What is the Purpose of Conveyors?

In modern manufacturing, warehousing and distribution operations across the US and Canada, conveyors play a central role in automating material movement. A conveyor system is essentially a mechanical device designed to transport materials or products from one location to another.

Let’s explore why conveyors are used, how different types serve distinct purposes, and which types, in particular the Belt Conveyor, Automatic Tray Loading Conveyor and Bowl Type Conveyor are suited for particular applications.

Why Use Conveyors? The Purpose & Benefits

Conveyors are more than just moving items from A to B, they are an integral part of operational efficiency, safety, throughput, and cost-control in material handling systems. Some of the core purposes include:

1. Efficient material transport

Conveyors allow continuous and predictable transport of goods, whether they are small parts, trays, packages, bulk materials or finished products. According to one guide, the main purpose of a conveyor system is to move objects that are too heavy, bulky or numerous for humans to carry by hand. 

By automating the movement of goods, you reduce manual labour, delays and internal transport time, which increases throughput and reduces lead-time.

2. Safety and ergonomic improvement

Manual handling of heavy loads or repetitive movement poses a risk of injury, fatigue and inefficiency. Conveyor systems mitigate many of those risks: they reduce the need for lifting, pushing or carrying heavy items manually. 

For US & Canada operations where labour safety regulations (OSHA in the US, provincial regulations in Canada) are strongly enforced, conveyors help maintain compliance and protect workers.

3. Standardization & process flow control

Conveyors support consistent, repeatable material flows. They provide a fixed path, predictable speed, and integration with other systems (e.g., sorting, loading, packaging). This allows easier coordination of production lines, storage systems, pick-and‐pack workflows, and logistics. 

They also support automation — reducing variability, manual error, and enabling just-in-time or lean production models in North American manufacturing.

4. Space utilization & layout optimization

In warehouse, distribution and manufacturing facilities in the US and Canada, floor space is expensive. Conveyor systems can be configured horizontally, inclined, or even overhead, enabling better use of available volume and integration into multi-level layouts. 

Also, conveyors enable smaller buffer zones, fewer internal forklifts or carts, and simpler logistics within the facility.

5. Cost control and higher throughput

While conveyors are capital equipment, they help reduce labour cost, speed up material movement, increase uptime and reduce product damage, all of which contribute to lower cost per unit processed. 

They also support high-volume operations common in the US and Canadian market, where speed, efficiency and scale matter.

Key Types & Their Specific Purposes

Below are three conveyor types — Belt Conveyor, Automatic Tray Loading Conveyor, and Bowl Type Conveyor, each suited for specific functions. Understanding the purpose of each helps you select the right solution for your operation.

Belt Conveyor

Purpose & Use-Case:

A belt conveyor uses a continuous looped belt (made of rubber, fabric, plastic or metal) stretched over pulleys and rollers to move items along a fixed path.

Common uses in the US & Canadian market include:

• Moving boxes, packages, totes in warehousing and distribution centres.
• Assembly line transport of parts or components in manufacturing.
• Inclined or declined transport between levels.
• Continuous flow of items in food processing or packaging.

Purpose Highlights:

• Provides a smooth, flat surface ideal for discrete product handling.
• Offers flexibility in layout – straight, curved, incline.
• Effective for continuous flow of moderate weights and volumes.

Consideration:

Ensure belt material matches environment (food-grade, clean-room, heavy duty) and layout is optimized to avoid bottlenecks or belt wear.

Automatic Tray Loading Conveyor

Purpose & Use-Case:

This conveyor variant is designed for automatically loading trays (like empty trays or pallets) with products, transporting them to subsequent processes (robotic stations, packaging, sorting). For example, a belt conveyor tray feeder system can load empty trays, index them, and feed into robotic loaders. 

In North America, this type fits in logistics and manufacturing where trays or containers are standardised (for example electronics, FMCG packaging, food portioning).

Purpose Highlights:

• Automates tray-based material movement, reducing manual placement.
• Integrates seamlessly with robotics or automated pick-and-place lines.
• Improves throughput, consistency and reduces human error in loading/unloading duties.

