Roach Conveyors

Roach Conveyor offers 100 models in 39,000 sizes which are available for 24 hour shipment from their facility in Northeasst Arkansas.

Here are just some of the models we have for 24 hour shipment.  A common myth is if you purchased one brand of conveyor you must keep buying  that brand for replacement parts, rollers or add on system components. So if you have purchased Hytrol, Rapistan,  Bushman, Alvey, Matthews, Versa, Interlake, Omni or any other conveyor and don’t like their delivery give Material Flow a call at 1-800-338-1382.

1. Trough Bed Belt Conveyor Model 250TB
2. Medium Duty Slider Bed Belt Conveyor – Model 350SB
3. Medium Duty Box Style Slider Bed Conveyor Model 350 BSB
4. Medium Duty Roller Bed Belt Conveyor Model 196 RB
5. Roller Bed Inclined Floor to Floor Conveyor – #196RBF
6. Slider Bed Inclined Floor to Floor Belt Conveyor #350SBF
7. Heavy Duty Roler Belt Conveyor #251RB
8. Medium Duty Belt Drive Live Roller Curve #196LRC
9. Medium Duty Curve Spur #196LRCS
10. Medium Duty Cam Adjusted Live Roller #196CALR
11. Medium Duty Cam Adjusted Live Roller #2251 CALR
12. Medium Duty Belt Drive Liver Roller #196LR
13. Medium Duty Variable Pressure Live Roller Accumulator
14. Line Shaft Driven Live Roller Conveyor #796LS
15. Line Shaft Driven Curve Module#796LSC
16. Line Shaft DrivenCrossover#796LSX
17. Heavy Duty Chain Driven Live Roller Conveyor #251CDLR
18. Power Accessories – Motors, Belting, Turning Wheels
19. Pneumatic Roller and Blade Stops
20. Take ups, center drives
21. End drives and take ups
22. Intermediate Bed Sections
23. Rail Wheel Conveyors
24. Replacement Skatwheels
25. Rail Wheel Conveyors
26. Gravity Wheel Conveyor – Steel and Aluminum Type
27. 1 3/8″ gravity roller conveyors – Steel and Aluminum Type
28. Roller Curve Sections – 90 and 45 Degree Curves
29. 1.9″ Diameter Roller Conveyors – Steel and Galvanized
30. 1.9″ Diameter Roller Covneyors – 12 Gauge, 9 Gauge, Straight and Curved
31. 2.5 Diameter Roller Conveyor 14 Gauge, 11 Gauge, Straight and Curved
32. 2 9/16″ Diameter x 7 Gauge
33. 3 1/2″ x 9 Gauge Roller Conveyors
34. 21 /2 Roller Conveyors
35. Ball Transfer Tables
36. Gravity Accessories
37.. Gate Sections & Conveyor Support Guardrails
38. Rollers (Replacement)

If you don’t see what you want call us at 1-800-338-1382, chances are we can help you with on of the other brands we represent.

Chain Driven Live Roller Conveyors

Chain driven live roller conveyors are specifically designed to convey heavy loads or pallets for transferring, loading, or unloading. These conveyors are especially suited for carrying loads in oily conditions and may be adapted for their use in washdown applications, freezers, ovens and in the presence of contaminates. Remember that special provisions are required when placing ANY conveyor in such hazardous environments. Modifications such as zinc-plating or galvanizing of rollers and/or frames, special bearings or modified grease bearings or special gearmotors may be required. Always consult Material Flow in such applications for guidance. Use roller-to-roller chain driven live rollers for very heavy loads such as filled drums, frequent start/stop situations and reversible applications involving heavy loads. Roller-to-roller driven units also provide an overall lower unit elevation since no underneath mounted chain take-up mechanism is required. When continuous loading approaches 100 lbs./ft. use a single strand type chain driven live roller unit.

For all your conveyor needs visit www.conveyor-parts.com

Conveyor Safety Guidelines

A gravity conveyor bracket should always be used when connecting power conveyors to gravity conveyor to eliminate hazardous pinch or “nip” points. Always use gravity connector bracket with pop out roller to permanentely attach any gravity conveyor with pop out roller to permanentely attach any gravity conveyor to power conveyor. This simple connection eliminates hazardous pinch points that would otherwise exist by attaching a gravity conveyor directly to a powered belt unit.

