What Is a Roller Motor?
A roller motor is a cylindrical roller with a built-in motor and reduction gear.
Unlike free rollers, which rotate by applying force externally, roller motors can automatically rotate the roller body by utilizing the driving force of the motor built inside. Therefore, when a roller motor is incorporated into the roller portion of a conveyor, the drive system does not need to be installed separately from the roller, which contributes to making the conveyor more compact.
Noise levels during operation are low, and because the roller is electrically driven from within, it can be used in a hygienic environment.
Uses of Roller Motors
Roller motors do not differ from free rollers in appearance and are easy to install, so they are used as a source of drive power for conveyors in combination with standard free rollers of the same dimensions.
By switching between stopping and energizing the rotation of the roller motor, the movement of the conveyor and the transported items traveling on the conveyor can be controlled. By changing the size of the motor’s driving force and the amount of current applied, different types are developed for various applications.
For example, a type that operates at a lower current is suitable for long-term use because it does not cause a motor seizure, while a type with a larger power rating would be suitable for carrying heavier loads.
Principle of Roller Motors
The structure of a roller motor is such that the inner shaft is fixed and the outer cylinder rotates. By using roller principles, a large object can be transported even with a small force applied.
By using a combination of free rollers that move by applying force from the outside and roller motors that can move automatically, a conveyor system can transport material loads by applying force from the roller motors to the free rollers. The combination of the number of free rollers and roller motors is calculated to determine the speed at which the conveyed material should be transported.