Consideration:

Requires precise alignment, controls (sensors, pneumatic slides) and coordination with downstream equipment. Capital investment is higher, so ROI depends on volume and repetition.

Bowl Type Conveyor

Bowl type conveyor” refers to equipment used to feed small parts, portions or granules via a rotating bowl or elevator style conveyance.

Purpose & Use-Case:

• Designed for feeding small solid, granular or small-sized components (e.g., hardware, food snacks, pharmaceutical portions) in packaging lines. 
• Often used when space is limited (secondary lifting solution) and the product needs elevation or special orientation.

Purpose Highlights:

• Enables controlled, gentle handling of delicate items, minimizing damage.
• Compact footprint – good for tight spaces in processing or packaging facilities.
• Suitable for upward elevation (lifting) of items to next stage of line.

Consideration:

Because it handles smaller parts, speed, feeding orientation, cleaning (especially food or pharma) and hygiene become critical. For US & Canada standards, ensure sanitary certification (USDA, NSF, etc.) if required.

How to Choose the Right Conveyor Purpose for Your Operation?

When selecting a conveyor system, bear in mind how the purpose aligns with your operational goals, floor plan, throughput requirements and integration with automation.

Here are some guiding questions and considerations:

What is being moved?

• Boxes, totes, pallets, parts, bulk material? The nature (size, weight, shape) influences whether you choose a belt conveyor, bowl feeder, or specialized tray-loading system.

• For example: if you are loading trays and stacking parts for a robotic station, an Automatic Tray Loading Conveyor is more suitable.

• If you have small parts in a packaging line and need lifting or orientation, a Bowl Type Conveyor is ideal.

What is the throughput / volume?

• High‐volume continuous flows favour belt conveyors for general movement.

• Medium volume tray-based handling may merit tray-loading conveyance.

• High precision, small part handling at high speed may need bowl or feeder systems.

What is the layout & space limitation?

• Do you have straight paths, curves, incline, multi-levels? Belt conveyors can be curved or inclined.

• Do you have limited floor space but need vertical or compact feed? Bowl type conveyors often offer vertical lift or compact footprint.

• Do you need to interface with trays, robotics, or packaging machines? Automatic tray loading conveyors are purpose-built for this.

What is integration with automation?

• North American operations often integrate conveyors with sensors, PLCs, robotic arms, sortation systems. The conveyor must support control logic, indexing, stops/starts, accumulation. 
• Purpose should include not just movement, but coordination.

What are maintenance, hygiene & compliance requirements?

• If operating in food, beverage, pharma in US/Canada markets, conveyors must meet sanitary design (wash-down, stainless steel, smooth surfaces).
• Purpose includes minimal downtime, ease of cleaning, safe operation. 

Purpose Summary & Best Practices

• The overarching purpose of conveyors is to streamline material handling: moving goods reliably, safely and efficiently through your facility.

• A Belt Conveyor is your general-purpose workhorse for moving loads in warehouses, manufacturing lines and packaging operations.

• An Automatic Tray Loading Conveyor is purpose-built for automating tray-based handling, loading/unloading workflows and integrating with robotic or packaging stations.

• A Bowl Type Conveyor serves the purpose of handling small parts or granular materials, often providing vertical lift, controlled flow and compact space utilisation.

• In the US & Canadian context, adopting conveyors helps you meet high throughput demands, maintain ergonomic and safety standards, optimise space and integrate with automation.

• Best practice: define your process flow, quantify your throughput, decide layout constraints and then select the conveyor type whose purpose most closely aligns with your operational needs.

Final Thoughts

If you are evaluating material-handling systems in the US or Canada, remember: choosing the right conveyor isn't just about cost or brand, it’s about matching the purpose of the conveyor to your workflow. Whether you need a reliable Belt Conveyor for continuous movement, an Automatic Tray Loading Conveyor for tray automation, or a Bowl Type Conveyor for small-part feeding and elevation, understanding the purpose will drive better outcomes in installation, ROI and long-term efficiency.