We can supply all of your special roller needs for any make and model. We specialize in sprocketed rollers. Please contact us if you have a need.

Warmer weather makes us think of Spring, which always leads to Spring cleaning. Think of this as a good time to "clean" up your equipment with some good preventative maintenance. 

Browse through the catalog and buy what you've been putting off - till Spring! 

Conveyor Safety Standards

Safety Standards

The following are excerpts of Policies by Occupations Safety and Health Administration, American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the National Fire Protection Association regarding powered transmission and conveyor.

OSHA 1926.555 (a)

(1)  Means for stopping the motor or engine shall be provided at the operator’s station.  Conveyor systems shall be equipped with an audible warning signal to be sounded immediately before starting up the conveyor.

(2)  If the operator’s station is at a remote point, similar provisions for stopping the motor or engine shall be provided at the motor or engine location.

(3) Emergency stop switches shall be arranged so that the conveyor cannot be started again until the actuating stop switch has been reset to running or “on” position.

ASME B20.1-2003 Section 5.11.2

(a)  Control stations should be so arranged and located that the operation of the equipment is visible from them, and shall be clearly marked or labeled to indicate the function controlled.

(b)   A conveyor that would cause injury when started shall not be started until personnel in the area are alerted by a signal or by a designated person that the conveyor is about to start. 

(1)  When a conveyor that would cause injury when started is automatically controlled or must be controlled from a remote location, an audible device shall be provided that can be clearly heard at all points along the conveyor where personnel may be present.  The warning device shall be actuated by the controller device starting the conveyor and shall continue for a required period of time before the conveyor starts.  A flashing light or similar visual warning may be used in conjunction with or in place of the audible device if more effective in particular circumstances.

(c)   Remotely and automatically controlled conveyors, and conveyors where operator stations are not manned or are beyond voice and visual contact from drive areas, loading areas, transfer points, and other potentially hazardous locations on the conveyor path not guarded by location, position, or guards shall be furnished with emergency stop buttons, pull cords, limit switches, or similar emergency stop devices.

(1)  All such emergency stop devices shall be easily identifiable in the immediate vicinity of such locations unless guarded by location, position, or guards.  Where the design, function, and operation of such conveyor clearly is not hazardous to personnel, an emergency stop device is not required.

(2)  The emergency stop device shall act directly on the control of the conveyor concerned and shall not depend on the stopping of any other equipment.  The emergency stop devices shall be installed so that they cannot be overridden from other locations.

(d)  Inactive and unused actuators, controllers, and wiring should be removed from control stations and panel boards, together with obsolete diagrams, indicators, control labels, and other material that might serve to confuse the operator.

ASME B20.1-2003

Section 5.11.3 Safety Devices

All safety devices, including wiring of electrical safety devices, shall be arranged to operate such that a power failure or failure of the device itself will not result in a hazardous condition. 

ASME B20.1-2003

Section 5.11.4

Conveyor controls shall be so arranged that, in case of emergency stop, manual reset or start at the location where the emergency stop was initiated shall be required for the conveyors and associated equipment to resume operation.

Before restarting a conveyor that has been stopped because of an emergency, an inspection of the conveyor shall be made and the cause of the stoppage determined.  The starting device shall be locked or tagged out before any attempt is made to remove the cause of the stoppage, unless operation is necessary to determine the cause or to safely remove the stoppage.  Refer to ANSI Z244.1-1982, American National Standard for Personnel Protection – Lockout/Tagout of energy Sources – Minimum Safety Requirements.

ASME B20.1-2003 Section 5.12

(b) Where safety is dependent upon stopping devices or starting devices or both, they shall be kept free of obstructions that could endanger personnel.

NFPA 79 Section 9.2.5.4.1.1

In addition to the requirements for stop, the emergency top shall have the following requirements:

(1)  It shall override all other functions and operations in all modes.

(2)  Power to the machine actuators, which causes a hazardous condition(s), shall be removed as quickly as possible without creating other hazards (e.g. by the provision of mechanical means of stopping requiring no external power, by reverse current braking for a Category 1 stop).

(3)  Reset of an emergency stop circuit shall not initiate a restart.

Reduce the risks of musculoskeletal injuries in repetitive, manual tasks by designing your conveyors and workstations correctly

We all know conveyors are used in industries to transport goods and materials between stages of a process. Using conveyors is a good way to reduce the risks of musculoskeletal injury in tasks or procedures that involve manual handling because conveyors reduce the need for repetitive lifting and carrying.

However, despite their benefits, conveyor workstations can contribute to the development of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD'S) if they are not properly designed with the task and users in mind.

MSD's can develop when workers must use uncomfortable and/or awkward postures for long periods while working, stooping, twisting, reaching are examples of that can lead musculoskeletal injury.

The design of conveyor systems can produce these postures if the belt or rollers are positioned too low or too high for the operator. If the conveyor is too wide, the operator has to reach excessively to pick objects from the belt. If there isn't adequate clearance for feet at floor level, the operator may have to lean forward to work.

Organizational issues

Organizational issues can also influence the incidence and development of MSD'S. The pace of work, opportunities for rest and recovery, and the length of time that the operator performs the task are all important factors to consider when assessing the risk of musculoskeletal injury in a task performed at a conveyor workstation.

Because of this, the physical aspects of the conveyor workstation that are most important when assessing the risk of MSD's are work surface height and reach distance. The working height provides information about the suitability of the work surface height:

• The work surface height is the height of the conveyor belt or roller from floor level.
• Reach distance is the distance in front of and to the side of the body over which the operator has to reach to perform the task.
• The working height is the height at which the hands are normally held to perform work on objects on the conveyor.

