Australian Mining Products and Services delivers a motorised roller-view under test and packed for air freight.
In a conveyor system, the drive mechanism is the most expensive. It can account for as much as two-thirds of the cost of the entire system, as well as 80% of the maintenance and repair costs.
External chain and V-belt drive mechanisms are the traditional choice, but motorised pulleys, are an old idea reborn with new technology A motorised pulley is a drum motor in which the outer shell rotates around a stationary shaft. The revolving member serves as a traction pulley, gripping and driving the conveyor belt. Electrical power leads pass through the stationary shaft to terminals within the pulley housing. Since the shaft end does not rotate, there is no need for slip rings to deliver electrical energy to the motor windings.
The entire internal mechanism — including the motor, gears, and bearings — is completely sealed and protected by the outer metal drum. The oil inside the drum continuously lubricates the bearings and gears and acts as a heat-transfer fluid by dissipating heat away from the motor windings. This keeps the motor cool, extends service life, and reduces maintenance. It also means designers can put pulleys in hot environments (up to 120°F) and in non-conventional applications such as sprocket drives and kick rollers.
as the drive mechanism is inside, a motorised pulley is much more compact than a conventional drive system with all its external components.
This dramatically reduces space requirements and allows for the installation of more conveyors in less floor or overhead space. And since all moving parts and electrical connections are completely enclosed in steel, external safety hazards are virtually eliminated.
Typically the only service required on a motorised pulley is a simple oil change every 20,000 hours. To put this in perspective, that’s nearly 10 years of service (40-hour week) without maintenance.
Self-propelled pulleys also have a reduced sound decibel — because gears and other moving parts are enclosed within a sealed, oil-filled chamber — and operate in the 57 to 62 dB range, the sound intensity of normal conversation.
At this level, there is no need for workers to wear ear protective devices, as specified by OSHA guidelines and requirements.
Another advantage of motorised pulleys is efficiency. They typically transfer about 95% of the input horsepower to the conveyor belt. In today’s cost-conscious plant, that can help a system pay for itself in short order. The end seals, design works so well that pulleys often perform reliably without leaking for many years — even after repeated washdowns with scalding water, caustic solutions, and steam at pressures to 1,200 psi.
Applications for motorised pulley conveyor belts Mant conveyor applications can realise significant benefits from self-contained motorised pulleys.
Package handlers — from shippers to package-forwarding organisations.