The perfect transfer solution

Flexco – more efficient airport operation thanks to new belt conveyor transfer components

Belt conveyors at airports ensure that baggage and parcels reach the aircraft or baggage claim area quickly and without damage. However, small objects can occasionally damage the belt at some transfer points of the system. If there are no clean transfers between the belts or the chute, the transported baggage can accumulate – and the system has to be stopped while it is being repaired. That costs money. With this in mind, Flexco has developed two new products to make the transfer to belt conveyors more efficient. 

Image 1: The segmented transfer plates on belt conveyors ensure that packages do not accumulate at the transfer points.

Vacation at last! For many of us, this is probably the best time of the year, because we can then get away to warmer climes and forget stress for a while. We take an airplane to Spain, Greece, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Hawaii or anywhere we fancy. The airports are particularly stressed during this time of year, with long queues at the counters as far as the eye can see – and because airline operators expect more and more travelers in the future, new terminals are constantly being built at airports – or existing ones are being modernized. Belt conveyors are a vital component of airport management systems. They transport suitcases, bags and parcels quickly and safely to their destinations within the premises (well, they’re supposed to at any rate).

“Steel plates are usually fitted at the transfer points so baggage can be transported smoothly from belt to belt or to the transfer chute,” explains Harry Schiminski, Product Manager at Flexco Europe GmbH in Rosenfeld, Swabia. The company specializes in mechanical conveyor belt splicing systems, which are used in various industries, including airports. “The plates themselves are an efficient solution,” says Schiminski. However, they often have to be manufactured individually. The cords of a bag, the wheels of a suitcase or a parcel can also get entangled in the gap between the conveyor belt and the plate – then the flow of baggage and the entire system comes to a halt until the service technician has repaired the damage – and unforeseen downtimes are usually expensive. “If baggage accumulates within an X-ray scanner for explosives detection, a repair will take even longer because of the scanner’s limited accessibility,” says Schiminski. And if luggage arrives too late at its destination, the passenger may depart without it. “When baggage congestion occurs, there’s also a risk that a parcel or suitcase will fall to the ground, damaging the contents. All these scenarios can cost the operators a lot of money.

Gliding smoothly onwards

Image 2: The segments can fit belt widths of up to 1,524 millimeters.

With its segmented transfer plates, Flexco has developed an effective transfer solution by means of which the belts are connected “endlessly”. Made of high-density HDPE plastic, the components have an extremely low friction coefficient and a long service life. At the transfer points, the segments form a secure connection over which the material to be conveyed glides smoothly. “Speaking of segments, this is exactly how our solution differs from a rigid steel plate,” says Harry Schiminski.

The segments can cover transfer points from 38 to 250 millimeters in size. Various segments can also be combined as desired. This is necessary to compensate for differences in the load-bearing structure caused by offset installation, for example – and this compensation is not possible with a steel plate. The bridge segments enable transfers from the belt to the transfer chute or slide. The various components are fitted to a mounting bar, various versions of which can cover belt widths of up to 1,524 millimeters.

“If an object gets stuck in the transfer plate, the relevant segment will detach from the mounting bar, releasing the object,” explains Schiminski. “The transfer can then continue.” If the segment is damaged, it can be replaced in a few seconds: Thanks to the striking yellow color of the Flexco component, the service technician can immediately see where he needs to intervene. He simply clicks the damaged segment off the bar and inserts the new one.

Image 3: The transfer plates form a secure connection at the transfer points.

Safe protection in the right place

Another cost trap on conveyor belts is the hitch. If small objects get lodged here, the belt can tear lengthwise, causing a costly period of unscheduled downtime. “We have developed our Hitch Guard system to prevent this from happening,” says Schiminski. This component also consists of several segments, which can be easily installed with simple brackets and hardware. The support bar and segments can be adapted to any belt width and if optical scanners are used on the conveyor belt system, Flexco also offers an optional mounting device.

Harry Schiminski explains what is special about Hitch Guard: “As soon as a small object gets trapped between the belt and a segment, the pressure causes that segment to release from the support bar, quickly dislodging the object.” Since the other segments do not move while this is happening, operation does not have to be interrupted. Here, too, the bright yellow of the components makes the work of the service technician easier.

“Our efficient transfer solutions help operators save costs,” says Schiminski. They have fewer unscheduled downtimes at airports and consequently fewer service calls. The safety level of the transported baggage is also significantly increased – a very important factor for passengers.