Vertical Transport Units (VTU): Efficiently Move Pallets Between Floors
Dual Lift Vertical Transport Unit
A dual lift VTU configuration has two (2) independent actuators that enable two Z-axis movements at a time and two independent decks. This can be used many ways.
Examples:
- Decouple an upper and lower transfer
- Sorting product to / from multiple in-feeds and discharges
- Perform an operation on one product while keeping the VTU in operation for others
Videos
Options
- Can be driven with any electric motor – AC (Motor Brake Required), stepper / servo, etc.
- Complete flexibility of geometry (size, lift stroke, etc.)
Heavy Duty VTU
Vertically Transfer Pallet Loads
A heavy-duty vertical transfer unit designed to reliably move pallet loads between conveyor levels using a servo-powered lift steel lifting elements and a roller chain drive. Built on a welded painted steel tube structure with fixed exterior safety panels, it provides stable, precise lifting for demanding material handling environmnets
- Pallet Sizes: 400mm x 400mm to 1200mm x 1200mm
- Max Payload: 200kg
- Max Discharge Height: 5m
- Min Discharge Height: 1m
- Lift conveyor AC powered Plastic Modular Twin Belt
Options
- Vertical Lift/Lower: Servo Powered
- Lifting Elements: Steel
- Roller Chain
- Manual Chain Tensioner
- Welded painted steel tube structure
- Safety panels on exterior
Dual Deck VTU
Accuracy with a Small Footprint
Allows for vertical transfer of product on two transport conveyors simultaneously.
- A standard Vertical Transfer Unit with two transport deck conveyors
- Provides the ability to transport twice the amount of product vertically
- This is especially useful for processes requiring fast-paced throughput
- The number of transport decks can be increased to shift as many products vertically as desired
Options
- Can be driven with an electric motor – stepper / servo
- Quantity of transport deck conveyors can be added as needed
- Complete flexibility of geometry (size, lift stroke, etc.)
Low-Cost Mini VTU
Affordable Vertical Transferring
The Low Cost Mini VTU was built for those who are looking for creative space use and cost savings.
Due to the configurable nature of our systems, curves can be configured as options of 30, 45, 60, 90, and 180 degrees, other custom options are available upon request.
Specifications
- Lift range up to 250mm**
- Lift cylinder bore of 40mm
- **Lift capacity (including deck CV and pallet) of 150 Lbs @ 80 psi
- **Standard pallet length and width range of 160mm – 400mm
- **custom options available outside these ranges/values specified above upon verification from engineering*¼ NPT ports
Features
- A simple short Vertical Transport Unit (VTU) for limited vertical stroke applications
- Pneumatically actuated
- 102mm clearance for pallet and product on bottom level
Options
- Guarding
Tilting Deck VTU
Fully Configurable Lift Positioning
Allows for vertical transfer of product as well as tilting the conveyor deck up to 30° to allow for flexible access to the product being transported.
- A standard Vertical Transfer Unit with the addition of a tilting transport deck conveyor
- Provides the ability to tilt the product towards a robot or operator for improved access to the product
- Tilt feature is controlled by the VTU servo/motor which allows for the transport deck conveyor to tilt up to 30°. Deck is hinged on one side and loose on the other, allowing different Z-axis movements to provide various tilting angles
Videos
Features
- Step-servo control of the z-axis allows maximum tilting flexibility.
- Various sizes, angles and access points are all possible
Multiple Position VTU
Fully Configurable Lift Positioning
Allows for vertical transfer of product from one or more in-feed conveyors to multiple discharge conveyors.
- A standard Vertical Transfer Unit that feeds multiple input and output conveyors
- The total number of infeed and outfeed conveyors can be increased, as needed, to maximize product flow.
- Servo-driven elevator allows for multiple position stopping with precision movement
- The number of transport decks can also be increased to shift as many products vertically as desired.
Videos
Options
- Can be driven with an electric motor – stepper / servo
- Quantity of infeed, outfeed, and transport deck conveyors can be added as needed
- Complete flexibility of geometry (size, lift stroke, etc.)
Pass Through VTU
Fully Configurable Lift Positioning
The vertical transfer unit lifts product off the main line to prevent stoppage of product flow.
- A Dual Deck Vertical Transport Unit that elevates product above main line to allow work to be done from above.
- The bottom transport deck replaces the top when shifted vertically to allow downstream product to bypass and move ahead
- Useful for performing the same process at multiple stations without disturbing product flow.
- Servo-driven elevator allows precision movement and stoppage
Options
- Can be driven with an electric motor – stepper / servo
- Complete flexibility of geometry (size, lift stroke, etc.)
Bypass Lift VTU
Fully Configurable Lift Positioning
Two independently powered lift decks combined into one space to provide product bypass above the main line while simultaneously allowing undisturbed product flow to multiple positions.
- Two standard Vertical Transfer Unit decks contained within a single VTU footprint
- One elevator performs bypass to lift product above the main line
- The second elevator can simultaneously shift to multiple positions to allow product flow to continue downstream or to a return conveyor
- Servo-driven elevator allows for multiple position stopping with precision movement
- Especially useful in tight workspaces to allow multiple tasks to be performed within the same workspace
Options
- Can be driven with an electric motor – stepper or servo based upon the application needs
- Complete flexibility of geometry (size, lift stroke, etc.)
