Our most versatile non-powered conveyor, the General-Purpose Gravity Conveyor, provides a smooth and safe transfer for a range of cargo types, from lightweight items to heavy-duty loads. The gentle roller rotation allows for easy, controlled movement, making this conveyor an ideal solution for general material handling needs. With a focus on cost efficiency, ease of use, and labour-saving design, it’s well-suited for optimising workflows across various applications.
KBS is one of three build codes in the very light duty gravity range. All three cover the same applications, and the code is settled at sizing against your product size, load and frame material.
KBL is one of three build codes in the very light duty gravity range. All three cover the same applications, and the code is settled at sizing against your product size, load and frame material.
KBW is one of three build codes in the very light duty gravity range. All three cover the same applications, and the code is settled at sizing against your product size, load and frame material.
Quoting: KBS
This is the small-product end of the gravity range. No motors, no controls, no drive on the run: product sits on free-spinning rollers and moves on a gentle fall. Where it differs from a general gravity line is scale. The roller pitch is set fine enough that small cartons and components stay supported instead of dropping between rollers, which is the failure that makes people give up on gravity for small items. If your loads are bigger and heavier, our gravity roller conveyors page covers the light, medium and heavy duty builds.
The rule is that at least three rollers should be under the product at all times. That means the pitch has to come from your smallest item, not your average one. Tell us the minimum product length and the base type, and the pitch follows from it. Get this wrong and small items nose-dive at every gap; get it right and a gravity run handles product that people assume needs a belt.
Gravity conveyors need a gradient, typically 2 to 5 per cent, and where you sit in that range depends on product weight, base friction and roller type. A light carton on a smooth base needs more fall than a heavier one. Too little and product stalls halfway; too much and it arrives at the end faster than anyone wants to catch it. We confirm the slope against your actual product rather than applying a default.
The range is not just straight runs. Bends, merges and gates are standard, and roller direction switchers let a line merge two feeds or branch one into two without a powered transfer. On small-product transfer lines that is usually the reason to choose this over a plain straight gravity section: you can build the routing you need without adding motors and controls to a job that does not otherwise require them.
Side frames are available in aluminium, coated steel or stainless steel, with roller diameter and support span sized to the load. Stainless frames, rollers and appropriate bearings are specified where the area is hygienic or food grade, which is worth stating at enquiry rather than assuming, because the standard build is not stainless.
You have more control on a gravity run than people expect. Brake rollers slow product at the discharge, guides keep it tracking, and the gradient itself is a control you set at design. What gravity cannot do is give you exact spacing or timed release. Where the downstream process needs product presented at a fixed interval, a short powered zone is added at that point rather than powering the whole run.
Gravity sections combine readily with lineshaft conveyor, 24V motorised roller and belt lines, which is how most real layouts end up: gravity where the product just needs to get from A to B, powered where it needs to be controlled. If you need zero-pressure accumulation, long horizontal runs with no slope available, precise speed control or complex merges and diverts, a powered solution is the right call and zero line pressure conveying is the usual answer.
The argument for gravity is that it is cheap to buy, cheap to run and almost free to maintain. There is no motor, no drive, no inverter and nothing to fail electrically. Running noise is low, and what noise there is comes from the product itself rather than the conveyor, so roller choice and guides keep it down. Maintenance is periodic cleaning and checks on rollers, bearings, stops and guides. Where the requirement is a powered light-duty belt rather than rollers, see light duty belt conveyors. LVP Automation specify, supply and install these from Finglas, Dublin 11 as part of our wider automation services.
Use for simple, low-energy movement of cartons and totes where a gentle slope enables free-rolling: packing benches, assembly cells, inspection lanes and manual sort areas.
Straight sections, bends, merges and gates; varied roller diameters/pitches for small items; aluminium, coated steel or stainless side frames; guides, end stops and ball/turn tables.
Order fulfilment stations, kitting and assembly lines, inbound/outbound staging, returns processing, and low-throughput buffers before labelling or vision checks.
Quick answers on gradients, product suitability, sizing, integration and maintenance for general-purpose gravity setups.
Cartons, totes and trays with flat, rigid bases. Very soft or irregular bottoms may need tighter roller pitch or a short powered/belt section.
With the correct roller pitch, small components and cartons can be handled reliably. We’ll specify pitch based on your minimum product length.
Designed for light duty, but can accommodate moderate loads with the right frame, roller diameter and support span. We’ll size components to your spec.
Yes, use brake rollers, product guides and managed gradients. For precise speed/spacing, pair with a powered zone.
Gravity systems are typically very quiet; noise mainly comes from the product rolling. Correct roller choice and guides help keep noise low.
Absolutely, gravity sections are often combined with lineshaft, 24V MDR or belt conveyors for mixed control and accumulation.
Periodic cleaning, checks on rollers/bearings and verification of stops/guides. Maintenance is minimal compared to powered systems.
Yes, stainless frames/rollers and appropriate bearings can be specified for hygienic or food-grade environments.
If you need zero-pressure accumulation, long horizontal runs without slope, precise speed control or complex merges/diverts, a powered solution is better.
Yes, gravity conveyors require a gradient (typically 2 to 5%) depending on product weight, base friction and roller type.
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