Polymer component specialist manufacturer, igus has developed a range of lubrication-free long-life knife edge rollers designed to improve the transfer of products between conveyor belts in high-speed production environments.
The company’s knife edge rollers are specialised guide rollers used at the transfer between conveyor belts. They allow conveyor belts to wrap around a very small radius so that products can transfer smoothly from one belt to another with the smallest possible gap. This prevents snags and stops smaller items from dropping between conveyors.
Knife edge rollers are commonly used in automated production lines, packaging equipment and food processing systems where seamless and efficient product transfer is required for typical applications that include the transfer of baked goods, packaged foods, small goods and sensitive electronics among others.
According to igus product specialist, Juan-Eric Davidtz, igus uses its world-renowned tribologically optimised polymer materials for the rollers and these deliver low-friction, lubrication-free operation while enabling extremely tight belt deflection. “Machine builders and conveyor system designers rely on our knife edge rollers to maintain consistent product flow while keeping conveyor layouts compact. The smaller the belt deflection radius, the smoother the transfer between conveyors, which improves production efficiency and reduces product losses.
“This is what sets igus knife edge rollers apart as our iglidur materials are engineered specifically for industrial motion applications and contain embedded solid lubricants. As a result, the rollers operate completely dry with no need for grease or oil lubrication,” he says.
He adds that the lubrication-free design prevents contamination while reducing maintenance requirement and improving longevity of the rollers exponentially. This means the rollers can operate reliably for extended periods and can be used in all environments including hygienically sensitive environments such as pharmaceutical, engineering, and food and beverage processing plants.
The igus knife edge rollers are also tougher than steel alternatives. They offer higher wear resistance and lower friction, which allows them to operate smoothly in continuous-duty conveyor systems. Their polymer construction also provides good chemical resistance and corrosion protection in chemical processes, while the lightweight design can reduce drive loads compared with conventional metal rollers.
“We continuously communicate with designers who are keen to exploit these advantages in a wide range of applications. With a broad selection of standard sizes as well as customised configurations, it enables OEMs and machine builders to match roller geometry and dimensions precisely to their conveyor systems. This is important in high-speed production environments where even small interruptions can lead to downtime, and where the reduction downtime equates to improved profitability,” Davitz concludes.
A smarter approach to simplifying motion architecture
Motion Control & Drives
n motion system design, the wiring and drive placement between motor and drive are often decided by default, yet they shape a machine’s cost, footprint and adaptability. Kollmorgen sets out how single-cable and decentralised architectures simplify the cabinet.
Read more...Robotic case packer achieves 99% uptime Rockwell Automation
Motion Control & Drives
DCC Automation designed a new robotic case packer for a nutrition supplement manufacturer using delta robots and a unified Rockwell Automation control platform, cutting changeover time from 45 minutes to 5 minutes, and achieving 99 to 99,5% uptime against the previous 10% per-shift downtime.
Read more...igus puts 3D-printed wear materials to the test igus
Motion Control & Drives
A new igus white paper compares its tribological iglidur 3D-printing materials directly with conventional POM, reporting lower wear, more stable friction and up to ten times longer service life in gear testing for customised, low-volume and replacement components.
Read more...SEW-EURODRIVE’s expanded local engineering capability SEW-EURODRIVE
Editor's Choice Motion Control & Drives
At Electra Mining Africa, SEW-EURODRIVE demonstrated how its expanded local engineering capability, digital technologies and lifecycle support strategy help customers improve reliability, energy efficiency and total cost of ownership across the full life of their drive assets.
Read more...Latest Danfoss automation drive Bearing Man Group t/a BMG
Motion Control & Drives
BMG has launched the Danfoss iC7-Automation enclosed variable speed drive range in South Africa, backed by significant local stockholding of 400 V models up to 710 kW, approved warranty workshops, and DrivePro digital asset management support.
Read more...Severe-duty workhorses powering mining
Motion Control & Drives
Mining machines such as rock crushers, pumps and conveyors need motors that combine high torque with robust enclosures, seals and cooling. WEG Africa explains how severe-duty motors deliver more than a decade of reliable performance in harsh conditions while meeting modern energy-efficiency standards.
Read more...Looking beyond the spec sheet when choosing motion architecture
Motion Control & Drives
When machine builders focus only on torque, speed and price, engineering time, integration effort and long-term maintainability get overlooked. Kollmorgen explains how thinking at the system level, not the component level, leads to better motion architecture choices.
Read more...Economy drive system closes the drive gap in the entry-level segment Beckhoff Automation
Editor's Choice Motion Control & Drives
Beckhoff has launched an economy drive system pairing its new AX1000 servo drive and AM1000 servomotor with the AF1000 dual-axis variable frequency drive on a shared EtherCAT platform, targeting series machines and price-sensitive markets without sacrificing TwinCAT integration or functional safety.
Read more...Mammoet supports critical heavy lift and marine activities for topsides
Motion Control & Drives
Mammoet provided specialised heavy lift and marine logistics support for the Munin topsides on Aker BP’s Yggdrasil North Sea development, including a complex transshipment operation and a tidal-window load-out classified as a Class 1 operation.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version