 Food & beverage production, courier depots, big box store warehouses and airline baggage claim zones are all material handling applications that demand constant uptime.
What if you could design a conveyor drive that has all the benefits of an advanced drum motor with the flexibility of an outboard C flange electric motor?
Earlier this year, Van der Graaf Inc., of Brampton, ON, introduced its patent-pending Cross Drive technology, a drive roller that combines the benefits of conventional drive methods for powering conveyor systems.
The unique Cross Drive technology implements the efficiency, space savings and safety benefits of internally powered conveyor drive rollers and combines it with conventional external drive design that allows for quicker and more economical conveyor moves or maintenance, according to Rick Zander (below), account manager at Van der Graaf.
The product has already gained market acceptance from the giant courier company UPS, which is currently running Cross Drive units.
The Cross Drive’s gear assembly is housed within a sealed conveyor drive roller protected from the environment and is connected directly to an external motor, eliminating the chain/sprocket or belt/pulley used in conventional systems.
The electric motor, which is the most sensitive component on any conveyor system and the most likely to require replacement or exchange, can now be simply removed by loosening four bolts, Zander explained. The Cross Drive roller easily slides into place and is secured with the bolts, then the motor of choice is attached to the roller shaft with a standard coupler.
“The motor is external to the Cross Drive,” said Zander, “because we didn’t want to compete with commodity motor manufacturers.”
Cross Drive technology combines a variety of benefits:
• Space savings: The low-profile units are available in 6.5- and 8.5-in. diameters and require less operating space than conventional in-line drives by eliminating speed/gear reducers, allowing systems designers the flexibility to use belt conveyors in more applications. A 5-in. model is next on Van der Graaf’s plans. Chain/sprocket or belt/pulley arrangements and their associated safety guards are also eliminated allowing end-users to lower conveyor profiles and reduce conveyor line clearances. Also, a line of specialized sprockets, designed to drive an industry-standard segmented conveyor belt, attached to the cross drive roller expands the application range.
• Energy efficient: The transfer of power from the motor’s drive shaft to the drive roller’s outer shell is 96% mechanically efficient through a precision-cut, hardened-steel gear assembly. Also, rotation of the motor’s shaft is parallel with the axis of rotation of the drive roller’s shell.
• Safe operation: No external moving parts eliminate the possibility of employee injury and/or product contamination. OSHA requires chain guards for conventional systems, but they are eliminated with the Cross Drive design. Eliminating the chain guards also eliminates components that require maintenance. Another safety concern is noise in the workplace. OSHA requires that employers provide protective noise-abatement devices in areas that exceed set limits. The Cross Drive is internally-driven, significantly reducing noise decibel levels.
• Maintenance-free operation: Time-consuming housekeeping, maintenance and repair is required to keep conventional systems lubricated, tensioned properly, clean and in good working order. These tasks, if neglected, eventually shorten the life of the drive system.
• Installation flexibility: The cost to retrofit a conveyor with Cross Drive technology is said to be surprisingly low and cost effective. If the motor fails a replacement can be installed quickly, significantly reducing the downtime needed by conventional external drive systems.
Van der Graaf has a history of over 50 years behind the Cross Drive, producing drum motors or motorized pulleys that house all components internally, eliminating the need for external components like motor, gearbox, sprockets, chain, chain guard and pillow block bearings. This reduces operating and maintenance costs, improves safety conditions, and because it is completely sealed our drum motors can operate in extreme environmental conditions.
Click below to see how Van der Graaf makes a precision drum motor
Its Sanitary Series drum motors are able to withstand chemical and extreme pressure wash down, ensuring that the highest level of hygiene is maintained. “The food sector is our biggest industry, with customers such as Maple Leaf and Kraft,” said Zander.
The rugged design of the Van der Graaf drum motors are space saving, quiet, efficient and reliable with virtually no maintenance. It offers a versatile, less complex and more efficient way to power a belt conveyor.
Standard drum motors are available in a wide range of diameter sizes, belt speeds, horsepower, face widths and standard ratings to address most applications.
www.vandergraaf.com
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