Materials Handling Devices

 Materials  handing  devices are of three types:

a. Lifting  and lowering devices ( vertical movement)

b. Transporting devices( horizontal movement )

c. Devices which  lift  and transport  ( combination  devices)

Lifting  and Lowering  Devices

These devices are used for lifting  and lowering the materials in a vertical direction only( up  and down).

1.  Block and Tackle : Block  and tackle is one of the oldest and simplest methods  of lifting  something through  a vertical  distance. It  is still used by moving  men and  in hoisting machinery  into position. It  depends  in general on manpower and gives  only the  mechanical  advantage that  is  possible for the various  rope  formations. If  is crudest simplest  form  of lifting , the  most  inexpensive  in cost,  and the most  wasteful  of manpower.

It is the device that effect vertical  motion  by winding the rope  or cable on a drum. Here  it is  possible  whether  using  manpower  or other  to get  a much  greater  mechanical  advantage .

2.  Winches : Winches are  frequently  used  in loading  heavy equipment  into  ships  construction  equipment  into  building  and in similar  jobs.

3.  Hoists: Hoists  are used  for lifting  the load  vertically. They may be  fixed in  one place attached to crane mounted on monorail trolleys or  on a single rail as shown in figure  below. The simplest  type is  the chain  hoist  which  is operated by  hand. But  hoists operated by compressed air or by electric power  are most  common. The most  complicated  forms  of hoists are  those  which  resemble  elevators  in every  detail  except that no  rides upon  them.  They  are operated by  remote  control.