Connector brackets are supplied as an optional component and are readily available. Present unit serial number and gravit model number (including width) when calling to order safety connector brackets, model CB.

Safety Pop Out Rollers

Inclusion of safety pop out rollers is an integral, critical design feature of belt driven live roller conveyors. The upper flange of the conveyor frame is slotted for rollers to “pop-out” of the frame if, for example, a hand became loadged in the tread rollers. This safety design must be included on units installed under 7′ top of roller elevation. If the unit is installed 7′ top of roller elevation and above (ceiling supported, etc. ) this pop out design must be eliminated. Rollers are retained in the frame by a “roller hold down angle” or they may be retained by a formed angle guard rail with 1 1/2″ flange width. Consult Material Flow for more information.

Safety Instructions

Do not operate conveyor with protective guards removed. This includes chain guards, belt guards, snub roller guards, center drive guards, line shaft guards and any other safety guard.

Do not walk, ride, climb or touch moving parts on a conveyor in operation.

Do not wear loose clothing or uncovered hair around conveyor.

Do not work near conveyor without knowing how  & where to shut off power.

Do not remove jammed product with conveyor running.

Do not replace parts or perform maintenance on conveyor, or moving conveyor parts, without first shutting OFF power to conveyor.

Do not connect gravity to powered conveyor without safety gravity connector brackets.

To prevent electrical shock, conveyor must be grounded, and have proper electrical connections in accordance with federal, state, and local codes.

Safety pop out rollers in conveyors installed above 7′ elevation must be retained by guard rail, clips, etc… Safety pop out rollers must be allowed to pop out when conveyors are installed at or below 7′ elevation.

It is the responsibility of conveyor end-user to comply with all safety standards including OSHA and other federal, state, and local codes or regulations. Placement of guards and other safety equipment in accordance with safety  standards is dependent upon the specific application and must be installed whenever appropriate.

Conveyor Operations

Load Characteristics: Surface condition of product should have a smooth and firm bottom for efficient conveyability.  As Specialty items such as rolls of cloth or carpet may be conveyed on a “troughed roller” arrangement which forces the object to run down the center of the conveyor. In this instance, use of solid formed guard rails is imperative.

Operating Conditions: Special conditions dictate any modifications required for normal unit operation. A conveyor used in a wet or wash down application, foundry, oven or freezer will require special features that normally would not be required when operated in a clean dry ambient room environment.

Roller Capacity: Once the number of rollers required to convey the minimum package length is determined, roller capacity must be determined. Divide the maximum weight per linear foot by the number of rollers required per foot. The minimum required capacity per roller results.

Example: 18″ long package weighs 800 lbs. 800 / 18 x 12 = 534 lbs. per foot.

534/4 = 134 lbs. minimum roller capacity for 3″ roller centers when a minimum  of  rollers are required to carry the minimum package length.

534/3 = 17 lbs. minimum roller capacity for 4″ roller centers when a minimum of 3 rollers are required to carry the minimum package length.

NOTE: Additional rollers (or high capacity rollers) are required to support load when product loading is unevenly distributed.

Frame Capacity: After the roller capacity is determined, unit frame capacity must be calculated. Multiply the maximum product loading per linear foot by the conveyor length to determine the required frame capacity. The minimum required frame capacity results.

Example: Max. product load per foot is 250 lbs.

250 lbs. / ft. max. load x 10 = 2500 lbs. total live load per 10′ section.

Shock Loading: Shock loading  (i.e. loading from fork truck, or dropping load onto conveyor) places a great deal of stress on both conveyor rollers and frame. Therefore in instances where conveyor is subject to shock loading, provisions must be made to deal with this high stress loading. Rollers with greater capacity, heavier duty rollers and/or heavier gauge frame construction is required to offset this special loading condition.

Curves:
A. Straight Face Rollers: Straight face rollers are recommended where packages of uniform size are conveyed and rubbing against guards is not objectionable. Package orientation may be affected.

