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RONWIN
This type of steel bearing assembly is suitable for the steel accumulation roller with diameter of 50mm, 60mm and 76mm. It is finished bearing assembly with stamping bearing housing, end cap, precision ball bearing and friction plate.
In conveyor systems, an accumulation roller (or accumulation conveyor) is designed to allow products to gather or "accumulate" in a specific zone without applying excessive pressure to each other and without stopping the entire conveyor line. The Steel Bearing Assembly is the critical component that enables this function.
It is the combination of a steel roller (the outer shell) and an internal bearing unit that allows the roller to rotate freely or be driven, depending on the conveyor's design.
The features are specifically engineered for the demanding and precise needs of accumulation.
Feature: Made from high-strength carbon steel or chrome steel, these assemblies can withstand significant radial loads (weight from above) and some axial loads (side forces). The hardened steel races and balls resist deformation under constant pressure from accumulated products.
Benefit: Ensures a long service life even in high-throughput environments like distribution centers or manufacturing plants.
Feature: The bearings are manufactured to precise tolerances, ensuring smooth, low-friction rotation. This is often measured by a low "roll resistance" value.
Benefit: Essential for accumulation. A product must be able to start and stop the roller with minimal force. High roll resistance would prevent accumulation and cause "line pressure" to build up, jamming products.
Feature: Equipped with high-quality labyrinth seals or contact seals (often made from Nitrile rubber). These seals protect the bearing's internals from contaminants like dust, dirt, moisture, and washdown chemicals.
Benefit: Critical for maintaining performance and longevity in harsh industrial environments, including food and beverage or pharmaceutical settings that require regular cleaning.
4. Versatile Mounting Options
Feature: The bearing assembly is typically a "unitized" cartridge bearing, pre-lubricated and sealed. It is designed to be pressed into the ends of the steel roller tube, often with a snap-ring for secure axial location.
Benefit: Allows for easy installation and replacement in the conveyor frame, minimizing maintenance downtime.
Feature: In powered accumulation conveyors (like "live roller" or "zero-pressure" accumulation), the steel roller acts as the driven element. The bearing assembly allows the roller to rotate independently of its stationary shaft, which has drive bands (O-rings) or chains attached to it.
Benefit: This is the fundamental principle behind zone accumulation, where rollers in one zone can be disengaged from the drive while others continue to run.
Feature: Steel maintains its structural integrity and bearing preload better than plastic alternatives under higher temperatures.
Benefit: Suitable for environments with varying temperatures or processes that generate heat.
The primary application is in accumulation conveyors, which are found in virtually every modern material handling system.
How it works: This is the most common application. Sensors detect when a product is present. When a zone is blocked, a clutch or actuator disengages the drive from the rollers in that zone. The steel bearing assemblies allow the idle rollers to be turned freely by the weight of the product, letting it coast to a stop. When the blockage clears, the drive re-engages.
Example: Parcel and package sorting at courier hubs like FedEx or UPS.
How it works: A simpler, more economical system where rollers are always driven but have a very low roll resistance. Products accumulate by gently pushing against each other. The high quality of the steel bearing assembly ensures that the pushing force required is minimal, preventing damage to fragile products.
Example: Accumulation of cardboard boxes or totes in a warehouse.
How it works: Designed for very heavy loads (pallets, large industrial goods). Here, the high load capacity of the steel bearing assembly is paramount. These systems use heavy-duty rollers with equally robust bearings to handle weights of several thousand pounds.
Example: Staging pallets of goods in a manufacturing plant or distribution center before shipping.
How it works: Just before a diverter, products often need to be singulated (separated) or accumulated briefly to ensure accurate sorting. The accumulation rollers provide this buffer.
Example: In an e-commerce fulfillment center, boxes are accumulated before being pushed or swept onto a specific spur for outbound loading.
| Feature | Steel Bearing Assembly | Polymer (Nylon/Plastic) Bearing Assembly |
|---|---|---|
| Load Capacity | Very High | Moderate |
| Durability | Excellent, long life | Good, but can wear faster under heavy load |
| Corrosion Resistance | Requires coating or stainless steel | Inherently good, ideal for washdown |
| Noise Level | Higher | Quieter operation |
| Cost | Higher | Lower |
| Precision/Roll Resistance | Very Low and Consistent | Can be higher and less consistent |
| tube out diameter (mm) | tube wall thickness (mm) | shaft diameter (mm) | material |
| Φ60 | 1.5/2.0/2.5/3.0 | Φ12/Φ15/Φ20 | carbon steel, stainless steel |
| Φ76 | 2.0/2.5/3.0/3.5 | Φ12/Φ15/Φ20 | carbon steel, stainless steel |
| Φ89 | 2.5/3.0/3.5/4.0 | Φ15/Φ20/Φ25 | carbon steel, stainless steel |
In summary, the Steel Bearing Assembly is the workhorse of heavy-duty and high-performance accumulation rollers. Its combination of high load capacity, durability, and precision rotation makes it indispensable for zero-pressure accumulation systems where product integrity, system reliability, and efficiency are critical. While polymer alternatives have their place in lighter-duty or corrosive environments, the steel bearing assembly remains the standard for demanding material handling applications.
