Editing Conveyor belt (section)

== Applications ==
Today there are different types of conveyor belts that have been created for conveying different kinds of material available in PVC and rubber materials. 
Material flowing over the belt may be weighed in transit using a [[beltweigher]]. Belts with regularly spaced partitions, known as ''elevator belts'', are used for transporting loose materials up steep inclines. Belt Conveyors are used in self-unloading bulk freighters and in live bottom trucks. Belt conveyor technology is also used in [[conveyor transport (disambiguation)|conveyor transport]] such as [[moving sidewalk]]s or [[escalator]]s, as well as on many manufacturing [[assembly line]]s. Stores often have conveyor belts at the [[check-out counter]] to move shopping items, and may use [[checkout divider]]s in this process. [[Ski resort|Ski areas]] also use conveyor belts to [[Magic carpet (ski lift)|transport skiers]] up the hill. Industrial and manufacturing applications for belt conveyors include package handling, trough belt conveyors, trash handling, bag handling, coding conveyors, and more. Integration of Human-Machine Interface(HMI) to operate the conveyor system is in the developing stages and will prove to be an efficient innovation.

=== Long belt conveyors ===
[[File:Paolo Monti - Servizio fotografico (Taranto, 1964) - BEIC 6328731.jpg|thumb|[[Taranto]], [[Paolo Monti]], 1964]]
The longest belt [[conveyor system]] in the world is in [[Transport in Western Sahara|Western Sahara]]. It was built in 1972 by Friedrich Krupp GmbH (now thyssenkrupp) and is {{convert|98|km|mi|abbr=in}} long, from the [[phosphate]] [[mining|mine]]s of [[Bu Craa]] to the coast south of [[El Aaiún|El-Aaiun]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16101666 | work=BBC News | title=Morocco's fish fight: High stakes over Western Sahara | date=15 December 2011 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111216094339/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16101666 | archive-date=16 December 2011 }}</ref>

The longest conveyor system in an airport is the [[Dubai International Airport]] baggage handling system at {{convert|63|km|mi|abbr=in}}. It was installed by [[Siemens]] and commissioned in 2008, and has a combination of traditional belt conveyors and tray conveyors.<ref>{{citation | url=http://w3.siemens.com/market-specific/global/en/airports/baggage_cargo/Documents/al_dubai.pdf | work=Seimens AG | title=Dubai International Airport: A Baggage Handling System for the gate to the Arab World | year=2009 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019060804/http://w3.siemens.com/market-specific/global/en/airports/baggage_cargo/Documents/al_dubai.pdf | archive-date=2013-10-19 }}</ref>

Boddington Bauxite Mine in Western Australia is officially recognized as having the world's longest single flight conveyor. Single flight means the load is not transferred, it is a single continuous system for the entire length. This conveyor is a cable belt conveyor system with a {{convert|31|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} conveyor feeding a {{convert|20|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} conveyor. Cable belt conveyors are a variation on the more conventional idler belt system.  Instead of running on top of idlers, cable belt conveyors are supported by two endless steel cables (steel wire rope) which are in turn supported by idler pulley wheels.  This system feeds bauxite through the difficult terrain of the Darling Ranges to the [[Worsley Alumina]] refinery.

The second longest single trough belt conveyor is the {{convert|26.8|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} Impumelelo conveyor near Secunda, South Africa.  It was designed by Conveyor Dynamics, Inc. based in Bellingham, Washington, USA and constructed by ELB Engineering based in Johannesburg South Africa.  The conveyor transports {{convert|2400|t/h|ST/h|abbr=in}}  coal from a mine to a refinery that converts the coal to diesel fuel.  The third longest trough belt conveyor in the world is the {{convert|20|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} Curragh conveyor near Westfarmers, QLD, Australia.  Conveyor Dynamics, Inc. supplied the basic engineering, control system and commissioning.  Detail engineering and Construction was completed by Laing O'Rourke.<ref>{{Cite journal |url=http://me.smenet.org/abstract.cfm?preview=1&articleID=6798&page=14 |title=Impumelelo coal mine is home to the world's longest belt conveyor |last2=Jennings |first2=Andrew |last1=Thompson |first1=Michael |date=October 2016 |journal=Mining Engineering |volume=68 |issue=10 |page=14 |access-date=2019-05-25}}</ref>