B. Differential Rollers: Differential Rollers offer reduced package swerve (when compared to a straight roller curve) and packages travel more easily. Guard rail should be used.

C. Tapered Rollers: Tapered rollers are recommended above all others because of their improved carrying surface. They hold the package in relatively the same position through the entire curve. Guards are normally used on the outside curve rail.

Curve Radius: There are various methods used to identify the point where radius is measured on Roach curves. Curve radius locations vary by individual manufacturers.

Curve Width: Once the appropriate curve has been selected, curve width must be determined. Lengthy objects will require special consideration. As a general rule of thumb the package length should not exceed the inside radius dimension (this will not be a factor if the BF is wide enough). It is recommended there-fore, to maintain a greater inside radius than the longest package length conveyed.

Supports:
A. Tripods: Tripods are used on light duty conveyors in portable or temporary applications. Tripods are not recommended for application using medium duty conveyors. When installing tripods, the top channel of the tripod assembly rests in the frame conveyor cross brace.

B. Permanent Floor Supports: Permanent “H-type” floor supports are the most common means of supporting conveyors. A full support is used to span intermediate bed sections where adjoined and at each end of a unit. Additional supports are required only when additional capacity is required to support the frame in extreme conditions or when a normal support location is blocked by other machinery (or similar instances). Single leg permanent floor supports are also available.

C. Ceiling Hangers: Ceiling hangers are commonly used in high elevation applications or when it is not practical to install permanent floor supports (aisles, walkways, etc.)

CAUTION: When using ceiling hangers at 7′ and above installed elevation, it is imperative that high solid guard rail is used to hold product on conveyor and that safety pop out rollers are retained in the conveyor frame.

D. Polytier Supports:
When two or  more tiers of conveyor must be installed, use polytier supports. Each set of legs is supplied with cross pipes and one pair of knee braces (standard) to support multiple tiers of conveyors. In minimum elevation applications, hardware is available for installation at frame depth + 0.

E. Undertrussing:
For installation of some conveyors, a full support or ceiling hanger cannot be used to maintain necessary clearances underneath unit or for other. In these instances, use of unit undertrussing may be a viable alternative. Tow bed sections or a total of 32′ may be undertrussed.

Powered Conveyor Application

Questions to ask when considering Powered Conveyors

WHAT is being handled.

- Sizes, weights and rates?

- How is the item loaded and unloaded on conveyor?

- What is the physical characteristics of conveying surface?

- Is it a lever “push system” or a gravity free-flowing system?

-Is the load evenly distributed in the container or pallet?

Where is it being handled (environmental conditions)?

- Mositure

- Cold

- Heat

- Dust

Why do they want a conveyor?

- Who identified the problem, you or the customer?

Portable Belt Conveyors:

Portable Belt conveyors are pre-engineered power driven units. They are specially designed to move cartons, cases, boxes, bags etc… up an incline. They can be used with or without supports. The following is a list of a few applications.

- Loading and unloading trucks and railroad cars.
- Stacking
- As a booster in a gravity line
- On a stairway (not too long or too steep)
- Horizontally (when short and portable units are needed)
-Floor to floor conveyor, when vertical lift required is not too great.

When selecting a PORTABLE CONVEYOR consider the following:

1. To keep material when conveyor is inclined, RUBBER ROUGH TOP BELT is used.

2. The maximum recommended ANGLES of incline for portable belt conveyors with rubber rough top belt and without cleats is 30 degrees or lesss. With cleats, unit can be inclined up to 45 degrees. Keep in mind the CENTER OF GRAVITY of the material being covneyor, base on height and length (i..e: if carton is higher than it is long, it will topple back)

3. Portable conveyors can also be used horizontally if lengths suffice. In this case a smooth type belt can be ordered.

4.  Material can moved can be wider than belt if it has a solid, rigid conveyable surface. For example, an 18 inch wide carton can easily be moved on a 12 inch wide belt (minimum belt width= 2/3 product width.)

5. Undercarriage supports are available for standard units. These supports are ADJUSTABLE and PORTABLE and should be utilized when quick adjustment and easier portability are desired.

