When compared with conveyor used in manufacturing, picking, or sortation applications, trash conveyor can often be more of an afterthought. After all, you have already handled taking care of the sellable products, how hard can it be to deal with the leftovers? If you fail to consider some important details, it’s harder than you think. Below are the 5 initial things to consider when selecting trash conveyor.

1. What are you conveying?

Which products are being conveyed and what are their dimensions should ALWAYS be your first question. There are different conveyors if it needs to be washed down or if it’s only moving dry corrugate. Bear in mind the overall width of the trash being conveyed and make sure the conveyor has additional clearance to prevent jams.

2. Will it be underneath or above other conveyor?

Trash conveyor tends to utilize deeper side channels and in many cases center drives, so you need to be aware of the clearances needed for product to travel on any lower conveyor without getting stuck. Also, be mindful of where you can put the drives to avoid interference. Consider the corrugate that will travel on the line and ensure there is adequate overhead space. Empty cartons may have the flaps protruding, which can create clearance issues in pick modules.

3. At what elevation will the trash line be located?

Trash conveyor needs to be elevated enough to clear any other conveyor underneath it, but at the same time, pickers need to be able to reach it too! Don’t forget that tall guardrail is needed as well, so it is not the belt itself that needs to be at an ergonomic height, but the top of your guardrail.

4. What is the path of the trash line?

Did you know that trash line cannot simply connect to the end of another piece of trash line like conventional conveyor? Instead, each new section of trash line must be waterfalled on to from the last. Guardrail must also be waterfalled and flared outward to provide additional clearance to reduce potential jams.  The amount of clearance needed for this waterfall depends on whether the next piece is going in the same direction or perpendicular. Not only is waterfalling of guardrail important to prevent jams, but it may be necessary in order to prevent trash from spilling out onto the warehouse floor.

5. Where is it going?

What is the end point for the trash? Is it going to a dumpster or a baler? Who is supplying the dumpster or baler, and how will the trash line interface with it? If feeding a baler, chute height is a critical factor in determining throughput capacity once the baler cycle speed is locked down.

There are many other considerations that need to be kept in mind, but those specifics will vary from application to application. This list is just to start the conversation! To get more information about trash conveyor for your specific operation, contact one of our local engineers.

Author: Gina Labou