifthly, install the upper right plate and the upper left plate. The steps are the same as above.

6. Sixthly, assemble the right horizontal plate and the left horizontal plate. At this point, it finishes the installation of the frame of bucket conveyor.

7. Seventhly, install the first and second guide sprockets. Then align and tighten the screws.

Next, there are other installation steps:

8. Eighthly, assemble the top drive sprocket. Then manually check the smoothness of each sprocket. If the smoothness of the elevator sprocket is not good, please adjust it. If there is no problem, install the front cover.

9. Ninthly, remove the motor housing and remove the gear drive chain.

10. Tenthly, correctly install the left and right drive chains of the elevator conveyor. Above all, pass the chain around the sprocket from the bottom. Then pass it through the second guide sprocket. And pull it all the way to and around the top drive sprocket. Then, pull the chain back and go around the first guide sprocket. Then pull the chain down and go around the bottom sprockets and connect. Note that when installing the other side of the chain, make sure that the pins on both sides of the chain are aligned. Otherwise, you cannot assemble elevator buckets.

11. The 11th, adjust the tension balance of the chains on both sides through the tensioning device. Then, pull the chain to detect the condition. The best condition is that the chain drive is stable, smooth, and low noise.

12. No. 12, assemble the elevator buckets correctly. After installation, check the rotation smoothness of the bucket. And then install 3pcs buckets side by side. Then turn it around manually. Check whether the overall operation is normal, smooth and stable.

13. No. 13, assemble all elevator buckets. Similarly, manually check the operating status.

Next, there are other installation steps:

14. No. 14, install the control electric box of elevator conveyor. Then, install the vibrating feeder connection line. Immediately afterwards, connect the main motor cable. Connect the 380V /220V three-phase four-wire power cord. Please be careful. Finally, connect the feeder connection line to the feeder.

15. No. 15, connect the power supply. Check whether the rotation direction of the main motor is correct. Then, install the motor chain. Finally, install the motor protection shell.

16. 16th, turn on the power and check whether the overall operation of the vertical conveyor is normal, smooth and stable.

17. 17th, after confirming that there is no problem with the bucket conveyor, assemble the remaining parts, such as the discharge port and various cover plates. Finally, check the operating status of the elevator conveyor. After confirming that it is correct, it finishes the assembly of bucket elevator.

Bucket Elevator Troubleshooting

During bucket conveyor application, there may be many kinds of problems. The following are common problems and solutions for elevator conveyor.

1. How to solve the problem of elevator buckets?

There are some reasons for the failure of the buckets.

  1. (1) There are cracks on the buckets

  2. We often use ABS plastic buckets for vertical conveyor. Although the ABS plastic bucket is very strong, it may be damaged. If there is a crack in the bucket, it needs to check carefully. Firstly, see where the cracks appear. If there is a crack in the center of the bucket, this is likely to be caused by manual violent feeding. Or it may also be caused by hitting the elevator bucket. Under normal circumstances, there will be no cracks in the center. Therefore, operators must be trained. So it can avoid damage to the bucket due to operating errors.

(2) High temperature and corrosive materials

The temperature resistance of the plastic bucket has a certain limit. As long as it is within the safe value range, there is no problem for bucket conveyor. However, once the temperature is too high, the plastic bucket cannot withstand it. Eventually it will deform the elevator bucket.

In addition, some customers do not know that the material will be corrosive during using the Z-type elevator conveyor. So long use will cause damage to the buckets. Therefore, we must not only choose the elevator buckets of the right material, but also use them correctly.

(3) Material proportion is relatively large

Some users also said that they use stainless steel buckets. But the buckets are still easily damaged. Later, we knew that the proportion of materials was relatively large. The specific gravity is as high as about 7. In this case, it needs to communicate with the manufacturer in advance.

When using bucket conveyor, it can choose larger models buckets. Because the total amount that a large-size buckets can bear is also relatively large.

2. How to solve the noise problem of Z type vertical conveyor?

Different noises, different solutions.

(1) Motor noise

The motor noise is normal. When the stator and the rotor rub against each other, there will be a harsh clashing sound. This is mostly caused by a faulty bearing. At this time, it needs to stop immediately. Then check whether the motor bearings are damaged.

In addition, the motor bearings of elevator conveyor require maintenance. When the bearing is severely short of oil, some noise will occur. So you need to add new oil.

(2) Chain noise

The wear of the chain and sprocket will also cause noise. Too much chain tension, insufficient chain lubrication, and too large chain pitch will affect the use of the chain. Therefore, it needs proper lubrication at this time.

(3) The sound of falling materials

The materials in the elevator buckets are full. They fall into the bucket conveyor body during operation, causing some noise. At this time, it requires uniform feeding. At the same time, avoid the conveying volume exceeding the load capacity of the vertical conveyor. In order to avoid damage to the machine.

If you encounter these noises, be sure to stop the elevator conveyor firstly. And then perform an inspection.

Bucket Conveyor Operation & Maintenance

Correct operation and maintenance are essential to the service life of the elveator conveyor.

1. Trial operation of Z-type vertical conveyor

After finishing bucket elevator installation, it should carry out a test run with an empty machine. Pay attention: it cannot be reversed. And there must be no bumps. Empty running is not less than 2 hours. Besides, there should be no overheating. The temperature rise of the motor does not exceed 30°C. After 2 hours of test operation, it can carry out the load test if everything is normal.

2. Start Z-type bucket elevator without load

Before shutdown each time, you should drain all materials in the buckets. Then stop the machine again. Moreover, don’t operate the elevator conveyor reversely. The chain derailment may occur because of the reverse. Solving the derailment is very troublesome.

3. Feed evenly

It is forbidden to increase the feeding amount suddenly. The feeding amount cannot exceed the conveying capacity of the bucket elevator. Otherwise, it is easy to cause accumulation of materials at the bottom.

On the contrary, if the feed is less, it will reach the rated feed of the equipment. So it will reduce the transportation capacity of the bucket conveyor.

4. How to clean the bucket conveyor?

(1) Firstly, remove debris and dust on the surface of the vertical conveyor. Imediately afterwards, clean the bucket elevator with dish soap. Then clean it with clean water. Finally, use 75% medical alcohol to clean the surface of the elevator conveyor.

(2) Secondly, open the side prorection plate of the chain. Remove all elevator buckets correctly. The cleaning method for buckets is the same as above. After cleaning, put it back into the buckets. And install the side panels.

(3) Remove the discharge port and other cover plates on the top of the elevator. Then, clean it in the same way. After cleaning, install the cover plates.

5. Lubricate the spare parts of elevator conveyor

(1) Open the cover of the tensioning device of vertical conveyor. Apply engine oil evenly on the screws and nuts of the tensioning mechanism. The guide rails and bearings need to be lubricated. Finally, close the cover.

(2) Add solid lubricating oil to the bearing seat of the driving sprockets.

6. Replace the broken chains & elevator buckets timely

If find that the buckets are damaged during operation, stop the bucket conveyor for inspection in time. And replace with new elevator buckets. Otherwise, continued operation will cause more buckets damage. Similarly, it should check the condition of the chain at any time. If damaged, replace it in time.

In addition, regularly check the tightening of the nuts on the machine body and other parts. Prevent the nut from loosening and affecting the normal operation of the bucket elevator.