Modules change conveyor direction in tight areas.
Press Release Summary:
Offered in conveying angles of 30°, 45°, 60°, 90° and 180°, Interroll Belt Curve+ Light and Heavy Duty series employ positive head-drive for transport at max speed of 492 fpm. Modules are not prone to slippage or sliding. Operating at consistent noise level under 65 dB, they employ spring-loaded castors that absorb forces on belt and handle up to 550 lb loads on curve. Modules offer options for spiral curves, curve tables, and merges.
Original Press Release:
Interroll Belt Curve+: A Persuasive Force on the Conveyor Line
Jeffersonville, IN, January 10, 2005. Breaking new ground for a whole industry, while continuing in the tradition established in past years, Interroll Automation introduces another innovative key module, the Interroll Belt Curve+, suitable for a multitude of purposes. The belt curve, developed at the Interroll Competence Centre for Conveyor Modules and Sub-systems in Sinsheim, Germany, is useful in any situation where a conveyor line needs to change direction in a tight space. The curve design, for which a patent is pending, is available in the Interroll Belt Curve+ Light and Interroll Belt Curve+ Heavy Duty series. It also offers new options for spiral curves, curve tables and merges.
Striking new feature: Positive head-drive
The key feature of the new belt curve is a positive head-drive, guaranteeing reliable transport at a maximum speed of 492 fpm (2.5 m/sec).
No more space constraints
With its positive connection between the driving toothed wheel and the interlocking teeth, the new drive is the answer to traditional space constraints. Since the overall height from the upper track to the frame has been minimized from its previous 250 mm to 160 mm, the Interroll Belt Curve+ is particularly suitable for complex conveyor layouts or airport baggage handling applications. In addition, the new belt drive makes it possible to use end rollers of smaller diameter (min. 1.57 in. / 40 mm) for reliable transport of even the smallest goods. The rollers are cylindrical instead of conical in design, so that upstream and downstream conveyors can be fitted as snugly as possible throughout the connected area. This in turn makes for a continuous material flow without disruptive transitions between different belt conveyors.
Low belt tension prolongs service life
The Interroll Belt Curve+ with its positive power transmission is not prone to slippage or sliding, a known risk when conventional drives are subjected to overload, phased operation or belt blockage. Damage to the conveyor belt is virtually eliminated. At the same time, the reduced belt tension - with the positive drive, conveyor belts only require minimal tensioning - has a positive impact on the service life of the conveyor belt.
New drive - New options
The unique belt drive gives additional stability, delivering better operational safety and reduced maintenance costs. The belt is kept on track by spring-loaded castors fitted inside the upper section of the outer radius side frame, and low set castors inside the lower section. These effectively absorb the lateral forces on the belt which are generated through the curve. Apart from the spring steel profile that integrates the belt drive and enables high loading of up to 550 pounds (250 kg) total weight on the curve, another significant improvement is the sealing of the gap between the lateral guide and the belt.
Ultra-simple maintenance, fast belt changing
As a direct result of the optimized belt drive, there are new options which simplify maintenance and speed up belt changing, which can be carried out from above or from within the inner radius. The guide rollers on the outer radius are only clamped on, and can be released with ease to permit fast changing of the belt. Curve maintenance with the mechanical belt splice is especially convenient. Belt changing on the zipper principle can be carried out in next to no time, without dismantling any components. The straightforward mounting of the new belt proves to be a special advantage, particularly for time-sensitive applications such as airports and parcel distribution centres.
Interroll Belt Curve+ Light and Interroll Belt Curve+ Heavy Duty
While the Interroll Belt Curve+ Light series, with 3.15 in. (80 mm) tension rollers, is intended for moving containers, lighter parcels and small packets at slow speeds, the Interroll Belt Curve+ Heavy Duty with 3.94 in. (100 mm) tension rollers is designed for transporting heavy items such as at airports and parcel distribution centers. Both series can be operated in reverse as standard, are available with conveying angles of 30°, 45°, 60°, 90° and 180°, and consistently operate at a low noise level of <65 dB.
Data for Interroll Belt Curve+ Light
o Inner radius: 23.62 in., 31.5 in., 39.37 in. (600 mm, 800 mm, 1000 mm)
o Nominal lane width: 11.81 in. - 31.5 in. (300 mm - 800 mm)
o Speed: 20 fpm - 295 fpm (0.1 m/sec - 1.5 m/sec)
Data for Interroll Belt Curve+ Heavy Duty
o Inner radius: 35.43 in., 39.37 in., 47.24 in. (900 mm, 1000 mm, 1200 mm)
o Nominal lane width: 31.5 in., 39.37 in., 47.24 in. (800 mm, 1,000 mm, 1,200 mm)
o Speed: 98 fpm - 492 fpm (0.5 m/sec - 2.5 m/sec)
New spiral curves: Taking innovation to new heights
Additionally, the positive head-drive opens up new options for spiral curves. These span height differentials in the minimum of space, sometimes passing through several stories. Here, too, the innovative drive concept permits a constant, defined conveyor flow and continuous transport of loads of up to 110 lbs./m (50 kg/m) without any additional control input. Now, given the extreme stability of the belt drive, spiral curves in excess of 180° can be powered by a single drive unit.
Portrait of Interroll
Interroll is one of the world's leading suppliers of components as well as subsystems and modules for unit load handling, conveyor technology, and automation. Three global business units manage the Group's international activities, based on an incisive strategy in terms of market and product positioning. Within the Components segment, Interroll Drives and Rollers focuses on assisting regional engineering companies and original equipment manufacturers. Interroll Dynamic Storage and Interroll Automation, which operate in the Subsystems segment, are responsible for multinational system integrators and corporations as well as end-users. Listed on Switzerland's SWX stock exchange, Interroll employs roughly 1100 people in 25 countries worldwide.
Interroll key markets
Interroll supplies the following key markets with premium products and services: food processing, airport technology, postal and parcel distribution, third-party logistics providers, automotive, and the pharmaceutical industry. Products include stainless steel/food-grade belt drives, DC roller drives and conveyor rollers; modules for dynamic pallet flow and carton flow storage; sorters, belt curves, spiral curves, belt conveyors, and roller conveyors.