Belt Conveyors

The belt conveyors that will be considered are:
- Horizontal Belt Conveyors
- Incline/Decline Belt Conveyor
- Brake Belt
- Meter Belt
- Brake/Meter Belt

Note: The minimum overall conveyor length is equal to the belt width x 3

Horizontal Belt Conveyors:

Horizontal Belt conveyors are pre-engineered units and are usually designed for stationary use. However, with certain conditions, they are also used as portable units when equipped with portable supports.

When selecting a Horizontal Conveyor consider the following:

1. Horizontal Belt conveyor design is such that they can be quickly installed, economically operated and easily maintained. They lend themselves to many types of operation such as:

- Assembly Lines
- Inspection
- Packaging
- Testing
- Order Packaging
- Sorting
- Checking
- Shipping
- Receiving
- Transferring parts from one operation to the next.

2. Because the conveyor is horizontal, a less expensive smooth type belting is used. In most cases, Black PVC belt is ideal. Other belt types are available. Other belt types for applications such as food handling, higher temperatures, lower coefficient of  friction are also available.
3. Material can be wider than belt when packaged items with flat solid bottoms are conveyed. However, loose parts, odd shaped sub-assemblies, etc. should be handled in trays or tote pans if they are wider than the belt.
4.  Horizontal belt conveyors can be reversing. However a center drive take-up must be used
5. Permanent and adjustable supports are most frequently used for horizontal units. Hanger brackets are available for overhead support mounting.

Incline & Delcine Belt Conveyors:

Model “I” conveyors are also made up of pre-engineered standard sections, but are designed for permanent installation only.

When selecting an incline or decline conveyor consider the following:

1. Incline conveyors are normally equipped with a noseover at the top end. This enables the product to level off to a horizontal position before even being discharged. A noseover is particularly desirable if the product is fragile because the noseover eliminates the tendency for the front end of the package to drop when it reaches the top. It is suggested that any angle of 10 degrees or greater have a noseover. A noseover is a MUST for angles over 15 degrees.

2. Incline conveyors are used to move product from one level to another.

3. Rough top belt is used on the incline length of the conveyor.

4. Material wider than the belt can be conveyed satisfactorily if it has a flat, solid bottom. The general rule of thumb for inclines is the width of the material should not exceed the overall width of the conveyor.

5. An incline conveyor normally requires center drive and take-up. A center drive and take up is a must when reversing the unit or a power feeder is used.

6. Permanent and adjustable supports are most frequently used for incline and decline units. Hanger brackets are available for overhead support mounting. For floor-to-floor units, permanent supports are nomrally used at the top and bottom of the conveyor.

Power Feeder Belts:

Power feeder belts are used to provide a positive and smooth transition from horizontal to incline or from decline to horizontal.

1. When using a POWER FEEDER, set the feeder pulley height in relation to the incline pulley to allow a smooth transition of th eload.

- On an incline conveyor the feeder pulley should be slightly higher than the incline pulley.
- On a decline conveyor the feeder pulley should be slightly lower than the incline pulley.

2. There are other methods of making the transition. While being less expensive they are limited. Power feeder belts will usually solve the problem when other devices will not…
- They are positive because of the simultaneous “push-pull” action of both the power feeder and the incline belts.
- They result in a smooth transition because the load is under powered conveyor control at all times.
- They are adaptable to reversing applications whereas a gravity feeder is not.

3. It is sometimes desirable to separate the product at the transition point between a horizontal power feeder and the incline bed by a belt speed change. This will prevent the top of the product from being subject to a crushing point.

Gravity Tail Feeder to Incline Belt Conveyor

Under controlled conditions, gravity conveyors can discharge directly onto an inclined belt conveyor. There are some variables to consider.

1. The feeding gravity conveyor must discharge higher than the belt so that the package will contact the belt regardless of the position of the take-up pulley.

2. The forces that advance that load onto the belt is a combination of the friction between the belt at the leading edge of the package plus the gravity section of the feeding gravity conveyor.

3. If the angle of incline of the belt is too steep then the package will advance into a “bridging” position. The trailing edge of the package will tend to hold back the package rather than advance it onto the belt.

