Summary:
Gravity Roller Conveyor play an important role in port loading and unloading. You can learn about the relevant classification of mobile ship loaders.
How to Choose the Gravity Roller Conveyor ?
What is a gravity roller conveyor?
How does a gravity roller conveyors work?
What to consider when selecting a roller conveyor?
When it comes to choosing the right gravity roller conveyor, the size of your operation and your budget play major roles in dictating the best option for you. There are many different gravity roller conveyors to choose from, which can make it difficult to know which one is right for you. To help you decide, we’ve written this post to help you choose the right gravity roller conveyor for your operation.
What is a gravity roller conveyor?
A roller conveyor system consists of a pair of smooth rollers or chains that support a continuous belt that moves materials and products. When you’re trying to pick out which type of roller conveyor is right for your business, it’s important to understand their different benefits and limitations.
Roller conveyors depend on gravity for the material to flow. They transport heavy loads with a flat bottom, such as cartons, totes, and skids. In particular, gravity conveyors are useful in shipping departments, stocking areas, and assembly lines, because they are relatively inexpensive and low-maintenance.
Here are some common types: straight, curved, spur, and merge.
Straight
This flexible gravity roller conveyor provides straight, horizontal transport from start to finish with little effort. The rollers will continue their course as long as gravity is acting on them and no other forces intervene.
Curved
A curved gravity roller conveyor is made out of a flexible material and can be bent in order to conform around corners. When you have a bend radius in mind, it’s time to look for a solution that can accommodate your needs.
Spur
A spur roller conveyor is one of four main types of gravity roller conveyors, and they’re often used in industries that rely on long-distance transportation of heavy materials such as ore or coal. Since it uses a gravity-based system instead of wheels and rollers, a spur roller conveyor can transport even very large objects over great distances without requiring any power whatsoever.
This feature makes them particularly useful in mines where transporting very heavy materials can be both difficult and dangerous. Due to their flexibility, these machines are also commonly used for small-scale industrial applications that require a more nimble form of transportation than wheels offer.
How does a gravity roller conveyors work?
A gravity roller conveyor is also known as a gravity belt conveyor and uses gravity as its primary source of power. At its most basic, a gravity roller conveyor consists of two parallel conveyors (usually metal or plastic rollers) with a channel running between them.
To move material, feed it into one side of the channels and let gravity do its work! In some cases, these materials are then collected at their endpoints—at which point they are often removed from their packaging. Materials that fall out on their own can be separated by size or density before being recycled. Other times, they are simply discarded in a landfill.
Size and Capacity Options
How big of a roller conveyor will you need? Think about how many pallets you want to move, how far you need them to travel, and what size they are. These three factors will give you an idea of how much space you’ll need for a roller conveyor.
If your material handling needs require flexibility, consider a gravity roller conveyor that can easily change its height depending on how much product it is moving. This will help your gravity roller deliver more capacity while taking up less space in your facility.
Generally speaking, most of these conveyor system rollers are 1.5 to 1.9 inches in diameter. But if you have an extreme-duty application, you can purchase 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch diameters as well. It’s simple to set up your system and buy online, and since they’re light, you can use them either temporarily or permanently. Besides having permanent supports or temporary tripod-style stands, you can also use floor plates to fit your curve requirements.
What to consider when selecting a roller conveyor
Before you choose your gravity roller conveyors, be sure to take these factors into consideration:
- The height and weight of the tallest and shortest items
- An axle needs to be in contact with the load at all times with at least three rollers touching the surface at any given time.
- The size of the load determines the size of the roller and axle
- Depending on the size of the package and the existence of any curves, the frame will have a narrower or wider width.
- Type of Frame – Steel for strength, aluminum for maneuverability.
- Support systems like tripods for temporary set-up or H-stands for permanent installation
Summary
Most conveyors rely on a series of pulleys and chains. These pulleys can be more flexible than gravity roller conveyors, but they require additional motors and gears.
If you have multiple equipment that needs to be moved in tandem, using gravity roller conveyors might save you money and provide greater flexibility for transportation. These are less common than other forms of conveyors, so if you’re planning on transporting relatively large items like heavy machinery or construction equipment, it’s a good idea to discuss your options with an expert who can ensure that you get what’s best for your application.
You may also want to ask if these products come with warranty options or special service programs, sometimes they do. Contact us today to find your best fit.
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