Rusmail Conveyor Archive News 15/12/03:

• See what Rusmail Conveyors are doing to help our clients solve their handling problems.

*General Fabrication/Accessories for Conveyor Projects

• We were contacted recently by a major company who needed to unload cash boxes from a security vehicle into a secure area within a building. Initially, they felt they required a gravity roller conveyor, but were concerned at the speed of the boxes down the decline from the access point to the working height of the cash desk. We suggested a chute would be more adequate and minimise the speed of decent. This approach was adopted and we supplied a bespoke stainless steel chute, approx. 2 metres long x 600 mm wide.

• We recently completed an order for customised gravity roller conveyor and worktables. The tables were required to have a special top and also a storage shelf below. The top needed to be in a material other than painted steel or stainless steel and galvanised steel was selected as the cost-effective solution.

• If you require general fabrication work - tailored to your specific requirements, in mild steel, stainless steel, galvanized steel or aluminium, please contact us. We make chutes, tables, platforms, steps, bridges, safety rails etc. etc.

*Incline Belt Conveyors - Product Slippage

• We touched on this problem in our previous News Update and said we would discuss this and suggest some solutions.

• Incline belt conveyors provide a cost-effective solution for moving products between different floor levels. It is a well-established application and we have designed and installed hundreds of such belt conveyors for a variety of customers and applications. The conveyor design needs to allow for the size and weight of the product, the height differential to be achieved and the surface characteristics of the material in contact with the belt to determine at what angle the product will slip down the belt.

• For most unit load applications, incline angles between 20 to 30° would be acceptable and belts would have a special grip-top surface, which would be quite acceptable. However, occasionally an installation that may have been conveying satisfactorily may start to see products slipping down the belt. This may be the result of a change in the product packaging i.e. a matt finish to a gloss finish. This change may be made without the operator's knowledge.

• If using plastic tote boxes to carry products, these may become warped so that contact between the bottom of the box and belt is reduced. This would be particularly critical when transferring between conveyors or at a change in level and/or direction. If the belt surface has become worn, dirty or dusty, this will further complicate the problem.

• To overcome such slippage problems could be time consuming and costly if changes to the product itself, or the packaging, or boxes are necessary, or at worst if the conveyor installation itself has to be modified.

• A low-cost “quick-fix” solution, which may solve the problem, is to use a belt dressing. This material is supplied in an aerosol can and is simply sprayed onto the belt surface. The spray provides a “sticky” belt surface and can significantly reduce slippage if this has become a problem.

• If you have a similar situation and would like details of this special product please contact us for assistance.