Portec began a new era in baggage handling technology in 1957 and 1958 when they introduced the first Belt Power Curve and first Spiral Curve®. Used in more than 500 airports and with over 70,000 in service, the Portec positive chain / belt drive specialty conveyors have built a reputation for rugged dependability.
Besides Belt Power Curves and Spiral Curves, Portec also provides angle merge conveyors, fiberglass spiral chutes, queuing conveyors, gap conveyors, and large belt merge conveyors.
Baggage handling technology
Portec has almost 50 years’ experience engineering baggage handling conveyors using chain / belt technology. The belt is driven by its outside edge by the precision belt drive chain. This low-tension, positive-drive arrangement is unaffected by changes in loading, belt tension, temperature, humidity, and foreign material getting between the bottom of the belt and the end rolls.
Unlike friction-driven belt conveyors, exact belt tension and adjustment is not required to continue operations when environmental conditions change. The Portec chain / belt system uses loose belt technology that greatly increases the life expectancy of the conveyor belts and end roll components, such as bearings, shafts and pulleys. The chain / belt design runs quietly, meeting or exceeding required noise design criteria.
The low-tension Portec chain / belt system is very conducive to using mechanical belt lacing, because concerns of damage to the end roll lagging are non-existent. Even in difficult access areas of a conveyor system, mechanical lacing allows for fast and efficient belt changes. Unlike conveyors that use vulcanized endless belts, extensive disassembly of the conveyor is not required. In the event of belt damage, only the damaged section needs to be replaced.
Portec Belt Power Curves
Portec Belt Power Curves have strong all-steel frames built from 3.42mm steel for the most rugged operating conditions in an airport baggage system. The design is strong enough that most jams caused by soft-sided luggage will not damage the Portec conveyor or conveyor belt. The Portec high-precision sidebow chain and guide system meets industry noise requirements at speeds up to 4m/s. The Portec reputation is for low-cost ownership and rugged reliability.
Portec Spiral Curves
The operating conditions for Spiral Curves are even more difficult. The positive-drive chain / belt system is the right drive system for heavy loads and steep inclines. End roll spin and the resulting damage does not happen with the positive-drive Portec chain / belt system.
Angle-Flo® angle merge conveyor
Angle merge conveyors often represent one of the most maintenance-intense components of an airport baggage handling system. The Portec Angle-Flo is available in an airbar version with spring belt tension control that is capable of continuous 4m/s belt speeds with no heat build-up in the angle bar and no more maintenance requirements than a standard straight belt conveyor.
In very rugged or critical applications, the Angle-Flo with airbar is the choice. For applications at somewhat slower speeds or intermittent operation, the Angle-Flo-XA uses an airless angle bar and Portec’s spring belt tension system.
ChuteMaster® fiberglass spiral chute
Oversize or late arrival baggage are some of the applications for Portec’s ChuteMaster fiberglass spiral chute. Portec uses the highest quality hand-laid fiberglass process instead of the cheaper chopper-gun system. Standard 90° chute components are available in several diameters. Specially designed round-bottom profiles help control the descending speed of the baggage. There are even multiple-entry modules that allow entry at several levels into a common spiral chute.
Queue-Flo metering belt conveyor
The Queue-Flo uses Portec’s chain / belt technology to both track the belt and power a short-wide belt conveyor. The positive-drive Queue-Flo eliminates end roll spin that is common in more traditional friction-drive belt conveyors and the maintenance problems associated with urethane tracking beads or bottom V-guides.