Conveyor Belt Question

[Sycorax]

I've got a conveyor belt used for moving 5"OD annular parts. Now I want to use the conveyor belt for moving 4" OD annular parts. The problem is it gets stuck between the rollers.

Now one way is to put some kind of mesh on the rollers (I haven't thought it through completely yet). Is there any other smart way of going about this?

Appreciate your thoughts.

 

[Oldhydroman]

Are you sure it's a BELT? Maybe you could post a picture to help us help you.

 

[Sycorax]

I meant its a roller conveyor. ( conveyor belt would be the ideal solution though)

 

[jlnsol]

A round bar in the gap between the rollers to avoid too much flipping.

 

[MintJulep]

( conveyor belt would be the ideal solution though)

Seems like you've answered your own question.

 

[Sycorax]

I do not want to buy a new conveyor belt, just looking for ideas on modifying current conveyor. Rounds bar sounds like a good idea.

 

[handleman]

Can you put a belt over top of your rollers? Like a belt-over-roller? Or is this a free-flow gravity conveyor?

-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)

 

[Ross0684]

The "Theory" of handling product on a roller conveyor is to have the roller pitch so that the centres of three consecutive rollers is equal to the product length, in your case with the 4" dia product, the centres between each adjacent roller needs to be 2", so that the distance from roller (1) to roller (3) is 4".
Depending on your roller diameter this may not be possible.
As jlnsol mentions, an infill between rollers is a solution, and it is better if this infill can be a small non powered roller, which, as is stated, will prevent flipping the product.
A static bar may provide too much friction, depending on the product weight, and the type of roller conveyor in use at present.
Ross

 

[chumet1]

put bearings on that round bar and make it an idler so that it rotates as it comes in contact with your product

 

[Sycorax]

@ handleman I called the company which made these, they said they would have to do significant modifications to put a belt and its a better idea to buy a conveyor.

@Ross0684, thanks for your comments. Currently my roller pitch is 3" and the roller OD is 1.873".

There are currently holes drilled on the side frames between two rollers, I could probably try moving the current rollers a bit closer so that they have a roller pitch of around 2". I am keen on keeping this modification very simple.

The other option I am looking at is a slotted( for less friction) bar( 0.06" thick or less) and which has radii at the ends so that it does not catch the product. I really want to use the bars as this is a simple modification. I just need to cut a slotted bar to length and place it between the rollers.

 

[jlnsol]

You may also want to look at sheetmetal bars of rigidized stainless steel...reduced friction...reduced build-up. Like the 5WL type.