Will Your Conveyor be Shock Loaded?

Shock loading is discouraged, but acceptable - provided the conveyor is designed for it

shock loading a conveyor

What is Conveyor Shock Loading?

Shock Loading is any situation where product is dropped onto the conveyor.  Although dropping product onto the conveyor is discouraged, there are circumstances in material handling when this cannot be avoided.  Therefore, it is necessary for those who will be using conveyors in this application to be aware of the limitations and options available.

shock load 2When qualifying your next application remember to ask this question;  “How will your product be loaded or unloaded in every phase of your project.”  In applications where product will be loaded or unloaded by fork trucks and overhead cranes, it is necessary that you understand how the conveyor will be protected. Hytrol's standard equipment such as Chain Guards, Guards Rails, or Framing are not designed to be used as squaring devices. Look at each of these applications separately and possibly upgrade to 2-5/8" dia. or even 3-1/2" diameter rollers

Other applications that often get overlooked are the seemingly simple ones that use Slider Beds and 1-3/8" dia. and 1.9" dia. type conveyors. There is a difference between placing a product and dropping a product on a conveyor. You must determine the difference and design accordingly.  We recommend reinforcement plates in slider bed, extra supports, replacing rollers with plates, upgrading to a different roller gauge, or closer roller centers.  In some cases, a different model may be needed altogether. You should never use 1-3/8" dia. rollers in any impact area.

We could talk forever about shock loading and the variables it creates, but the main thing we want to stress is when specifying conveyor, make sure you answer the question:

   “Will there be shock loading?”

If so, then precautions must be taken to insure the conveyor line is protected. Contact us for assistance with any shock loading application.