輸送機是在一定的線路上連續輸送物（wù）料的物料（liào）搬運機械，又稱連續輸送機。輸送機可進行水平、傾斜和垂直輸送，也可組成空間輸送（sòng）線路，輸送線路一般是固定（dìng）的。輸送機輸送能力大，運距長，還可在輸送過程中（zhōng）同（tóng）時完成若幹工藝操作，所以（yǐ）應用十分廣泛。
輸送機一般按有無牽引件來進（jìn）行（háng）分類。具有牽（qiān）引件的輸（shū）送機一般包括牽引件、承載構件、驅動裝置、張緊裝置、改向裝置和支承件等。牽（qiān）引（yǐn）件用以傳遞牽引力，可采用輸送帶、牽引鏈或（huò）鋼絲繩；承載構件（jiàn）用以承（chéng）放物料，有料鬥、托架或（huò）吊具等（děng）；驅動裝置給輸送機以動力（lì），一般由電動機（jī）、減速器和製動（dòng）器(停止器)等組（zǔ）成（chéng）；張緊裝置（zhì）一（yī）般（bān）有（yǒu）螺杆式和重錘式兩（liǎng）種，可使牽引件保持（chí）一定的張力和垂（chuí）度，以保證（zhèng）輸送機正常運轉；支承件用以承托牽引件或承載構件，可（kě）采用托輥、滾輪等。
這（zhè）類的輸（shū）送機種類繁多，主要有（yǒu）帶式輸送機、板（bǎn）式輸送機、小車（chē）式輸（shū）送機、自動扶梯、自動（dòng）人行道、刮板輸送機、埋（mái）刮板輸送機、鬥式輸送機、鬥式提升機、懸掛（guà）輸送機和架空索道等。
沒有牽引件的輸送機（jī）的結構組成各不相同，用來（lái）輸送物料的（de）工作（zuò）構件亦不相同。它（tā）們的（de）結構特點是：利用工作構件的旋轉（zhuǎn）運動（dòng）或往複運動，或利用介質在管道中的流動使物料向（xiàng）前輸送。例如，輥子輸送機的工作構件為一係列輥子（zǐ），輥子作旋轉運動以輸送物料；螺旋輸送機（jī）的工作構件（jiàn）為螺旋，螺旋在料槽（cáo）中作旋轉運（yùn）動以沿（yán）料槽推送（sòng）物料；振動輸送機（jī）的工作構件為料槽，料槽作往複運動以輸送置於其（qí）中的物料等。
未來輸送機的將向著大型化發（fā）展、擴大使用範圍、物料自（zì）動分揀、降低能量消耗、減少（shǎo）汙染等方麵發展。
大型化包括大輸送能力、大單機長度和大輸送（sòng）傾角等幾個方（fāng）麵（miàn）。水（shuǐ）力輸（shū）送裝置的長（zhǎng）度已（yǐ）達440公（gōng）裏以（yǐ）上帶式輸送機的（de）單機（jī）長度已近15公裏，並（bìng）已出現由若（ruò）幹台組成聯係甲（jiǎ）乙兩（liǎng）地的“帶式輸送道”。不少（shǎo）國家（jiā）正在探索長距離（lí）、大運（yùn）量連續輸（shū）送物料的更完善的（de）輸送機結構。
擴大輸送機的使用範圍，是指發展能在高溫、低溫條（tiáo）件下有腐蝕性（xìng）、放射性、易燃性物質的環境中工作的，以及能輸送熾熱、易爆、易結團、粘性（xìng）物（wù）料的輸送機。

中譯英：
Conveyor lines in certain materials on the continuous conveyor material handling machinery, also known as the continuous conveyor. Conveyor can be horizontal, inclined and vertical transmission, the space can also be composed of transmission lines, transmission lines are generally fixed. Conveyor transport capacity, long distance, but also in the process of delivery to complete a number of technology operations at the same time, so a wide range of applications.
There is no traction conveyor according to the general classification. A traction piece conveyor generally include traction, bearing components, driving device, a tensioning device, and supporting device etc redirection. Traction device is used to transmit tractive force, the conveyor belt, traction chain or wire rope; bearing component used for bearing material, the hopper, bracket or spreader; driving device for conveyor with power, generally by the motor, a reducer and a brake(stop)and other components; the tensioning device generally has a screw type and a heavy hammer type two, can make the traction to keep certain tension and sag, in order to ensure the normal operation of conveyor; a support for supporting the traction parts or components, the roller, roller.
This kind of conveyor variety, main belt conveyor, slat conveyor, trolley conveyer, escalators, moving walkways, scraper conveyor, scraper conveyor, bucket conveyer, bucket elevator, conveyor and aerial tramway.
No traction conveyor structure composed of each are not identical, used for conveying materials work components are not the same. The structure is characterized in that: the use of working parts of rotary motion or reciprocal motion, or the use of medium flow in pipe material is transported forward. For example, roller conveyor working member is a series of roller, roller to rotate to transport materials; screw conveyor of the working member for spiral, spiral in the material groove to rotate along the trough to push material; vibration conveyer work component as the chute, chute for reciprocating movement to transport the material.
Future conveyor will be large-scale development, expanding the use range, automatic material sorting, reduce energy consumption, reduce pollution and other aspects of development.
Large scale comprises a large conveying capacity, large single length and inclination of the conveyor and so on several aspects. Hydraulic transporting device length already amounted to 440 kilometers above the belt conveyor single length has nearly 15 kilometers, and has appeared consisting of several contact B consisting of two " belt conveyor line". Many countries are exploring long distance, large capacity to continuously convey materials more perfect structure of conveyer.
Extending conveyer use range, refers to the development in high temperature, low temperature, corrosive, radioactive flammable substances in the environment to work, and can transfer the hot, explosive, easy agglomeration, viscous material conveyor.
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