In the automotive and paper industries, the use of steel belts and chains is common for conveying heavy loads. These belts typically require lubrication which involves regular maintenance. Also, steel conveyors are usually not very smooth and may damage the conveyed products. It is therefore of interest to use heavy plastic modular belts or chains which do not require lubrication and are smooth and less hard on their conveying surface. Since modular belts and chains are supported by slider beds made from plastics or steel, the friction between the belt and the slider bed increases the required driving power and at the same time reduces the maximum conveyable load.
Another problem with heavy conveyors is the large belt thickness and sprocket diameter which typically requires a heavy and space-consuming conveyor construction. Often the conveying surface for such conveyors needs to be near the ground. This arrangement is specifically necessary for people mover belts. The purpose of such belts is to transport workers slowly along an assembly line on which the components to assemble are also moving. An application for this type of belt is found in the automobile manufacturing industry. Because the heavy people mover conveyors require space, they are required to be installed in the ground. In order to install the conveyor at or near ground level, a conveyor with a large height requires a deep pit. The same problems also arise in connection with the transportation of heavy goods such as paper rolls.
Accordingly, there is a need for a transport system that reduces the friction forces to improve the loading capacity and reduce the depth of the pit in the ground that may be needed in applications where the conveyor is installed at or near ground level.