First used in the late 1700s in Europe, conveyor belts were commonly made of leather or cotton and served as a means of transporting grain or other natural material a short distance. But by the American Industrial Revolution in the late 1800s, conveyors were well established as the primary mode of efficiently moving anything, regardless of size, and they became an integral part of the manufacturing process in factories worldwide.
But 100 years later, conveyor belts have come a long way indeed. They are now made in a variety of materials and forms, and used in a whole range of applications.
Cleated conveyor belts are used for moving objects that are flat or round. They are also used for moving objects up or down an incline. This type of belt has a raised design made of rubber, metal or other material to stop objects from rolling around or bunching together.
Food grade conveyor belts are another type of belt, designed for food applications. Such belts usually have a coating of either Teflon or silicone to prevent stains and sticking, and make them easier to clean. Food grade conveyor belts can also be made with wire mesh to help circulate air and control hot or cold temperatures.
PVC conveyor belts are strong and durable, so they are often used to move heavy products such as wood, recyclables, agricultural products, meat and fish. PVC belts can be heavy duty or medium weight.
Rough top conveyor belts are another option for heavy duty products such as heavy boxes and are particularly useful for moving boxes up an incline. The belt top is heavily textured so boxes stay in place as they are being transported.
For other products that need to be moved along in an industrial or manufacturing setting, there are vacuum or magnetic conveyor belts. Using suction or magnetic pull, this type of belt holds objects firmly in place. It is most often used in printing applications.
Of course, there are new uses for conveyor belts being developed every day, so it is important to do your research up front. Also, most conveyor belt manufacturers are willing to work with you to fine tune a design that works best in your situation.
Posted on behalf of the King Group
Now that you’ve decided to replace the windows on your home, the journey has only just begun. Before you get started on you window replacement project, you should put some thought into what type of glass you need for your new windows. Contrary to what you might think, there are a number of choices.
Sheet glass is what is found on most older homes. It is easy to cut, but it breaks easily and is not very energy efficient. If you’re replacing a pane of glass that’s broken, this type of glass may be your most inexpensive alternative, but it’s probably not the best.
Another type of glass used for windows is heat-treated, tempered or safety glass. The name speaks for itself, as this glass is designed to have the least impact when it shatters. Tempered glass is used for automobile windshields, but it can also be used in homes for showers or sliding glass doors.
When shopping for windows, you’ll also come across a type of glass called low-e, or low emissivity, glass. Low-e glass has been treated with an invisible metallic or metallic oxide coating which controls heat transfer. Low-e glass windows cost a little more than other types of windows, but they can cut energy loss by up to 50 percent.
In hotter climates, one might use spectrally treated glass, which has a tinted coating to control the type of light that enters the living space. Homes in parts of the South that have these windows can see a reduction in their cooling bills by as much as 40 percent.
Patterned glass has a special surface on one side that obscures transparency. This is a great type of glass for privacy in bathrooms, either on windows or a shower stall.
Given the wide variety of windows on the market, and great differences in price, you might consider using different types of windows throughout your home, based on need. Of course, when in doubt, always consult a window glass specialist.
Posted on behalf of Atwood Home Builders
It may not seem like it, but replacing the windows on your home can be one of the best things you do for yourself and your family all year. Not only will it save on the cost and amount of energy you use, it will also add value to your home, a nearly dollar for dollar investment.
But how do you know when it’s time for a window replacement? Well, there are some definite signs:
1. Your Energy Bill is High – If you see great fluctuations in your energy bill during extremes of cold or hot temperatures, replacing windows may help reduce costs by as much as 35 percent, according to some estimates.
2. Draftiness – When you put your hand up near the window, can you feel hot or cold air coming through? Is there a spot in your living room by the window that is unused because it feel drafty? Any amount of air coming through a window means it is not doing its job and needs replacement.
3. Fog or Moisture Build-up – If you observe moisture or even ice on the interior side of the window, it means the insulation or thermal material is not adequate and there is too quick a transition from hot to cold air.
4. Windows Won’t Open or Close – If the windows are difficult to open or close, or they won’t stay open, the window is not functioning properly and needs to be replaced.
5. Wood Frame is Soft – If you can take a screwdriver, press down and leave an indentation on the window frame, it is an indication the wood is rotting. Time for new windows.
