What Is A Conveyor Roller?
A roller conveyor is a set of rollers that are supported by a frame. Objects can be moved manually, with gravity or using power.
Roller conveyors are versatile and can be modified to suit a variety of uses, including the transporting of boxes, cardboard, crates and pallets. They also work well for plastic totes, bags, slave boards and trays.
Roller conveyor systems, commonly employed in material handling, can be tailored with various features like bends, turntables, and gates to suit specific operational needs. Roller conveyor systems in Melbourne are widely utilized across industries for their efficiency in transporting goods within facilities.
Due to their nature, roller conveyors are commonly used in warehouses and manufacturing facilities.
A roller conveyor adds versatility to the types of transfers, diverters and stops available as part of an automation system or conveyor system. Roller conveyors are available in mild steel or galvanized steel. They can also be made of plastic, stainless steel, or galvanized steel.
What Is The Origin Of Roller Conveyors?
Hymie Goddard of the Logan Company in Indiana was granted the first patent in 1908. The internal ball bearings allowed for smooth transportation of goods, but the conveyor was not widely used until five years after that.
Henry Ford’s famous assembly line was introduced in 1913, marking a historical milestone.
In the 1920s, conveyor solutions were used to transport heavier and larger items over longer distances.
The lack of raw materials during World War II led to the improvement in technology, which is why roller conveyors today can be made from synthetic fabrics and polymers. The roller conveyor system was also less expensive to maintain.
Since the 1970s, the technology and innovation of conveyor systems, including the roller conveyer, has evolved. From the introduction and perfection of power conveyors to the use computers to control complicated applications. The conveyor system is constantly evolving to improve performance and reduce time.
In Which Industries Do Roller Conveyors Find Application?
Due to their adaptability, roller conveyor systems are widely used in many industries. These include logistics and manufacturing. Roller conveyors are widely used in many industries, including those listed below.
- Food handling
- Packaging
- Mail delivery services
- Baggage handling
- Steelmaking
- Manufacturing and design
What Are The Advantages Of Gravity Roller Conveyors For Transporting Goods?
Gravity roller conveyors can be useful because they rely on gravity to move objects. Gravity roller conveyors can be set at a downward angle to move products without the need for power. It is more cost-effective and environmentally friendly to use a gravity roller conveyor as it does not require power to move goods.
The conveyor does not require any power. This reduces maintenance costs and the time spent on maintaining it.
A gravity roller conveyor is not always the best option.
It is harder to control conveyor speed, which can result in damaged goods, such as if a heavy item is placed on the system and the conveyor is descending steeply.
What are the advantages of using a powered conveyor roller?
A powered roller conveyor will be the best product for you if you want to transport your goods over a long distance.
They can be used to move goods over long distances horizontally in a short time.
This allows for full control of the process and reduces risk.
The manufacturing industry uses a powered roller conveyor because it can handle heavier loads.
The powered roller conveyer system can be divided into zones. Each zone can then be controlled individually. This allows each zone only to run when an object is present, reducing costs and increasing efficiency.
Again, this reduces the risk, as if the motor breaks down or the power supply for one zone stops, only that area will stop, and the rest of the system can continue.
The systems are expensive, but worth it if you have to transport goods over a long distance. In the image below, you can see a roller system L-A.C. installed. One part of the system moves the product up and downwards. This reduces the need for workers and automates a process.