logo
logo
Sign in

Conveyor Rollers: What You Need to Know

avatar
Mitchell Lieberman
Conveyor Rollers: What You Need to Know

Proper selection as well as the sizing is important if you want to meet your production goals. Whether you’re processing in batches or you have a continuous processing application, you’ll need to find the right roller conveyor system. That includes finding the right roller conveyors.

How do they work?
A roller conveyor comes with parallel rollers that are mounted up in frames. They deliver the product by gravity or manually. The roller diameter along with the axle center dimensions are key considerations in choosing this system. There’s a wide range of conveyors used and modified to handle a variety of transporting boxes along with cardboard crates and pallets. Plastic totes, slave boards, polybags, and trays are also used.

How are they used?
Roller conveyors are typically used in material handling applications. That’s why you’ll often get to see them in applications that involve baggage handling, loading docks, assembly lines, and more. The rollers are usually not powered, and so depend on gravity to move the products, or manually if these are mounted horizontally.

How flexible are they?
Some roller conveyor systems can be configured and adjusted so you can use it with a wide range of ancillary equipment. That includes gates and bends as well as turntables. These are normally used in warehouses. Companies with manufacturing facilities that deal with the transportation of goods will also have this as a staple in their production lines.

What are they made of?
These roller conveyors are available in a range of materials. You can get yours in mild steel. Some companies prefer galvanized steel while others believe plastic ones are a better option. You may also go for stainless steel, depending on your needs and budget.

Where did they come from?
It was in 1908 when the patent for roller conveyors was the first award to Hymie Goddard. He was working at the Logan Company at the time-based in Indiana. However, it wouldn’t be until 1913 when Henry Ford would show the rest of the world the assembly line, which made the most use of conveyor systems.

What are they used in?
The adaptability of roller conveyor systems makes them ideal for a number of industries. They are ideal for packaging and logistics, as well as for mail delivery services. Baggage handling, steelmaking, and manufacturing and design are also some of the other industries that make full use of these systems.

What are the benefits?
The system saves a lot on energy consumption levels as it relies on the force of gravity to move items. That’s a massive benefit, as it means your team can move items without having to spend a cent on a power source. That doesn’t just mean upfront costs but maintenance expenses as well, so you save a ton in the long run. If you’re looking for a system that offers savings and efficiency in spades, then this is a sound option for you. However, some applications do work best with a powered roller conveyor. Research to find out which one is best for your team.

collect
0
avatar
Mitchell Lieberman
guide
Zupyak is the world’s largest content marketing community, with over 400 000 members and 3 million articles. Explore and get your content discovered.
Read more