Norpak offers valuable advice on selecting a gravity roller conveyor

Gravity roller conveyors by Hytrol are available.

Businesses have access to many kinds of material-handling solutions from the Norpak Handling Ltd. inventory. For example, gravity roller conveyors are popular options with rollers or wheels, using gravity to transport items. These conveyors are an important part of material handling in fields like packaging, manufacturing, or package distribution. As material-handling experts, the Norpak team offers the following tips to customers on what to consider before buying and installing gravity roller conveyors.

Straight, curved, spur, merged designs

Choosing a gravity roller conveyor is a step-by-step process, as these models are available primarily in straight, curved, spur, and merged designs. One major consideration is the size and weight of the smallest and largest load the conveyor will transport. After determining these figures, the customer can weight other critical factors – like spacing between two consecutive rollers, their diameters, and the width of the frame and floor supports.

Axle centre, or the distance between the centre of two adjacent rollers, is another major factor. In a gravity roller unit, at least three rollers must always be in contact with the item’s bottom, to ensure seamless movement with no excess vibrations. Next up: the rollers’ individual diameters and axle sizes. Smaller and larger diameters have different advantages and drawbacks. For instance, smaller rollers are economical, but with limited load-bearing capacity.

The distance between two parallel rails on a conveyor frame, as measured from the inside, is called the between-frame width. This changes depending on the placement of rollers with respect to rails. If rollers are high above the rails, items can exceed the frame width if it is stable and collision-free, but item widths cannot exceed between-frame width if the rollers are recessed.

Frame material depends on the application. Steel frames work better for heavier items; aluminum frames are appropriate if easy installation and light load transportation are required. Floor supports – typically available in H-shaped or tripod configurations – should be considered, depending on whether the installation is temporary or permanent.

Hytrol manufactures several styles of gravity roller conveyors, all available from Norpak, including straight lightweight and medium or heavy-duty.

To learn more, contact Norpak.

• Tweet