The Best Ways Of Using Powered Roller Conveyor

Posted August 1, 2009 – 11:38 pm in: Equipment

Roller conveyors used in industrial environments such as warehouses, production lines and packing stations can remarkably increase productivity. There are many ways however to increase energy efficiency of these systems by paying attention to a few important factors.

Firstly choose the capacity of the motors of your powered conveyor systems wisely. For greatest efficiency the motor should run at or near the top of its capacity most of the time. If the weight load is variable then rather use adjustable speed drives and two speed motors. This will enable them to continue to run near to the limit of their capacity whilst saving power.

Lubrication is a crucial factor to efficient running. A regular and systematic maintenance schedule of chains, bearings and reducers should incorporate checking them for lubrication. Doing so will not only improve energy efficiency but also significantly improve the life span of the equipment.

Don’t rely on powered conveyors for all uses but rather introduce gravity feeds where possible. This measure can reduce equipment installation and maintenance costs as well as reducing energy consumption. The power of gravity is free. Use it wherever possible, mixing both power and gravity units in the same system.

Turn off systems when not needed. If it is possible to switch the power off occasionally in between operations, then it is a good idea to do the same. Intelligent automated controls can be incorporated to turn off systems when not directly needed.

The design of the entire system should be geared towards maximum energy efficiency. In powered roller conveyor systems try to design with the longest, straight runs possible. The number of drives should be kept minimum. In fact maybe you can power the full system with a single drive and employ efficient speed reducers.

Build in regular maintenance and downtime periods to the work schedule. Performance of a conveyor system is increased manifold if routine checks and necessary repairs are regularly done. Breakdowns and unscheduled maintenance are particularly expensive as they come without warning. You can save a lot if you can adhere to regular, short shutdown sessions.

There are simple but routine fixes that you should know as a first defense, do it yourself solution to problems. When loads accumulate in one area of the conveyor the reasons can be many. A common cause, however, is photo cells that are dirty or obstructed. Check these with regular daily maintenance.

An abrupt shutdown of the conveyor is most often due to accidental operation of emergency stop buttons. Keep abreast of the latest technology and install upgrades for greatest efficiency when possible.

Advances have been made in recent years that have greatly enhanced the performance of conveyor systems. Dynamic Zone Allocation in accumulation systems is but one example. Here the conveyor’s zone length is automatically adjusted to accommodate the length of the object in transit. The result can be a significant increase in the throughput of product on the conveyor. The system automatically adjusts for any size of package it has to handle, thus removing the need to change a conveyor installation when production needs change.

For more details on the advantages of powered roller conveyor systems visit our web site at www.roller-conveyor.co.uk .

Share and Enjoy: