Automotive Technology
Automation Engineering
Automation Engineering
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- Roller conveyor system with fricti...
Roller conveyor system with friction roller principle and nearly without pneumatics
Jan Gerd Harbers, project engineering at thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering
The most stable standard since roller conveyors have existed: How our friction roller conveyor system works and what it means for worker and plant managers.
We have decided to offer our long proven transport system as a stand-alone solution, even away from the project business. One difference to the roller conveyors of many competitors is that we largely dispense with pneumatics. Our solution also relies on the friction roller principle. Why we do this and what it means for you as a plant manager, purchaser or integrator, Jan Gerd Harbers, project engineering at thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering, explains it here.
In our roller conveyor systems, we dispense with pneumatics as far as possible in order to reduce energy costs
Our transport system bluetrans is driven quite classically by an electric motor. Nevertheless, bluetrans differs from the products of several competitors - especially in the long-term profitability: our roller conveyor system is designed to be energy efficient and enormously durable. Our functional units, essentially the stop elements, are also driven electrically, rather than by pneumatics. Pneumatics offers the advantage of being somewhat smaller in design and somewhat less expensive in terms of materials. But the one-off material price and the size are only two factors. In the long run, we prefer to look at total cost. Roller conveyor systems that rely primarily on pneumatics are usually more cost-intensive in the long term during operation.
Why we largely dispense with pneumatics
If you are reading this as an engineer, of course you realize that. For everyone else, however, it is interesting because we are often asked why we have been designing our roller conveyor system largely without pneumatics for decades. Pneumatics is always comparatively lossy. It starts with the fact that a compressor has to compress air for the drive. In the process, energy is lost through waste heat. Furthermore, there are always line losses in pneumatics, because: air is lost "on the way", both due to flow resistance and leakage.
Why our friction drive is not only favorable, but also maintenance-free
Our transport system works on the friction roller principle, which increases availability in operation and makes maintenance almost unnecessary. The friction roller principle allows us to have a design that does not require lubrication, oil changes or subsequent adjustments at any point. The roller conveyor system based on the friction roller principle runs through easily, quietly and inconspicuously. It often happens that customers reuse one and the same transport system in several production applications.
The rollers of our roller conveyor systems are made of steel or polyrethane. Lateral guidance functions via steel rollers at the workpiece carrier corners that roll on the roller track segment or (for the 150 weight class) via collar washers that keep the workpiece carrier on track. The friction points themselves are made of material pairings that hardly wear noticeably even after decades. The friction points themselves are also made of an optimized material pairing that takes decades to wear out. Of course, there are drive chains that have to be replaced every 5 to 10 years, but the conveyor including the friction mechanism is very wear-resistant.
Roller conveyor system with friction roller principle in action: 3 advantages for the operator
What does the worker get from our transport system? Nothing - in three respects. Electromagnets make our roller conveyors more robust, quieter and safer than pneumatic roller conveyor systems.
1. Fewer maintenance interventions ensure smooth production
Downtime is expensive. Due to the freedom from maintenance and the great robustness of the roller conveyor system, you as the operator achieve a significantly higher availability of the line. This in turn generates a higher output.
2. The worker is safe
Occupational safety is also taken care of. If the workpiece carrier comes to a standstill or if a worker interferes with the roller conveyor system in any way, the rollers will stop. A roller conveyor system based on the friction roller principle is intrinsically safe. Means: Even in the event of a fault, no unsafe condition occurs on the conveyor. The transition shafts are covered.
3. It's quiter - at least a little
You are probably familiar with the hiss of pneumatics and the rattle of chains in your plants. With bluetrans it will be a little quieter in the plant in the future, because many sources of noise are eliminated: electromagnets work quietly where pneumatics would. We have dispensed with continuous chains. And even apart from that, a roller conveyor system based on a friction roller principle work very quietly. Above all, your employees will benefit from this.
