Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) Practice Exam

What type of conveyor is driven by gravity or motors for uphill movement?

1. Roller conveyors

2. Chain conveyors

3. Live roller conveyors

4. Flexible conveyors

The correct answer is: Roller conveyors

Roller conveyors are designed to facilitate the movement of goods primarily due to gravity or powered mechanisms, particularly for applications requiring uphill movement. When configured with an incline, gravity can assist in moving products down the slope, while powered rollers can elevate items uphill. The role of roller conveyors is crucial in many material handling operations, as they can handle a wide variety of product shapes and sizes with minimal friction, which is particularly useful in loading and unloading processes. In contrast, chain conveyors typically use chains to move heavy items along a fixed path and are less effective for conveyance involving elevation changes unless specifically designed for that purpose. Live roller conveyors utilize powered rollers to move items, which may make them suitable for various inclines; however, they predominantly rely on electrical drives rather than gravity. Flexible conveyors are designed to adapt to different layouts but do not utilize gravity or motors for elevation, focusing instead on flexible movement and configuration for varying application needs. Thus, roller conveyors effectively combine gravity-driven and motor-operated functionalities suited for moving products uphill or downhill.