Question

Which of the following is true about the speed of the conveyor belt?

• A. Fixed conveyors need not be shut down during any speed change
• B. Adjustable speed belts can be changed only manually
• C. Fixed speed drives can undergo minor speed changes
• D. Variations of speed is not possible with conveyors

Hint:

Even fixed-speed conveyor systems offer some limited control over speed via mechanical adjustments. For full speed flexibility, variable-speed drives are preferred.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Conveyor belt systems are typically categorized based on their drive types: fixed speed and variable speed.
- In fixed speed drives, the motor operates at a set speed under normal conditions. However, these systems can still accommodate minor adjustments in speed.
- These small changes can be achieved through methods such as altering pulley sizes, using gearboxes with multiple ratios, or fine-tuning motor controls.
- This makes option (3) true — even fixed speed drives are not entirely rigid and allow for limited speed flexibility.
Now, let's evaluate the incorrect options:
- Option (1): Fixed conveyors generally need to be stopped before any mechanical change. Continuous speed change without shutdown is a feature of variable speed systems.
- Option (2): While some adjustable belts may require manual intervention, many modern systems allow electronic or automatic adjustments. Hence, this is too restrictive.
- Option (4): This is false as many conveyor systems, especially modern ones, are built with variable speed capabilities for greater flexibility.
Hence, the correct and most accurate statement is: "Fixed speed drives can undergo minor speed changes."