What Is a Balancer?
A balancer is a machine equipped with a mechanism to lighten the weight load when transporting heavy objects.
Conventionally, when heavy objects were transported manually, workers lifted and carried them directly. This was very heavy work because the weight of the heavy object was directly added to the operator.
The use of a balancer, however, improves this situation. The crane mounted on the balancer can lift the load and reduce the weight to close to 0kg, and the worker only needs to guide the load to the destination to complete the transfer. This greatly reduces the workload.
Uses of Balancers
Balancers are used for transporting heavy loads.
They are often used on factory lines and loading docks and can transfer heavy loads to conveyors or pallets in a weightless-like condition.
No legal qualifications are required to use balancers. However, since it is dangerous work to lift and transport heavy objects in the air, it is recommended that balancers be handled with caution and used only after the operator has a thorough understanding of the operation.
In addition, when using balancers, it is necessary to secure heavy objects to the crane, which requires knowledge and practical experience in crane operation and slinging operations. It is recommended to acquire these qualifications or complete a training course.
Characteristics of Balancers
Various types of balancers are used depending on the weight to be transported, and each has its own characteristics. The following is a list of typical types and their respective characteristics:
- Hoist type
In the hoist type, a rail is built in the sky and the balancers move along the rail to reach the destination.
For example, in the balancing hoist type, a take-up drum is mounted and the inside of the drum is a cylinder type, which moves forward and backward while the take-up drum rotates by supplying and exhausting compressed air. - Pneumatic type
The pneumatic balancers are balancers that are driven solely by air. Heavy objects are held by the crane by air suction, and the crane is driven by the cylinder. - Electric Balancer
Electric balancers are electrically driven balancers. The crane with a heavy load attached is driven by a motor. Since the movement is controlled by motor control technology, it has high position repeatability and is suitable for work that requires repetition of the same task in a fixed position.