FDBusiness.com

R.A. Rodriguez (UK) Ltd will demonstrate a brand new concept in conveyor pulley design, making its European launch at the PPMA exhibition.

By switching from conventional pulleys to the new Bryant TuffCore® alternatives, conveyor manufacturers and users alike will reap numerous benefits.  Introduced to the UK market by sole UK distributor, R. A. Rodriguez, these new pulleys are designed to meet the speed and performance needs of modern handling systems.

Bryant TuffCore

Suitable for OEM design or for retrofitting, Bryant TuffCore® pulleys are a highly cost effective option to stainless steel and they provide much greater design flexibility than traditional types.  And as they weigh up to 50% less than their steel shell counterparts they also require less drive power.

Pulley design has failed to keep pace with developments in conveyor technology with little or no advances in materials of manufacture.  Bryant has reversed that trend.  Its new patented pulley comprises a TuffCore® foam roller around a steel shaft that is lagged, as standard, with TuffCoat® Durathane. It’s this combination of material that gives the Bryant pulley its huge weight advantage.

50% lighter and far less vibration

Less weight benefits other system components, for example, longer bearing life and reduced gearbox wear.  There is also less inertia to overcome so conveyors can start, stop and reverse quicker and index more accurately; a particular advantage in applications such as shrink wrapping.

These pulleys are easier to service and have a reduced need for supporting structures.  And reduced load allows smaller motors, gearboxes and bearings to be used which in turn draw less power.

The Bryant pulley is moulded not fabricated, greatly simplifying production and associated costs.  It has no steel shell, steel end disks, hubs or bushings eliminating the need for secondary machining, finishing and time consuming assembly.  It is also maintenance-free.

Improved balance and run-out are further advantages of Bryant TuffCore®, particularly important factors on high speed conveyor applications.   The total indicated runout (TIR) of the Bryant product is typically 90% better than its conventional steel counterpart.  The foam and lagging combination eliminate the need for balancing, again reducing cost.  Users will also notice a sharp reduction in structure born noise and vibration.

Food and pharmaceutical grade

As both the foam and lagging are chemically inert this product can effectively replace stainless steel.  Substantial cost as well as weight savings result.  Bryant TuffCore® pulleys for any application requiring corrosion resistance are manufactured from the same TuffCore® and TuffCoat® materials as the standard type but have a stainless steel shaft.

The product is highly chemical and water resistant and therefore eminently suited to wash-down processes; its foam core is fully sealed against the environment by the TuffCoat® lagging.  This outer layer has been the subject of three years destructive testing.  Proven in other manufacturing environments, it is suitable for belt loads from 225 – 450 kg and conveyor speeds of up to 300 m/min.

Wide ranging applications

All crown types are available in the Bryant TuffCore® product programme and pulley diameters are not limited by available tube sizes.  This results in shorter lead times as it is adjustment of foam thickness rather than the incorporation of heavier walled tubing that adds diameter.  The Bryant manufacturing process also provides the lowest cost method of producing V-guide pulleys as no machining or secondary operations are required.

Clearly the new Bryant TuffCore® pulleys will find favour in food and pharmaceutical processing and packaging applications but also in parts handling and airport baggage handling or indeed any conveyor application where weight, cost and performance are important considerations.