4. The following  parameters must be considered before a satisfactory result can be expected.
- The angle of incline belt conveyor must be minimized. A general rule is to not exceed 12 degrees.
- The package must be reasonably stable.
- The variation in length between the longest and shortest package must be minimal.
- Loads must be able to withstand the “drop off” action without damage.

Gravity Discharge from Decline Belt Conveyor:

Under controlled conditions, powered belt conveyors can discharge directly onto gravity conveyor. There are some variables to consider that will have a direct bearing on the degree of success that will be obtained.

1. The packages have tendency to “nose” or “dig” into the space between the rollers or wheels. The package may hang up and be damaged at the point of transfer.

2. These factors must be considered.
- The angle of decline of the belt conveyor.
- The length and condition of the package.
- The position of the take-up pulley.

Take caution when applying gravity feeders and gravity discharge sections to or from powered conveyors. Many safety issues need to be considered including pinch points.

Magnetic Brakes:
Motor brakes are an important control device. They are used to minimize “coasting” and or to hold a belt stationary against the force of gravity or push of the accumulated conveyor.

Without a brake, the momentum of the moving loads and the conveyor components (pulleys, belts, etc.) will cause the belt to drift after the power has been turned off. The amount of drift can vary from a few inches to a few feet as a result of one or more of the following:

- The moving weight.
- The conveyor speed.
- Friction factor of conveyor components (roller bed vs. slider bed)
- The angle of incline or decline.
- Friction factor of drive mechanism.

A brake motor may be desirable particularly on a decline conveyor or roller bed if you do not want the product to drift on the decline portion. Incline  conveyors will drift less than decline conveyors.

Maximum Incline and Decline Angles:

Another consideration when choosing an incline or decline conveyor will be: Is the angle of incline shallow enough to prevent the load from tumbling back or sliding down the incline bed?

1. The maximum angle of incline or decline is a function of two facts:
- The type of belt being used.
-The condition of the load.

2. A general rule is to stay within 25 degrees. However solidly packed. Uniformly loaded packages may negotiate a particular angle, but non-uniformly loaded packages such as TV sets, or furniture may not.

3. We know that a load is most stable under “static conditions”. However a belt conveyor does not provide a static condition. The load must start and stop quickly and be able to absorb the forces of momentum and acceleration without rocking beyond its stability point and start tumbling.
- A short load is more vulnerable to tumbling than a long load.
- Acceleration and deceleration of higher speed belt conveyors will add to the problem more severely than do slow moving conveyors.
- The use of magnetic brakes for stopping the conveyor will accentuate the problem.
- The bottom of most cartons are not flat but, slightly bulged. This creates some rocking even on level conveyors.
- The spacing of carrier rollers on roller bed section will effect the amount of “bobbing” or “sway” in transit. The closer the roller centers the smoother the travel. Slider bed conveyors provide the smoothest travel.
- Plastic totes may become slippery with age and use should be tested.

The following are a few of the accepted methods of determining whether a load will negotiate a given angle of incline or decline without tumbling.

1. One method is the 1/3 Rule
- Under normal con, a load is considered stable if a vertical line from the center of gravity falls within the middle 1/3 of the base.

2. To determine if a load is stable:

- Draw a scaled diagram of the product at the angle of incline/decline.
- Draw diagonal lines from corner to corner of the load. They will intersect at the “theoretical” center of gravity.
- Divide the base of the load into 3 equal parts.
- Draw a vertical line from the center of gravity. The vertical line should fall within the middle 1/3 of the base.

Spacer Belt:

A specer belt conveyor is nothing more than a horizontal slider bed belt conveyor and is used to produce a required space or “gap” between beeing fed to downstream devices such as transfers, belt sorters etc…

When applying a spacer belt conveyor consider the following:

1. A slider bed section should be used.
2. A belt with a high coefficient of friction such as rough top belting should be used.
3. The length of the space belt is 3 x the belt width, minimum.
4. The speed of the spacer belt portion is determined by the following formula.

