More Flexible Machine Integration and Stable Belt Tracking: Henton Launches Four Economy Flat Belt Conveyors

More Flexible Machine Integration and Stable Belt Tracking: Henton Launches Four Economy Flat Belt Conveyors

At a vision inspection station, a small metal component needs to travel steadily beneath a camera. At a packaging station, a box needs to pass smoothly between two machines. Before robotic pick-and-place, parts must be continuously organized and supplied to the gripping position.

The conveying distance may be short and the products relatively light, but integrating the conveyor into the machine is not always simple. The conveyor must fit into limited space, connect closely with upstream and downstream equipment, maintain stable belt tracking, and provide mounting points for sensors, guides and protective covers.

To meet these requirements, Henton has introduced four economy flat belt conveyors: KPA01, KPA51, KPB01 and KPB51.

The four models combine different drive positions, belt tracking methods and aluminum profile configurations, providing more options for small-part handling and compact automation equipment.

Four Models for Different Integration Requirements

KPA01: Head Drive for Standard Conveying Applications

The KPA01 features a head-drive configuration, crowned pulley tracking and a 30 mm pulley diameter.

Its drive unit is mounted at the end of the conveyor, creating a simple and straightforward structure. It is suitable for automation equipment where sufficient motor installation space is available at the conveyor end.

Typical applications include machine loading, short-distance part transfer, packaging infeed and general conveying between workstations.

KPA51: Double-Slot Profile for Additional Accessories

The KPA51 uses a double-slot aluminum profile frame, crowned pulley tracking and a 30 mm pulley diameter.

The additional profile slots provide more mounting positions for photoelectric sensors, side guides, covers, support brackets, discharge plates and other accessories.

This model is particularly useful when the conveying task itself is straightforward but the machine requires several functional components to be installed along both sides of the conveyor.

KPB01: Center Drive for Clear Conveyor Ends

The KPB01 combines a center-drive configuration with crowned pulley tracking and a 30 mm pulley diameter.

Moving the drive unit away from the conveyor end allows both ends to be positioned closer to adjacent equipment. This can reduce the transfer gap between the conveyor and a machine tool, inspection system, packaging machine, robot cell or another conveyor section.

The KPB01 is therefore a practical choice for production layouts where the conveyor ends must remain clear for equipment integration.

KPB51: Center Drive, Guide Strip Tracking and Double-Slot Profile

The KPB51 combines a center drive, belt guide strip tracking and a double-slot aluminum profile frame.

The center drive keeps the conveyor ends available for machine-to-machine transfers. The guide strip provides positive lateral guidance for the belt, while the double-slot frame offers additional mounting positions for sensors, side guides, brackets and guarding components.

This configuration is suitable for equipment with restricted end space, multiple side-mounted accessories and higher requirements for maintaining the lateral position of the belt.

30 mm Pulleys for Compact Equipment Layouts

The KPA01, KPA51 and KPB01 are equipped with 30 mm pulleys.

A smaller pulley helps keep the conveyor end compact and can reduce the transfer gap between the conveyor and adjacent equipment. This is especially useful when transporting small stamped parts, electronic components, plastic parts and lightweight packages over short distances.

Compact conveyor ends also make it easier to move products into a vision inspection area, labeling position, robotic gripping point or downstream processing station.

Two Belt Tracking Solutions

Flat conveyor belts may move laterally because of belt tension, roller alignment, reversing operation or side loading. The KPA/KPB series provides two different tracking solutions.

The KPA01, KPA51 and KPB01 use crowned pulleys. The pulley diameter is slightly larger at the center than at the edges, encouraging the belt to return toward the center during operation. This provides tracking assistance while maintaining a flat conveying surface.

The KPB51 uses a guide strip on the underside of the belt. The strip runs inside a corresponding groove and provides more direct lateral guidance, making it suitable for applications where belt position requires additional control.

Neither solution is universally better. Crowned pulleys offer a simple structure and a flat belt surface, while guide strips provide more positive lateral guidance. The appropriate choice depends on the product, loading direction, operating mode and machine layout.

Typical Applications

The compact aluminum frame and flat conveying surface make these conveyors easy to integrate into automation equipment. Typical applications include:

• Loading and unloading of small metal, stamped and plastic parts

• Transfer of electronic components and small assemblies

• Vision inspection, dimensional inspection and defect detection

• Barcode scanning, labeling and packaging stations

• Continuous part feeding before robotic pick-and-place

• Infeed and outfeed for machine tools, injection molding machines and assembly equipment

• Short-distance transfer of boxes, trays and lightweight workpieces

• Bridging the gap between two conveyor or processing units

Different belt colors, surface textures and friction characteristics can be selected according to the product being transported. The conveyor can also be combined with side guides, sensors, speed controllers, support frames, collection trays and protective covers to create a standalone workstation or a fully integrated machine module.

Choosing the Right Model

A small conveyor may appear simple, but its performance inside a machine often depends on three practical questions:

Where can the motor be installed?

How should the belt be kept on track?

How many accessories need to be mounted on the conveyor frame?

Choose the KPA01 for a straightforward head-drive layout. Select the KPA51 when more side-mounted accessories are required. Consider the KPB01 when both conveyor ends need to remain clear for equipment connections. Choose the KPB51 when center-drive integration, guide strip tracking and additional profile slots are required in the same unit.

Henton provides model selection support for economy flat belt conveyors, aluminum profile frames and related machine structures. Send us your product dimensions, weight, conveying distance, required belt width, target speed and equipment layout, and our team will help identify a suitable conveyor model and configuration.