Roller conveyors
The conveyor is a material handling system allowing the easier transportation of products and goods. They are integral to systems that are fast and safe in handling large volumes. While many different types of conveyors exist, the basic principle is the same, to move items from one place to another using a frame that holds moving components such as rollers. The roller conveyor is widely used and there are various types with different designs and uses.
Gravity roller conveyor
This is the more simpler roller conveyor that uses free rotating rollers and gravity to move the items. It is used for light and medium products and includes accessories such as pop-up stops, slide rails, curves, supports, and hanging brackets that are made from plastic, steel, and aluminium.
Belt driven roller conveyor
This conveyor uses a motorised belt to power the rollers, allowing more control over the motion of transported items. The belts, used for medium and heavy products, are either straight or in a V shape. Products need to be clean and dry as the belt underneath the rollers must remain free from debris, moisture, or excessive heat. Some of these conveyors have rollers higher than the frame allowing the support of products wider than the frame width would allow.
Chain driven roller conveyor
Similar to the belt driven conveyor but using chains to power the roller instead of belts. This option is used for heavy duty items unsuitable for the typical roller system. The rollers are driven by a single continuous chain via sprockets on the roller. They require minimum maintenance, and can increase productivity while reducing downtime.
Line shaft roller conveyor
These conveyors are driven by a powered rotating shaft, to which each roller is belted. They are quieter and easy to maintain as they are separately connected to the line shaft via urethane belts and drive spools. The line shaft can power over 100 feet of straight and curved rollers, increasing the overall efficiency of the conveyor system. An automatic stop system detects if items cannot move any further, halting the rollers. These are used for light and medium items.
With any roller conveyor, some specifications to consider are: Roller & frame material, roller size & orientation, load type & accumulation, distance & curvature and behaviour, control & environment.
At Asmech Systems Ltd we offer a variety of roller conveyors, if you are interested, please look at our product page and contact us for more information.
