Glossary · Packaging and intralogistics
Roller conveyor
Also known as: Live roller conveyor, Motorized roller conveyor
German: Rollenförderer
In material handling, a roller conveyor is a conveyor in which loads rest on a series of rollers, either unpowered (gravity) or driven by belts, chains or motorized rollers.
- Intralogistics
In one sentence
A roller conveyor moves loads on a series of rollers, unpowered or driven by belts, chains or motorized rollers.
Example
Totes run on a 24 V motorized roller conveyor where each zone has its own drive roller and photo eye for zero-pressure accumulation.
How it applies
- Engineering: Roller conveyors suit loads with a stable, flat bottom such as totes, cases and pallets. Motorized drive rollers make zone-controlled accumulation simple. Roller pitch must fit the smallest load.
- Safety: Driven rollers create nip points between rollers and loads and at drive belts or chains. Gaps, guards and restart behavior are part of the risk assessment; see Nip point and Pinch point.
- Maintenance: Worn drive belts, stuck rollers and misaligned sections cause jams. Replacement procedures should include energy isolation.
- Documentation: State the permitted load dimensions and weights, the zone logic and the sensor locations. When zones restart automatically, write warnings at the jam clearance steps.
Roller conveyor vs. belt conveyor
A Belt conveyor supports small or irregular products over their whole contact area; a roller conveyor supports loads at points and suits accumulation and transfers.