What Is a Wheel Conveyor?
A wheel conveyor is a type of conveyor equipment designed to transport loads across a series of wheels. It’s selected based on the size of the material being conveyed, with options like the Soroban conveyor or the Corocon carrier. The Soroban conveyor uses wheels arranged like an abacus (Soroban), whereas the Corocon carrier has two lines of regularly spaced wheels.
Applications of Wheel Conveyors
Wheel conveyors are commonly utilized in factory production lines for transporting various goods, including corrugated cardboard, plastic cases, paper, and wooden boxes. These conveyors are ideal for items with flat and solid bottoms that won’t get caught between the wheels.
Principle of Wheel Conveyor
Wheel conveyors operate by rolling a series of wheels to transport a load. They can be slightly inclined to self-propulsion, with the incline depending on the material’s weight. For example, a 10 kg cardboard case might need a 4% incline, while a plastic case of the same weight requires a 2% incline.
Wheel conveyors are often compared to roller conveyors, which use lined-up rollers for transport. Roller conveyors can be either self-propelled or externally driven. They are versatile and commonly used alongside wheel conveyors. Wheel conveyors are preferred for their better rotation and lighter weight, making them suitable for smoothly conveying lightweight products.