Roller conveyors are machines that are made from mostly steel and stainless steel that use powered or non-powered conveyor rollers to move the loads of goods or products from one place to another. Roller conveyors help to move items without causing any damage. They are being used in warehouses, factories, and other businesses.
1-A. What is a Conveyor Roller
A conveyor roller is a key component in many conveyor systems. As its name suggests, it is a roller that helps to move items along the conveyor belt. Conveyor rollers are usually made from strong and durable materials such as steel, making them ideal for high-traffic areas.
In its simplest form, a roller consists of a steel tube, a shaft, and ball bearings. They are also often coated with a low-friction material, which helps to keep the conveyor belt moving smoothly.
In some cases, conveyor rollers may also be equipped with additional features such as motors, as is the case with MDR conveyors. These additional features can help to improve the efficiency of the conveyor system.
1-B. What is an MDR Conveyor Roller
MDR stands for motor-driven roller, and these rollers are driven by an electric motor. MDR conveyor rollers are used in various applications, including package handling, assembly line manufacturing, and warehouse automation. MDR conveyor rollers are available in various sizes and styles to suit the needs of any application.
MDR conveyor rollers are typically used in accumulation and high-speed sortation conveyor systems but can also be used in other types of conveying systems, such as gravity conveyors. MDR conveyor rollers are more expensive than conventional idler rollers, but they offer several advantages, including higher capacity, longer life, and better reliability. They also offer a much higher ROI as compared to other types of conveyors. Energy savings alone could be worth the switch to some.
A conveyor is the critical lifeline that keeps your production moving &#; just like the veins in your body. It is just as vital to know the system you&#;re purchasing will meet or exceed your requirements, that it is built for longevity and that it can withstand the environment of your operation &#; perhaps even saving an expensive retrofit afterward.
To help, George Packard, an account manager for Multi-Conveyor, has answered the following list of questions about conveyor construction that most people may not know &#; but they should.
Of course. Multi-Conveyor can bend metal into just about any shape needed and can manufacture curves or straight sections to modify your existing line if an accurate cross-section can be provided.
Multi-Conveyor exclusively uses FDA-approved plastics for our wear and guiding materials. The type of plastic used is application specific, but low friction UHMW-PE (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) and NOLU-S (UHMW with additional solid lubricant molded in) are commonly used to decrease chain drag friction and prolong the life of the equipment.
By default Multi-Conveyor uses standard SAE stainless steel hardware and shafting on all of its conveyors, even if they are going into a dry environment. This value-add minimizes the risk of accidentally using rustable components on sanitary projects, and it provides peace of mind that fasteners and shafting will be removed rust-free in the future should a major repair be needed.
We&#;ve listened to our customers and know how much of a pain removing and re-installing a drive or idle shaft can be. Multi-Conveyor's answer was to standardize a proactive design that allows the maintenance technician to remove the chain, unbolt the bearings from the frame, and lift the entire shaft out of the conveyor for repair or replacement. Other conveyor manufacturers simply have a hole in the side of their frames forcing the technician to remove all of the sprockets in order to slide the shaft out &#; which is time consuming and frustrating, especially on wider conveyors.
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Conveyor lingo varies from company to company by individual, but some broad definitions still apply. Chain typically refers to a conveyor surface material that is positively driven and robust. Examples vary from simple #50 roller chain to tabletop chain like 882. Belts typically refer to a flexible continuous sheet material (typically with a canvas or plastic core) that can be sourced with some type of splice mechanism. They can be friction or positively driven and may require tracking. Modular plastic belts consist of a series of molded plastic blocks that are &#;bricklayed&#; to form the required width and assembled with plastic pins. There are pros and cons of each type. Multi-Conveyor will discuss the benefits of each option up front to ensure the best recommendation.
Conveyor belting and chain options are plentiful and chosen by individual application. This image shows a commonly used high-friction chain, white flush grid modular belting and standard 2-ply blue wash down belting.
Stainless steel conveyors are used in many industries such as foods, beverage liquid filling, pharmaceuticals, chemical or where corrosive resistance is required. In comparison to lower-cost painted mild steel, stainless may cost a few extra dollars, but the ROI is quickly realized in labor savings (maintenance) and maximum environmental compatibility including high heat, sanitation for agency compliance, withstanding chemical exposures, etc.
Conveyors may require features such as clean out ports, belts lifts, and easily removable carry way and return way components. Standard sanitary features should include standoffs for frame-mounted elements, sanitary supports and washdown rated power transmission components.
The industry standard is Type 304 for conveyor frames and bolt-on accessories. This metal offers broad-spectrum corrosion resistance and is cost-effective. Type 316 is another commonly used alloy that offers increased corrosion resistance in high chlorine environments.
Ground or polished continuous welds, easily removable NTR (no tool required) components, agency-approved belting, and an open design to allow greater operator access are a few. We follow industry guidelines to ensure the proper sanitary specifications are met.
Ease of routine maintenance prompted the pin-pull design for &#;no tools required&#; (NTR) quick-release conveyor belting.
Stainless steel conveyors are designed to be pressure washed or CIP (clean in place) or even simply wiped down with basic water or mild detergents. Chemical cleaners or other specific cleaning methods are at the discretion of the customer.
Viewing windows are common for operators to monitor the entire belt for debris or wear. CIP, or clean-in-place, assemblies may incorporate spray nozzles or hand valves allowing for an external water hook-up to clean the belt above and below as required.
Absolutely! Unique Stainless Steel MDR (Motor Driven Rollers) conveyors are available for both direct washdown and general damp duty usage. Washdown rated 24-v DC motors and controllers allow simplified installations and reduced power consumption. Multi-Conveyor can also provide a motorized drum pulley configured for plastic modular belts or urethane slider bed belt conveyors.
Stainless Steel constructed MDR is uniquely built and rated for wash down applications versus standard gravity roller. Image courtesy of Multi-Conveyor
Multi-Conveyor adds that there are two other common considerations that you should ask your conveyor manufacturer upfront:
One final piece of advice from Packard: maintain your due diligence. &#;Don&#;t let price and quick delivery take over as your focal point,&#; he says. &#;When comparing conveyor systems or bid quotes, make sure they're equivalent in construction, performance, safety, ease of maintenance and built for longevity. On the surface conveyors may appear to be fundamentally comparable. It&#;s up to you to learn the difference.&#;
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