输送机是在一定的线路上连续输送物料的物料搬运机械，又称连续输送机。输送机可进行水平、倾斜和垂直输送，也可组成空间输送线路，输送线路一般是固定的。输送机输送能力大，运距长，还可在输送过程中同时完成若干工艺操作，所以应用十分广泛。
输送机一般按有无牵引件来进行分类。具有牵引件的输送机一般包括牵引件、承载构件、驱动装置、张紧装置、改向装置和支承件等。牵引件用以传递牵引力，可采用输送带、牵引链或钢丝绳；承载构件用以承放物料，有料斗、托架或吊具等；驱动装置给输送机以动力，一般由电动机、减速器和制动器(停止器)等组成；张紧装置一般有螺杆式和重锤式两种，可使牵引件保持一定的张力和垂度，以保证输送机正常运转；支承件用以承托牵引件或承载构件，可采用托辊、滚轮等。
这类的输送机种类繁多，主要有带式输送机、板式输送机、小车式输送机、自动扶梯、自动人行道、刮板输送机、埋刮板输送机、斗式输送机、斗式提升机、悬挂输送机和架空索道等。
没有牵引件的输送机的结构组成各不相同，用来输送物料的工作构件亦不相同。它们的结构特点是：利用工作构件的旋转运动或往复运动，或利用介质在管道中的流动使物料向前输送。例如，辊子输送机的工作构件为一系列辊子，辊子作旋转运动以输送物料；螺旋输送机的工作构件为螺旋，螺旋在料槽中作旋转运动以沿料槽推送物料；振动输送机的工作构件为料槽，料槽作往复运动以输送置于其中的物料等。
未来输送机的将向着大型化发展、扩大使用范围、物料自动分拣、降低能量消耗、减少污染等方面发展。
大型化包括大输送能力、大单机长度和大输送倾角等几个方面。水力输送装置的长度已达440公里以上带式输送机的单机长度已近15公里，并已出现由若干台组成联系甲乙两地的“带式输送道”。不少国家正在探索长距离、大运量连续输送物料的更完善的输送机结构。
扩大输送机的使用范围，是指发展能在高温、低温条件下有腐蚀性、放射性、易燃性物质的环境中工作的，以及能输送炽热、易爆、易结团、粘性物料的输送机。

中译英：
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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