Conveyor belts are essential components especially in modern material handling machinery. A key part in building an effective conveyor system is choosing the right type of roller.
Conveyor belt rollers come in various types to meet specific operational requirements, such as load capacity, material type, and environmental conditions.
In this article, we discuss the common roller profiles and materials offered, and the types of applications they are most suitable for.
Conveyor Roller Types
To maximize longevity and performance, choosing the right roller for your conveyor system is critical.
The right roller can help to reduce friction and energy consumption, while also extending the conveyor system’s lifespan. Here is an overview of the most common conveyor roller types.
Straight
Straight rollers are the most versatile profile that can be used in a wide variety of roles. They can be used with or without conveyor belts, and are the general-purpose rollers used to convey products across distances.
Straight rollers can also be used in nipping applications but are generally limited to very thin sheets of material. Thicker materials may cause deflection in the rollers and cause uneven pressure to be applied across the sheet.
Crowned
Crowned rollers are generally used in applications involving thin sheets of materials. Crowned rollers are useful in keeping long sheets of materials centered as they roll across the roller.
For example, if a sheet of wrapping plastic is stretched across a crown roller, the increased tension at the center of the sheet will cause the wrinkles in the plastic to push outwards towards the edges and will also keep the sheet centered.
Due to this property, crowned rollers are also useful in conveyor belt operations when used on ends of conveyor belts. Crowned rollers can also be used in nipping applications. They are generally used for thicker materials or situations that see more deflection in the rollers. The crown itself counteracts the deflection and should produce more even pressure on the sheet material.
Grooved
Grooved rollers have a more niche use case. They are typically used for centering workpieces along the conveyor belt (see picture below). Grooved rollers could also be used to mechanically center a conveyor belt.
Knurled
Knurled rollers are generally used in applications that require more friction. Whether it be needing a workpiece or driving a conveyor belt, knurled rollers offer significantly more grip than other types of rollers.
Deciding on Roller Material Linings
Sometimes, a lining is needed. Each lining material type has pros and cons in terms of mechanical properties and chemical properties.
In general, polyurethane materials are the most common type of lining available, but there are various hardnesses. Polyurethanes for rollers are available for various applications (which you can find at MISUMI).
| Material Type | Benefits |
| Polyurethane (various hardnesses) | Selectable hardness Generally good oil resistance Good abrasion and load resistance Versatile |
| Silicone Rubber | Flexible Tear resistant Electrical insulation |
| Nitrile Rubber | Good abrasion resistance Reasonable oil resistance |
| Polyethylene (UHMWPE) | Good wear resistance Low friction/self lubricating |
| Chloroprene | Good resistance to weather/salt/diluted acid Versatile |
| Polyacetal | Strong impact resistance Good in low temperatures Self-lubricating |
| Polypropylene | Fatigue resistance Low density Generally good chemical resistance |
Click here for more detailed technical information on material properties.