Spacer Belt Speed (fpm) -= (CL+ S) x CMP

Where: CL= Carton Length (Ft.)
S= Gap space between each carton in feet.
CPM = Cartons Per Minute (in feet)

For example:  a 2′ long product is being produced at a rate of 20 cartons per minute and requires a 1′ gap. The meter belt speed would be (2′ + 1′) x 20 (CPM) = 60 (fpm)

- A 15% safety factor should be add 60 (fpm) x 1.15 = 69 (fpm)

Brake Belt:

Brake belt conveyors are used to stop, brake or hold back product at the end of a powered or gravity accumulation line.

When applying a brake belt conveyor, consider the following:

1. A slider bed section should be used.
2. A belt with a high coefficient of friction, such as rough top belting should be used.
3. A motor with a brake should be used.
4 The length of the brake belt is determined by dividing the total length of the accumulated load by 6.
- For example:  If you have a total lenght of accumulated loads of 60′, the length of the brake  belt would be: 60/6 = 1′

Conveyor Safety Best Practices

The following  practices will help evaluate whether your conveyors currently pose a hazard to your employees, and make any necassary improvements to safeguard you and your employees.

1. Have an elevated walkway with guardails or gates wherever employees must cross over moving conveyors.

2. Provide suitable guarding wherever employees must cross under moving conveyors. The goal is to prevent access to moving parts that could pull hair, body parts or material into the equipment.

3. Always secure conveyor rollers and wheels in position. Transition points between conveyors should have a transition plate or guard to prevent the conveyor fom pulling fingers into it.

4. Ensure guards prevent access to moving parts so workers cannot reach around, under through or over the guard. Use OSHA’s guarding scale to determine the allowable opening size of the guarding.

5. Examine the space between the end roller and or other high tension rollers and the conveyor belt. Guard this gap to prevent nip-point injuries.

6. Verify that your conveyors with electrically released brake are constructed so the brakes cannot be released until power is applied. Also the brakes should automatically engage if the power fails or the operating control is returned to the “stop” position.

7. Check that all controls are accessible, functional and properly labeled. Emergency stop devices must be readily accessible to stop the conveyor during an emergency. Use emergency pull cords that use a safety related switch and be sure to test and inspect the pull cord systems as the manufacturer requires.

8. Perform all scheduled preventitive maintenance and conduct regular inspections, this is critical for ensuring that the conveyor system functions properly and safely in particular, you’ll want to verify that all guards and other safety devices are in place and functional.

Material Flow carries a full range of conveyors and conveyoer systems.

Conveyor Spacing and Grade Guide

Roller Center Spacing

In order to convey your product smoothly and efficiently, it must be supported by a minimum of three rollers. To compute the center to center roller spacing required, divide the length of your package by 3. The dividend is your required spacing. For example, a package 24″ long, divided by 3, yields a dividend of 8. Therefore, the required spacing would be 8″ center to center. Flexible bottom packages require four or more supporting rollers per package.

Grade Suggestions

Grades recommended are not exact and should only be used to estimate your requirements. Figures at left are intended for average conditions, using proper size rollers for materials handled. Additional grade may be required in some cases.

Starting a package from rest on level lines requires a push of approximately 3% of the total load. For heavy loads a pitch of 1/8″ per foot will reduce push required.

The amount of drop required for 90 degree curves with 4′ inside radius is approximately the same as required per 10′ section.

Wheel Spacing

Products to be conveyed on wheel conveyor should have a smooth and firm bottom to maximize conveyability. It is important to not that wheel conveyor should have a minimum of 5 wheels under smallest box size and a minimum of 3 axles under it all time.

Horizontal Powered Conveyor Guide

While gravity conveyors are great for items of similar sizes and weights, powered conveyors allow items of all dimensions to be moved with a positive flow, meaning that items won’t smash together at the end of the line. Here’s a rundown on the different types of powered conveyors.

Slide Bed Belt Conveyor: The most popular powered conveyor. It has a solid steel bed and is relatively simple to run and install. Assembly and general transport are it’s most common uses. Slide bed belt conveyors don’t work well with heavy live loads because of the friction between the bed and belt.

Roller Bed Belt Conveyor: The roller bed belt conveyor has a belt that goes over rollers instead of a steel bed. This reduces friction and allows for heavier loads.

