A gravity roller conveyor moves materials, normally with a flat-surface, along series of tubes or rollers which are evenly spaced. The materials can either be moved by-gravity along the decline, or they can be pushed by an individual, who’s assisted by the tubes/rollers to move the load from 1 point to another.
Gravity Conveyors
Gravity conveyors can be described as conveyors which use gravity rather than electricity to transport/move loads. As for gravity roller conveyors, the load is usually placed at 1 end & either rides along the rollers or tubes along a slight-decline so the gravity requires the load to, in-essence, enter the controlled fall-along the rollers/tubes, or is pushed & steered by an individual.
Roller Conveyors
Roller conveyors are conveyor systems which consist of a series-of cylindrical tubes which are spaced evenly-apart & turn, moving the package to the next forward-tube. The tubes are known as rollers. In powered roller conveyors, the rollers/tubes are put into motion by electric motors; in gravity roller conveyors, the rollers/tubes are put into motion by weight of the package/load.
Direction of a Gravity Roller Conveyor
A gravity roller conveyor is either level (that is, parallel to ground) or it can be on an-incline, with the load/package starting at the upper-end of the conveyor & ending at the lower-end. Certain gravity roller conveyors can include both the inclined and the level parts. The sections may be either curved or straight, and at times a diverter can be used so as to send the load in 1 direction or another, a lot like the switch that’s on a set-of train tracks.
Parts of the Gravity Roller Conveyors
There are basically 2 primary parts of the gravity roller conveyors. 1 is the surface, and it consists of rollers/tubes placed between parallel-rails. Other part is support; It’s a standing piece-of equipment which basically holds up both of the rails. Certain gravity roller conveyors can be sold as complete units, while some others can be sold in different parts, with the purchaser being required to re-assemble the conveyor(s) so as to fit their specific needs.
Gravity Roller Conveyors Safety
Occupational Safety & Health Administration (also abbreviated as, OSHA) requires various safety measures to be put in place-for gravity conveyors so as to protect the personnel from any falling loads or packages. Since the conveyors are typically used in a wide-range of different settings for various different purposes, OSHA lets the businesses that are using the conveyors to determine exact specifications, however OSHA requires the conveyors to be secure, the package/load be stoppable at-the-end and rails or the netting around conveyors to stop any falling loads/packages from landing on the personnel.