Countless industries across the world depend on conveyor belts to keep their operations running smoothly. However, as popular as conveyor belts are — their history is often overlooked. Continue reading to discover more about conveyor belt history and how these inventions helped shape multiple industries today.
At A Glance: Quick Conveyor Belt Facts
- The question of who invented the conveyor belt is still largely debated today, but most attribute Thomas Robbins as the inventor.
- The earliest conveyor belts were made of leather and wood and predominantly used for flour mills.
- In 1804, the British Navy made steam-powered belts popular when they used them in their kitchens to streamline baking.
- Robbins invented the heavy-duty belt, what many consider the modern conveyor belt, in 1892.
- The Swedish engineering company Sandvik AB invented steel conveyor belts in 1901 which were more efficient for industrial uses.
- In 1913, Henry Ford made conveyor belts even more popular when he introduced them into his continuous assembly line to speed up the car manufacturing process.
Who Invented The Conveyor Belt?
When talking about conveyor belt history, it’s not surprising the first question asked is who invented the conveyor belt? However, the answer to this question isn’t as straightforward as people may think.
Historians continue to debate who invented the conveyor belt as well as when it was invented. There’s some proof to show that conveyor systems were used in ancient times by the Egyptians, however, the majority credit Thomas Robbins as the inventor. In 1892, Robbins introduced the first heavy-duty belt which is considered the modern conveyor belt.
It’s important to remember that while Robbins invented the series of designs that became the heavy-duty belt, many inventions before 1892 contributed to the technology used in conveyor systems. We’ll dive deeper into the significant milestones of conveyor belt history in the following sections.
Breaking Down Conveyor Belt History
Since they first came on the scene, conveyor belts have continued to improve efficiency for various industries. When breaking down conveyor belt history, it becomes obvious that each design over the years has increased productivity.
Continue reading to see how these innovations came to light and have allowed more industries to take advantage of their many benefits.
Early Conveyor Belts
Historians claim the first conveyor belts, predominately made of wood and leather, had to be operated manually with hand cranks. While it’s unclear who and when they first appeared, the earliest documentation of conveyor belts was in 1790 when Oliver Evans included them in his patented design for the automated mill.
In addition to flour milling, these belts were also used by farmers to transport grain over short distances and at shipping ports to convey agricultural products onto ships.
As we mentioned before, these systems were simple, consisting of a belt running over a flat wooden bed. However, Evans’ invention also used bucket elevators which were modified by Archimedean screw conveyors. This new technology allowed the flour mill to run continuously without the need for human labor.
Steam-Powered Conveyor Belts
The next chapter in the history of conveyors took place in 1804, years after Evans’ patented design. In 1804, the use of the first steam-powered conveyor belt was recorded. The British Navy used these in their kitchens to streamline baking, creating an easier and more efficient way to feed the many enlisted sailors.
After the Navy found success in steam-operated conveyor belts, other industries followed suit in adopting these new technologies. With steam’s introduction, belt conveyors no longer needed hand cranks or human labor to keep moving which made them popular in bakeries and slaughterhouses.
Heavy-Duty Conveyor Belts
The invention of vulcanized rubber in 1844 by Charles Goodyear was the next milestone in conveyor belt history. While some early conveyor belts used rubber, they were sensitive to temperature changes, like melting in high temperatures and becoming rigid or brittle in cold environments. With vulcanized rubber, belts became more heat-resistant, durable, and flexible.
Steam remained the primary power source for conveyor belts until Thomas Robbins came into the picture in 1892. As we mentioned before, Robbins invented what’s considered the modern conveyor belt. The series of his inventions began in 1891 when he set out to develop a more efficient way to carry coal and ore.
The first heavy-duty conveyor belt was used in Thomas Edison’s company, the Edison Ore-Milling Company, in Odesburg, NJ. These belts could convey heavier and more abrasive materials like coal, ore, and iron.
Soon after, the Robbins Conveyor Belt Company was formed and eventually patented the three-roll idler design in 1896. Over the years, the company has changed but still exists today as ThyssenKrupp Robbins.
There are many reasons Robbins is credited as the inventor of the conveyor belt. Not only did his heavy-duty design win the grand prize at the 1900 Paris Exposition but also first prizes at the 1904 Saint Louis World Fair and American Exposition. After his success, many industries began implementing heavy-duty conveyor belts into their operation processes.
Steel Conveyor Belts
Another key moment in the history of conveyors occurred in 1901 when the Swedish engineering company Sandvik AB invented steel conveyor belts. These belts offered increased durability, allowing systems to withstand the stressful demands of industrial use. As a result, steel belts became the ideal choice for coal and aggregate mining operations.
However, within a few years, the food production industry adopted Sandvik’s steel conveyor belts as well for their flexibility and durability. Since then, many companies have contributed to improving the steel conveyor belt’s initial design by experimenting with different belt materials, shapes, and sizes.
Conveyor Belt Assembly Line History
While not the true inventor, Henry Ford played a significant role in conveyor belt history. Ford is often associated with the invention of conveyor belts because, in 1913, he became the first car manufacturer to introduce them into his operation.
This was a momentous milestone in the history of conveyors because it opened the door for an entirely new industry to use the invention. Ford wanted to speed up the car manufacturing process and decided to include a conveyor belt in the continuous assembly line. Once he saw how the conveyor belts improved performance, Ford went on to implement these innovations in every one of his factories.
It took Ford 5 years to change his factories at the Ford Motor Company to incorporate conveyor belts into the assembly line. In 1914, Ford introduced a new mechanized belt that moved as fast as 6 feet per minute, and by 1919, conveyor belts were the industry standard for the automobile manufacturing industry. After Ford, various types of conveyor belts became more widespread throughout the 1920s.
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