Increasing efficiency

When Rolls Royce (1971) Ltd designed their East Kilbride Warehouse for their aero engine spares, they required a conveyor system. This had to carry boxes either 2 or 31/2 ft sq and weighing up to 160lb. On the ground floor, the system had to convey the boxes up to any of 24 inspection tables and then on to any of 36 packing stations. Between there had to be facilities for holding stock should the output of the packaging section be slower than the inspection. This was stipulated as being more important than the actual carrying capacity of the system. Finally, process is reversed, the slats progressing the boxes forward and rolling downwards just ahead of the start of the next conventional conveyor. Space is saved because the slats descend in the vertical before rolling round to receive the next box.