Traffic Control Conveyor Solutions for Direct Material Handling

Just like traffic officers and airplane marshallers, conveyors need devices that help control the movement of products around the factory. Considering the diversity of products that manufacturers handle daily, these devices come in various designs that solve specific traffic control situations. 

Glide-Line’s range of traffic control conveyor solutions is designed to be configurable and adaptable for direct material handling applications. Combined with our Zero Contact Zoned Conveyors, we can assist manufacturers who need to manage the flow of products directly on the line, without damaging items or putting operators at risk. 

By integrating the conveyor “traffic cop” devices mentioned below, you can expertly merge, shuttle, bypass, lift, rotate, and orientate products to ensure the smooth and gentle flow of items around your facility. 

Controlling the Line: Glide-Line’s Traffic Cop Conveyor Solutions

The biggest challenge with traffic control on a conveyor is managing the flow of items through different intersections while allowing for product accumulation and changes in direction. Typically, this requires stops, reed switches, sensors, or other instruments that interface with the product and the conveyor.

When a product is on a pallet, it’s easier to integrate controls with the conveyor line and transfer devices. Glide-Line’s pallet-stops and zone controls enable you to manage the movement precisely during different stages of the assembly line. 

Pallet Stops and Zone Controls

With products moving via a pallet directly on the line, there are a variety of stops and controls you can use to control the flow of items. 

Some of these include: 

• Dampened Stops - Allows for the smooth transition of products at system intersections
• Anti-Rebound Pallet Stops - Prevents backward flow on bi-directional conveyors by keeping one pallet in place while another moves in the opposite direction
• Zone Controls - Sensors that control a specific zone of the conveyor (along with the drives) to enable product accumulation without contact

Glide-Line can also customize our dampened stops to accommodate special applications. We recently developed a dampened drop-away pallet stop to handle 4-way intersections that required gentle movement throughout the system.

Product Manipulation and Transfer Solutions

Along with dampened stops and zone controls, product manipulation is just as important when managing traffic on the line. Glide-Line has a variety of solutions that enable the smooth and efficient manipulation of products. 

Glide-Line’s direct product handling solutions provide capabilities such as:

• Right Angle Transfers - Enables the 90° transfer of products with a dual pop-up also available for larger workpieces
• Vertical Lifts and Transfers - A range of designs that can allow you to lift, bypass, or transfer products at different stages
• Rotation Devices - Allows for the controlled rotation of products through 360° angles

We can combine all these devices with our timing belt and roller chain conveyors to handle any kind of application. With Glide-Line’s solutions, there is always a way to keep traffic flowing and prevent jams from limiting production. 

Maintain Expert Control Over Your Products with Glide-Line’s Conveyor Traffic Control Systems

Controlling your products and keeping them flowing through your facility has never been easier than with our conveyor traffic control solutions. You can adapt the systems to meet your specific needs, and we’re always willing to customize a design where necessary. Our customers demand precise control over products to ensure zero collisions with smooth stops and seamless transfers. 

Discover a new world of capabilities with our conveyor solutions by reaching out to Glide-Line here.