This type of steel bearing assembly is suitable for the steel accumulation roller with diameter of 50mm, 60mm and 76mm. It is finished bearing assembly with stamping bearing housing, end cap, precision ball bearing and friction plate.
In conveyor systems, an accumulation roller (or accumulation conveyor) is designed to allow products to gather or "accumulate" in a specific zone without applying excessive pressure to each other and without stopping the entire conveyor line. The Steel Bearing Assembly is the critical component that enables this function.
It is the combination of a steel roller (the outer shell) and an internal bearing unit that allows the roller to rotate freely or be driven, depending on the conveyor's design.
The features are specifically engineered for the demanding and precise needs of accumulation.
Feature: Made from high-strength carbon steel or chrome steel, these assemblies can withstand significant radial loads (weight from above) and some axial loads (side forces). The hardened steel races and balls resist deformation under constant pressure from accumulated products.
Benefit: Ensures a long service life even in high-throughput environments like distribution centers or manufacturing plants.
Feature: The bearings are manufactured to precise tolerances, ensuring smooth, low-friction rotation. This is often measured by a low "roll resistance" value.
Benefit: Essential for accumulation. A product must be able to start and stop the roller with minimal force. High roll resistance would prevent accumulation and cause "line pressure" to build up, jamming products.
Feature: Equipped with high-quality labyrinth seals or contact seals (often made from Nitrile rubber). These seals protect the bearing's internals from contaminants like dust, dirt, moisture, and washdown chemicals.
Benefit: Critical for maintaining performance and longevity in harsh industrial environments, including food and beverage or pharmaceutical settings that require regular cleaning.
4. Versatile Mounting Options
Feature: The bearing assembly is typically a "unitized" cartridge bearing, pre-lubricated and sealed. It is designed to be pressed into the ends of the steel roller tube, often with a snap-ring for secure axial location.
Benefit: Allows for easy installation and replacement in the conveyor frame, minimizing maintenance downtime.
Feature: In powered accumulation conveyors (like "live roller" or "zero-pressure" accumulation), the steel roller acts as the driven element. The bearing assembly allows the roller to rotate independently of its stationary shaft, which has drive bands (O-rings) or chains attached to it.
Benefit: This is the fundamental principle behind zone accumulation, where rollers in one zone can be disengaged from the drive while others continue to run.
Feature: Steel maintains its structural integrity and bearing preload better than plastic alternatives under higher temperatures.
Benefit: Suitable for environments with varying temperatures or processes that generate heat.
The primary application is in accumulation conveyors, which are found in virtually every modern material handling system.
How it works: This is the most common application. Sensors detect when a product is present. When a zone is blocked, a clutch or actuator disengages the drive from the rollers in that zone. The steel bearing assemblies allow the idle rollers to be turned freely by the weight of the product, letting it coast to a stop. When the blockage clears, the drive re-engages.
Example: Parcel and package sorting at courier hubs like FedEx or UPS.
How it works: A simpler, more economical system where rollers are always driven but have a very low roll resistance. Products accumulate by gently pushing against each other. The high quality of the steel bearing assembly ensures that the pushing force required is minimal, preventing damage to fragile products.
Example: Accumulation of cardboard boxes or totes in a warehouse.
How it works: Designed for very heavy loads (pallets, large industrial goods). Here, the high load capacity of the steel bearing assembly is paramount. These systems use heavy-duty rollers with equally robust bearings to handle weights of several thousand pounds.
Example: Staging pallets of goods in a manufacturing plant or distribution center before shipping.
How it works: Just before a diverter, products often need to be singulated (separated) or accumulated briefly to ensure accurate sorting. The accumulation rollers provide this buffer.
Example: In an e-commerce fulfillment center, boxes are accumulated before being pushed or swept onto a specific spur for outbound loading.
| Feature | Steel Bearing Assembly | Polymer (Nylon/Plastic) Bearing Assembly |
|---|---|---|
| Load Capacity | Very High | Moderate |
| Durability | Excellent, long life | Good, but can wear faster under heavy load |
| Corrosion Resistance | Requires coating or stainless steel | Inherently good, ideal for washdown |
| Noise Level | Higher | Quieter operation |
| Cost | Higher | Lower |
| Precision/Roll Resistance | Very Low and Consistent | Can be higher and less consistent |
| tube out diameter (mm) | tube wall thickness (mm) | shaft diameter (mm) | material |
| Φ60 | 1.5/2.0/2.5/3.0 | Φ12/Φ15/Φ20 | carbon steel, stainless steel |
| Φ76 | 2.0/2.5/3.0/3.5 | Φ12/Φ15/Φ20 | carbon steel, stainless steel |
| Φ89 | 2.5/3.0/3.5/4.0 | Φ15/Φ20/Φ25 | carbon steel, stainless steel |
In summary, the Steel Bearing Assembly is the workhorse of heavy-duty and high-performance accumulation rollers. Its combination of high load capacity, durability, and precision rotation makes it indispensable for zero-pressure accumulation systems where product integrity, system reliability, and efficiency are critical. While polymer alternatives have their place in lighter-duty or corrosive environments, the steel bearing assembly remains the standard for demanding material handling applications.