Relative size and height

The conveyed product can sometimes differ at stages of a so varying the relative the size of the object these various stages help operators to a comfortable posture within each stage, the conveyor height is considered to be fixed so objects can be transported without disturbance.

This means the work surface height must be set at an appropriate fixed height for the operators according to the size and weight of the material carried on it.

For more information, contact Indoff. We can assist you in designing a conveyor-integrated workstation that is more efficient and ergonomic.

Using an end drive to push loads causes many maintenance, buckling and product flow issues

Many serious belt tracking and general conveyor issues result from trying to push a load rather than pull it. If a conveyor is supplied with an end drive, it is recommended that it be used in a one-direction application to pull its load, never to push it.

Look what happens to an end drive in a reversing situation:

Correct flow with an end drive

The recommended direction of travel with an end drive causes the drive pulley to pull the belt. The drive and belt were designed to work together in concert to pull a load, not push it. In this scenario the belting will rarely suffer buckling issues or require maintenance.

Incorrect flow with an end drive

When a drive pulley pushes the belt, belt buckling issues are more likely to occur. This can cause replacement and maintenance issues. The belt and drive were not designed to push, so they are under more stress.

Using a center drive

When you need a reversing application, a center drive is recommended. The drive pulley is located at the center of the conveyor and pulls the belt equally at both ends. In this configuration, your belt will not buckle.

Correctly specifying drives can reduce maintenance and increase conveyor performance. Contact us with questions about drive locations and specifications.

 

 

 

Conveyor systems, when designed and specified correctly, are very reliable...but here's how to increase your performance

Most conveyor systems are designed to handle a specific product or products. They run quite smoothly with little preventative maintenance if specified correctly. However, there are steps to take to keep that peak performance.

1. Don’t exceed your conveyor’s capacity.

Remember—a conveyor has two capacities: Structural, or static live capacity, and Live Load, or drive capacity. Exceeding either can harm your conveyor and its overall performance. Your conveyor should have been provided with both of these numbers. If there are questions regarding either capacity, contact us for assistance.

2. Don’t forget to lubricate springs on spring balanced gates.

If you notice that your Spring Balanced Gates don’t lift as easily as when they were first installed, it’s probably because the springs are getting dry. Try lubricating them with the proper oil and see if that helps.

3. Lubricate reducers with the proper oil.

A serious situation can arise if reducers aren’t properly maintained with the right oil. Using the wrong oil could be just as bad as no oil, causing gears to wear out far before their time, so be sure to read your maintenance manuals to determine what to use and how often.

4. Employees working with or around conveyors should be familiar with all safety warning stickers.

Many times, employers hire people and place them wherever necessary to get the job done. If you find yourself bringing people near the conveyors that aren’t used to dealing with them, it’s strongly advised that you provide them with adequate safety training. They should understand the inherent risks of conveyors and the meanings of all warning labels.

5. When installing long, straight conveyor units, use a chalk line to mark the center lines of conveyors.

This is plain ol’ common sense. Keeping conveyors in line helps prevent out-of-square units in a line and and makes sure product flows smoothly from one end to another.

6. Keep recommended spare parts on hand.

Conveyor users should keep a stock of spare parts as part of their preventative maintenance program. If there is a question concerning what parts to stock, see your conveyor vendor for assistance. Having stock on hand means that you’ll likely keep the conveyor in better repair. It also means less downtime in case of an breakdown. Given that a down conveyor can cripple an operation, this is an investment well worth making.

7. Permanently installed conveyors should always be bolted to the floor.

Not only does this keep conveyors in line and working efficiently, it will prevent accidents and make your operation safer. A conveyor not properly bolted (also called lagged) to the floor could topple under load or if bumped.

8. Remember to increase horsepower if conveyor speed increases.

Just increasing the speed of the conveyor to move products faster isn’t enough. It’s imperative that the horsepower be increased to match. As a rule, it takes twice as much horsepower to move a package at 130 FPM (feet per minute) than at 65 FPM.

 

We are going to start adding some new items starting today - replacement conveyor rollers.  Look for the most common to be added first.

Both Unibilt and Rapid buy their enclosed track chain from the same vendor, so there is no difference between the two - except the cost!  Why buy the Unibilt name when you can get the same thing for much less?

Hytrol has changed the chain they supply on coupling number 052.055 from a "delrin" chain to a steel one.  There is no other performance difference other than this.  This coupling is found on their models "190-SP" and "190-NSP".

Belt Replacements

 

A normal maintenance item on a belt conveyor is the replacement of belts. Prior to ordering, it is necessary to make sure you have the correct Serial Number of the conveyor to ensure the proper belt is ordered.

 

Belt Installation:

On End Drive Units, set the tail pulley (See Figure 1) to its full retracted position by loosening the flange bearing bolts on both ends of the pulley and running out the adjuster screws to their maximum.

Figure 1: Belt routing, standard end drive.

On Center Drive Units, set the take-up pulley (See Figure 2) to its full retracted position by loosening the jam nuts on both adjuster screws and running out the adjuster screws to their maximum. If provided, set both tail pulleys to their full retracted position by loosening the flange bearing bolts on both ends of the pulley and running out the adjuster screws to their maximum. Unroll the conveyor belting, and pull belting along conveyor bed with the carrying side up. Note: With standard PVC black belting, the smooth, dark black surface must be installed up for normal operation. Installation with this surface down will cause excessive friction and increased drive force.

Figure 2: Belt routing - standard center drive.

Belt Routing

 Route belting is typically as shown in Figures 1 or 2.Match ends of belt together. Check ends of belt. They must be flush with no missing laces. Install lacing pin.