Live Roller Conveyor: Live roller conveyors are available in two styles, belt driven or chain driven. These are useful for applications where boxes must be pushed across the conveyor for unloading. Pushing a product across a belt conveyor causes tracking problems. Accumulation is possible on a live roller conveyor but only for a very brief time.

Accumulating Conveyor: The same basic construction as a live roller conveyor except this system allows for accumulation. If your operation must do sorting, strapping, or staging on the conveyor line this is the conveyor for you. There are two types of accumulating conveyors; zero pressure and minimum pressure. Minimum pressure conveyors applies some back pressure to the packages but usually not enough to damage them. A zero pressure conveyor uses rollers that sense accumulation and reduces accumulation from the zone preceding the sensing roller. Proper setup is critical for zero pressure conveyors. Any reputable conveyor distributor should be able to help you out.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Ordering a Conveyor System

Is your belt conveyor system outdated? Has your warehouse or plant changed over the years? If so it might be time to upgrade. An upgraded conveyor system can increase productivity and profits. When purchasing a conveyor system it is important to get professional advice. By answering the following questions you can give an engineer a better idea of what your business needs.

• What is the horizontal distance that materials are going to be conveyed?
• What is the vertical height of the material that is going to be lifted or lowered?
• What kind of material is going to be conveyed?
• What is its weight per cubic foot?
• What is the average required capacity in tons per hour?
• How is the flow of material going to be controlled?
• What are the dimensions of the largest lumps? What percentage of the total volume to be handled will consist of this maximum size lump?
• What properties does the material possess? Hot, wet, cold, oily, sticky, abrasive, corrosive?
• How many loading and discharge points are there? Where are these points located?
• How is the material discharged from the conveyor? Pulley, tripper?
• Where would the most convenient location for the drive be?
• Is the prime mover an electric motor or internal combustion engine?
• What are the current specifications of the motor?
• Is the material to be weighed in transit on the belt?
• Is the material going to be sampled as it moves on the conveyor?

If you’re not comfortable with trying to install your own conveyor system there are many places that will do it for you, including Material Flow. They have years of conveyor system expertise and can configure a conveyor system for nearly any situation. Give them a call at 1-800-338-1382.

The Basics of Gravity Conveyors

Gravity conveyors can be installed horizontally or on a decline. Horizontal styles are great for order picking, assembly operations, or inventory tracking. Decline conveyors are used as a gravity flow system. For a great selection of conveyor products visit www.materialflow.com or call 1-800-338-1382 for friendly customer service.

To calculate the degree of pitch needed keep in mind several factors.

1. Is the conveyor roller or skatewheel?
2. Does the conveyor have grease packed or clean bearings?
3. What is the weight of the package?
4. Is the package you will be moving in good condition?

Incline Conveyors
Below is a table of typical inclines for various products. Be sure to test products before using your conveyor system.

Item	Weight	Slope (inches per 10 ft.)
Baskets	–	5″
Barrels	–	5″
Wood Boxes	15-25 lbs.	6 1/4″
Wood Boxes	25-50 lbs.	5″
Wood Boxes	100-250 lbs.	3 1/8″
Brick	–	5″
Cartons	3-6 lbs.	6 1/4″
Cartons	6-12 lbs.	8 3/4″
Cartons	12-25 lbs.	7 1/2″
Cartons	25-30 lbs.	6 1/4″
Crates	–	5″ – 6 1/4″
Drums	150-300 lbs.	2 1/2″-3 3/4″
Lumber	–	5″
Pans, Tote	–	2 1/2″-5″

By slowly changing the amount of incline over a period it can keep products from moving too fast. Remember that products move faster as a spinning roller or wheel increases the speed.

Items to Move on Wheel Conveyors
-Items with a flat, smooth bottom edge work well with wheel conveyors.

Items to Move on Roller Conveyors
-Items with uneven or open bottoms work well on roller conveyors.

More Tips…
-Boxes must have space between them so they stay properly oriented when going around curves.

-Y switches and diverters allow packages to switch lanes.

-Gravity conveyors can be used in conjunction with powered conveyors.

-For a great selection of conveyor products visit www.materialflow.com or call 1-800-338-1382 for friendly customer service.