Written by Bjorn Hutgens, Manager sales
Estimated reading time 6 minutes
What is a roller conveyor used for?
The roller conveyor is a known system that is intended for transporting, grouping, connecting and distributing goods in a warehouse. Thanks to this system, employees can work more efficiently and companies can save a lot of time and a lot of money.
In this article our experts state:
- The characteristics of a roller conveyor together;
- The areas of application in a warehouse;
- The different types of roller conveyors;
- The pros and cons at a glance.
Download the free technical documentation here
How does a roller conveyor work?
The roller conveyor is an automatic solution for the transport of goods over rollers. Think about boxes, pallets or storage bins. Although certain solutions sometimes work on gravity, roller conveyors are mostly equipped with electric motors that move the loading unit in a controlled and safer manner.
What parts does a roller conveyor consist of?
The most important parts of a roller conveyor are:
Rollers: the rollers of a roller conveyor are made of metal cylinders with one shaft and two bearings. In a warehouse it is usual that there are more lanes or conveyor belts used for one process.
Steel construction and legs: these elements are the metal base that supports the rollers. They decide the direction and height of a roller conveyor system. The steel is chosen based on the weight that the track must be able to hold.
Electric installations: a roller conveyor consist out of all kinds of electronic components that keep the process moving. Think about motors and control cabinets. The required power of a roller conveyor system depends on the weight of the loading unit and the required speed of the product movement. This is company specific.
Safety systems: usual roller conveyors are equipped with proximity sensors, stoppers or photoelectric sensors. These safety units give information to the Warehouse Control System (WSC) and can localise the products at any time.
Software: complex motorized processes include roller conveyors that work through a Warehouse Control System which gives instructions. In an automatic logistic warehouse, orders are executed that have been sent by the Warehouse Management System (WMS).
In which application areas can roller conveyors be used?
In a big automatic warehouse of distribution centre, a roller conveyor is indispensable for efficient movement of goods because:
- It makes the movement of the goods between production zones and/or other buildings easier;
- It connects the storage zone with the order picking zone;
- It connects multiple levels.
Finally, the purpose of the roller conveyor is to overcome different heights within a warehouse or distribution centre. There are various solutions for this:
(pallet) lifts: with this you can reach several floors.
Spiral conveyors: are used for both upward and downward movement of goods.
Conveyor belts: roller conveyors are usually combined with conveyor belts. These can be built in a certain degree.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a roller conveyor?
Advantages of a roller conveyor:
- More input/output with less Fte’s;
- Clear structure of the flow of goods;
- Efficiency in the logistics process;
- Shorter lead times;
- Goods to the employee Instead of the other way around;
- Ergonomically sound;
- Less mistakes;
- Fewer forklift movements;
- A safer way of working;
- Modular construction.
Disadvantages of a roller conveyor:
- Cleaning;
- Space occupied by the system.
What types of roller conveyors are there?
Powered roller conveyors:
A powered roller conveyor can be driven in different ways. For example, a drive can be in the roll itself, the drive can take place by means of a drive belt or by means of a round belt.
Non-powered roller conveyors:
A non-powered roller conveyor, also called: gravity roller conveyor, is not driven by a belt. But it must have gravity. With this type, the roller conveyor is placed at a certain angle and the products are transported from A to B by gravity. This is one of the most sustainable internal transport solutions because it requires no energy and maintenance.
Harmonica roller conveyor:
A harmonica roller conveyor can be flexibly extended until it has exactly the desired length. This type of roller conveyor is also adjustable in height. Harmonica roller conveyors are available in powered and non-powered variants. Making a turn is no problem either.
For more technical information about the types of roller conveyors, download our technical documentation for free.
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