5. Aesthetics – Regardless of how they are working, old windows can just look bad. If your windows bring down the visual appeal of your home’s exterior, give it a modern facelift with new windows.
Posted on behalf of Atwood Home Builders
iPhones are one of the most popular smart phones on the market. Offering a great deal of basic functions such as a phone, camera, contact management and calendar, the device also has the capability to run tens of thousands of applications or “apps”. While this capability is truly remarkable the only downside is that all of this drains down the battery on the iPhone quickly.
While it may not dramatically impact all users, it does impact those users, especially mobile business people, who are not in a position to recharge the battery during the day and primarily need the phone function. Although Apple recommends a number of steps to take to conserve battery life, including setting up the device to check for email a certain amount of times per hour, these really limit the usefulness of the device.
One alternative is to have a battery extender installed on the iPhone. There are a number of different options available at several different price points, but iPhone battery extenders all basically do two things. First they dramatically reduce the amount of time it takes to fully charge the phone.
This ability to “rapid charge” the phone is a great timesaver for people on the run. Second, the battery extender will provide double the life of the iPhone’s normal battery. Now it is possible for business users of the iPhone to be able to use the device normally during the day and depending upon the usage of the phone, eliminate the need to recharge the phone during the normal business day. Imagine never needing to tell someone on the phone “I need to go now, my battery is almost dead”!
As with most things electronic, the iPhone and water do not mix. Accidents however happen all of the time where a person’s iPhone will drop out of their pocket when walking in the rain towards their car or get wet when their young child is playing with it in the bathroom.
No matter how it happens once it is wet, in most cases, it stops working and is a big problem! In the past, the solution to the problem was to hope you had an insurance policy on the phone or you ended up paying the full price for a new phone, if you were not eligible for an upgrade from your carrier and the device was not insured. Now it is possible in most cases for a highly trained and certified technician to restore a wet iPhone in less than 1 hour!
The process to have the iPhone repair is quick, painless and economical. The first step is to contact the certified repair technician, by phone, to discuss the damage, as soon as the device gets wet. The technician will tell you what steps must be immediately taken in order to increase the chances of the iPhone being restored.
The next step is to drop off the phone to the nearest repair facility or to have the technician visit the owner’s home or business to make the repairs on the spot. The repair involves giving the device a thorough ultrasonic cleaning. Once the iPhone is cleaned, it will usually function just like it did before it got wet.
iPads are amazing devices that allow access to the Internet, email, video, music and tens of thousands of entertainment, lifestyle and productivity applications or “apps”. In addition, they have a video and a still camera that take pretty good pictures. If you are a apple user they can be easily synchronized with your other Apple products. In many cases iPads have replaced the computer, because of their capabilities and portability. While generally very durable, the screen on the iPad can be easily damaged, especially if the optional cover is not used.
In the past a broken screen on a iPad was a disaster, with the only alternative being to replace the device. This was especially painful as the prices on the iPad can be over $1,000, depending on the model. Now it is possible to replace the front glass and LCD and touch-screen on the iPad 1, iPad 2, iPad 3 and the iPad mini with the iPad screen replacement being made by certified technicians, who have the specialized training, equipment and parts necessary to repair iPads.
In many cases it is possible to have the iPad repair done in the same day by stopping by one of the many repair facilities. Alternatively, the repair company can send a certified technician to the customer’s home or business to repair the device on the spot. The first step to take if faced with a damaged iPad screen is to either call or email a certified technician to discuss the damage and plan the next step in getting the device back up and running. While the repaired device comes with a warranty on the repair, the owner may want to consider one of those bright covers for their iPad in the future!
Well it finally happened, when running across the parking lot to a meeting, your iPhone dropped out of your pocket and landed on the pavement. It has happened many times before but this is the first time that the glass broke! In the past, the next stop would be a visit to the local iStore to get another iPhone, which was an expensive solution if the owner was not eligible for an upgrade from their carrier. Now it is possible to have the phone repaired quickly and much cheaper when compared to buying a new phone!
Depending upon the model of the iPhone, a qualified and certified technician can replace the touch-screen replacement or front glass and LCD replacement on the iPhone 3G, IPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S or iPhone 5. In addition to being trained on iPhone repairs, the technician also has all of the specialized equipment, as well as the necessary parts to complete the iPhone repair.
