New standards for conveyor industry

CEMA revises the American Standards for conveyor terms and definitions.

What's a bird beak transfer? How about a serpentine return? Ever hear of a bi-polar chain? For every new technology that hits the conveyor industry, there is a need for terminology to define it. Often these terms come from manufacturers, while others are borrowed from associated industries.
However they originate, it is important that everyone who uses the technology understands what it is called, so they can properly apply it in their work.
Every five years CEMA, The Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association, evaluates the standards that guide the words used to describe conveyor technologies. The result has been a new revision of terminology for the industry.
"As part of the standards process we need a common lexicon of terms, so that manufacturers, users, and those with a general interest in conveyors can all speak the same language," says Phil Hannigan, CEMA executive secretary, who spearheaded the latest revision.
"We have to be able to use the proper terms to communicate," he adds. "The terms may be different from industry to industry. We are defining how they are used in materials handling."
The CEMA standards, known officially as ANSI/CEMA 102, were first developed in 1956 with the aim of bringing order among the many terms being used to describe various conveyors and materials handling systems. The current edition is the organization's seventh since then, and features 51 new terms and definitions, 10 new or modified definitions, and 12 modifications to the terms and definitions found in the previous standards manual. The terms are presented in a way that defines what an item is, not what it does. Listings are also cross-indexed to related terms.
ANSI, the American National Standards Institute, requires that all accepted standards be examined regularly and be either revised or affirmed as is. Since its original introduction, these conveyor standards have become the terms by which the industry is known in the United States, Canada, and many other nations. The CEMA 102 manuals are found in libraries and research centers throughout the world.
CEMA has been receiving suggestions from members, industry leaders, and other trade associations for new terms or changes to existing definitions since the last revision was completed in 1994-95.
A Conveyor Terms and Definitions Committee from the CEMA Engineering Conference, chaired by Hannigan, was charged with gathering and then sifting through all of the suggestions to determine which would be included in the latest revision, CEMA 102-2000.
Among the new terms defined are air cushion, alpine, comb dead plate, drip pan, impact bed, lumpy, nested pattern, parallel transfer, and slow down module.
References also guide readers from commonly used terms to others, such as "bubble chain, see gripper chain," or "thrusters, see louvers."
Additionally, definitions on some terms have also been revised to provide improved clarity. These terms include angle of slide, marine leg, explosion proof, and zero speed switch.
Diagrams are placed throughout the definitions to further illustrate key terms and the operational characteristics of devices represented. The new edition also recognizes the trend toward increasing system automation and the "greater interrelationship between machines of materials movement and processing machinery."
The CEMA 102-2000 standards manual is geared to manufacturers, distributors, end users, and anyone associated with or possessing an interest in the conveyor industry. The document can be purchased for $30 at the CEMA website, www.cemanet.org. Hannigan says he is already beginning to gather terms and definitions for the next revision, due in five years. You may contact him with your suggestions at cema@cemanet.org.

Conveyor E-Newsletter Vol 1: New standards for conveyor industry
Conveyor E-Newsletter Vol 2: Ten questions to consider before starting your new conveyor project
Conveyor E-Newsletter Vol 3: What you need to know before you select a conveyor system
Conveyor E-Newsletter Vol 4: Conveyor choices
Conveyor E-Newsletter Vol 5: Investigate before you integrate
Conveyor E-Newsletter Vol 6: Ten things to know before installing your new conveyor system

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