The longest single-belt international conveyor runs from Meghalaya in India to a cement factory at Chhatak [[Bangladesh]].<ref name="Alspaugh">Alspaugh, Mark, ''Bulk Material Handling By Conveyor Belt 7'', p 83 {{ISBN|0-87335-260-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://pid.adb.org/pid/PsView.htm?projNo=31911&seqNo=01&typeCd=4 |title=Asian Development Bank description of the Lafarge Surma project |publisher=Pid.adb.org |access-date=2013-03-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111103717/http://pid.adb.org/pid/PsView.htm?projNo=31911&seqNo=01&typeCd=4 |archive-date=2014-01-11 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=5590 |title=Stoppage of limestone supply to Lafarge Surma Indian SC issues showcause notice on central, Meghala |publisher=Mines and Communities |date=2007-06-20 |access-date=2013-03-27 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111103901/http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=5590 |archive-date=2014-01-11 }}</ref> It is about {{convert|17|km|mi|abbr=in}} long and conveys [[limestone]] and [[shale]] at {{convert|960|t/h|ST/h|abbr=in}}, from the quarry in [[India]] to the cement factory ({{convert|7|km|mi|disp=or|abbr=in}} long in India and {{convert|10|km|mi|disp=or|abbr=in}} long in Bangladesh). The conveyor was engineered by AUMUND France and Larsen & Toubro. The conveyor is actuated by three synchronized drive units for a total power of about 1.8&nbsp;MW supplied by ABB (two drives at the head end in Bangladesh and one drive at the tail end in India). The conveyor belt was manufactured in {{convert|300|m|ft|abbr=off|adj=on}} lengths on the Indian side and {{convert|300|m|ft|abbr=off|adj=on}} lengths on the Bangladesh side. The idlers, or rollers, of the system are unique<ref name="MALLICK, AMIYA RANJAN">{{cite book |last1=Bhackiyalakshmi |first1=Jayaram |title=Practical Boiler Operation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XfV6CgAAQBAJ&dq=The+idlers,+or+rollers,+of+the+system+are+unique&pg=PA133 |date=31 August 2015 |publisher=Technology & Engineering |isbn=9788120351394 |access-date=14 September 2021}}</ref> in that they are designed to accommodate both horizontal and vertical curves along the terrain. Dedicated vehicles were designed for the maintenance of the conveyor, which is always at a minimum height of {{convert|5|m|ft}} above the ground to avoid being flooded during monsoon periods.

=== Belt conveyor safety system ===
Conveyors used in industrial settings include tripping mechanisms such as [[tripwire|trip cords]] along the length of the conveyor.  This allows for workers to immediately shut down the conveyor when a problem arises.  Warning alarms are included to notify employees that a conveyor is about to turn on. In the United States, the [[Occupational Safety and Health Administration]] has issued regulations for conveyor safety, as OSHA 1926.555.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=10765&p_table=STANDARDS |title=Safety and Health Regulations for Construction, Conveyors |publisher=US Department of Labor |date=2010-01-21 |access-date=2013-12-16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216182917/https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=10765&p_table=STANDARDS |archive-date=2013-12-16 }}</ref>

Some other systems used to safeguard the conveyor are belt sway switches, speed switches, belt rip switch, and [[emergency stop]]s. The belt sway switch will stop the conveyor if the belt starts losing its alignment along the structure. The speed switch will stop the belt if the switch is not registering that the belt is running at the required speed. The belt rip switch will stop the belt when there is a cut, or a flap indicating that the belt is in danger of further damage. An emergency stop may be located on the conveyor control box in case of trip chord malfunctions.

=== Reuse ===
Worn rubber or elastomer belts can be reused in many ways. Applications for the material include toolbox liners,<ref name="farmshow"/> anti-fatigue floor mats,<ref name="farmshow"/> dock bumpers,<ref name="farmshow"/> landscale edging,<ref name="farmshow"/> livestock fencing,<ref name="farmshow"/> and water diversion.<ref name="farmshow">{{cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Made it Myself Ideas|volume=4|publisher=Farm Show|location=Lakeville, Minnesota|year=2019|page=53}}</ref>