The process to have the iPhone repair is quick, painless and economical. The first step is to contact the certified repair technician by either phone or email to discuss the damage. The next step is to drop off the iPhone to the nearest repair facility or to have the technician visit the owner’s home or business to make the repairs on the spot. Often the repair can be done in less than a day and the phone will be fully functional and working just like it was before it fell. Oh and you get a warranty on the work as well!
iPads and iPhones are extremely popular tools for consumers all over the United States and overseas. Their popularity has contributed to the global decline in computer sales, as they have the same capabilities of a computer! They offer amazing capabilities including phone, email, Internet access, video and still cameras, music, video and the ability to run tens of thousands of entertainment and productivity applications or “apps”. The downside is that these devices are expensive and while they are generally very durable, either dropping it or having it exposed to water can damage them.
In the past, a damaged device usually resulted in the need to buy a new device, with the owner learning a very expensive lesson. Now it is possible for experienced and highly trained technical experts on iPhones and iPads to repair damaged devices quickly and economically. iPad and iPhone repairs include touch-screen replacement, front glass and LCD replacement, water damage diagnostics and battery replacements. The certified technicians have the specialized training, equipment and parts to work on the iPhone 3G, IPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPad 1, iPad 2, iPad 3 and the iPad Mini.
In many cases it is possible to have the iPad repair in the same day by stopping by one of the many repair facilities. Alternatively, the repair company can send a certified technician to the customer’s home or business to repair the device on the spot. The first step to take if faced with a damaged iPhone or iPad is to either call or email a certified technician to discuss the damage and plan the next step in getting the device back up and running!
Brick homes are beautiful, especially when well maintained. Often homeowners are under the mistaken notion that brick does not require any maintenance, but nothing could be further from the truth. One of the maintenance tasks that should be done yearly is a thorough pressure washing to keep the brick looking new by removal of any dirt, mold, mildew, stains or other grime that can accumulate on the surface.
Not only does pressure washing keep the brick looking like new, but it also allows the homeowner to visually inspect for missing mortar, cracked or broken brick. In addition, the periodic cleaning will keep the mortar weep joints open, which is critical to keeping the home dry.
A periodic brick home pressure washing by a qualified, licensed and insured power washing contractor can perform this service quickly, as well as economically. The highly trained technician will be able to effectively use specialized pressure washing equipment that will be able to deliver the water at just the right psi as not to damage the brick. Many homes today have a sand finish on the brick face that is applied during the manufacturing process.
While generally durable, these brick faces can be damaged very easily by improper pressure washing techniques, including using too high of a psi on the equipment delivering the water, as well as holding the nozzle of the pressure washing “wand” too close to the face of the brick. This will damage the brick and is a very common occurrence, with unqualified pressure washing companies and untrained technicians.
A highly experienced pressure washing company that is licensed and insured will utilize qualified and trained technicians to clean the brick on your home, without damaging it!
Many homeowners are familiar with the benefits of washing the exterior of their house, where the pressure washing process will remove dirt, mold, mild and other stains. One area that homeowners often do not think about is their concrete or brick pool deck. During the summer months, the homeowner and their families heavily use their back yard pools, as they provide an excellent outdoor space to relax, recreate and entertain, during those very hot and humid days and nights.
Anyone with an outdoor pool should consider getting the pool deck pressure washed, at the beginning and end of the season to remove dirt, mold, mildew and grime, which accumulate on the deck surface. Often this buildup can be dangerous, as it is slippery when wet, so it is best to have it periodically cleaned by a pressure-washing contractor.
A qualified, licensed and insured pressure-washing contractor can quickly and economically perform this service. Using trained technicians, the contractor will apply a cleaner to the surface and then wash the area using specialized equipment that will deliver the water to clean the surface at the right psi, as not to damage the deck surface. In addition, the technician will make sure that the dirt, mold, mildew and grime removed does not flow into the pool, where it can contaminate the pool water.
A periodic pool deck cleaning will keep your pool and pool deck area looking as great as it looked on the day it was completed. If you own a pool, consider having the pool deck cleaned when you get the main house pressure washed. Keep that investment looking great!
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