Rack Feeder
Fully Configurable Lift Positioning
Allows for vertical transfer of product to be stored on multiple independently driven stacked conveyors.
- A Vertical Transport Unit feeds product to a rack of independently driven conveyors.
- Maximum amount of product can be stored in a small footprint
- Independently-driven stacked conveyors allow for quick storage and retrieval processes to decrease cycle time
- Servo-driven elevator allows precision movement and stoppage to multiple positions
Videos
Options
- Can be driven with an electric motor – stepper / servo,
- Quantity of stacked conveyors can be increased as needed
- Complete flexibility of overall geometry
Machine Tending Solution
Fully Configurable Lift Positioning
A vertical sortation and storage device to create a buffer of pallets either upstream or downstream (or both) of a machine. Allows an operator to load up a machine with unfinished goods and automatically load parts, and can even simultaneously unload parts. This machine tending solution can greatly reduce operator involvement and keep your valuable machines running while you attend to other tasks.
Features
- Can be driven with any electric motor – AC, stepper / servo, etc.
- This basic concept can be used as an interim buffer/storage concept
- Is infinitely flexible with levels, sizing, etc.
- Servo based for speed, precise motion control and accuracy
Vertical Transport Units (VTU): Efficiently Move Pallets Between Floors
Dual Lift Vertical Transport Unit
A dual lift VTU configuration has two (2) independent actuators that enable two Z-axis movements at a time and two independent decks. This can be used many ways. Learn more in this blog: 3 Ways to Save Space by Integrating Vertically Stacked Conveyors and VTUs
Examples:
- Perform an operation on one product while keeping the VTU in operation for others
- Decouple an upper and lower transfer
- Sorting product to / from multiple in-feeds and discharges
Specifications
- Speed Range – 3.5 to 70 m/min based on a 1750 motor RPM
- Transport Payload Capacity – 250 Lbs. per strand
- Minimum Strand length – 174mm
- Belt Type – 25mm wide polyurethane core T5 timing belt with steel tension members
- Extruded aluminum construction with standard 10mm T-slots
Features
- T5 timing style conveyor belts for positive drive and precision positioning ability
- Several belt materials available to service a wide range of pallet handling conditions
- Utilizes all ball bearing supported rolling elements for long maintenance free operation
- Certified for use in clean room environments
- Antistatic materials available to suit operation in static sensitive areas or with static sensitive payloads
- All maintenance operations including belt changes can be performed from the top eliminating the need to disassemble or remove ancillary equipment
- Highly configurable
- Bolt-up compatibility with other leading brands
Options
- Configurable cross-members – Define the number and position of cross-members desired
- Configurable break points – Define break points in the frame for convenient assembly and breakdown
- Belt covering – All belt cores are polyurethane with steel tension members
Heavy Duty VTU
Vertically Transfer Pallet Loads
A dual lift VTU configuration has two (2) independent actuators that enable two Z-axis movements at a time and two independent decks. This can be used many ways.
Examples:
- Decouple an upper and lower transfer
- Sorting product to / from multiple in-feeds and discharges
- Perform an operation on one product while keeping the VTU in operation for others
Specifications
- Speed Range – 3.5 to 70 m/min
- Bi-directional operation
- Payload Capacity – 150 Lbs. @ 80 psi
- Pallet length range – 160mm to 1040mm in 1mm increments
- Pallet width range – 160mm to 1040mm in1mm increments
- Belt Type – 25mm wide polyurethane core T5 timing belt with steel tension members
- 50mm bore lift cylinder
- 10mm lift stroke – 2mm below conveying surface to 8mm above conveying surface
- G1/8 ports
Features
- T5 timing style conveyor belts for positive drive
- Several belt materials available to service a wide range of pallet handling conditions
- Utilizes all ball bearing supported rolling elements for long maintenance free operation
- Antistatic materials available to suit operation in static sensitive areas or with static sensitive payloads
- Highly configurable
- Bolt-up compatibility with other leading brands
Options
- Various bolt-on dampened stops available
- Guard package
- 24VDC enclosed drive system
- Additional DC drive options including control cards
Dual Deck VTU
Smooth Pallet Curving
Allows for vertical transfer of product on two transport conveyors simultaneously.
- A standard Vertical Transfer Unit with two transport deck conveyors
- Provides the ability to transport twice the amount of product vertically
- This is especially useful for processes requiring fast-paced throughput
- The number of transport decks can be increased to shift as many products vertically as desired
Low-Cost Mini VTU
Fully Configurable Lift Positioning
The Low Cost Mini VTU was built for those who are looking for creative space use and cost savings.
Due to the configurable nature of our systems, curves can be configured as options of 30, 45, 60, 90, and 180 degrees, other custom options are available upon request.
Specifications
- Lift range up to 250mm**
- Lift cylinder bore of 40mm
- **Lift capacity (including deck CV and pallet) of 150 Lbs @ 80 psi
- **Standard pallet length and width range of 160mm – 400mm
- **custom options available outside these ranges/values specified above upon verification from engineering*¼ NPT ports
Features
- A simple short Vertical Transport Unit (VTU) for limited vertical stroke applications
- Pneumatically actuated
- 102mm clearance for pallet and product on bottom level
Options
- Guarding