Ball roller BUSP 15 H

Nine and a half millimeters. That is all BUSP 15 H builds above the mounting surface, which makes it an obvious alternative when every millimeter counts: in box conveyors, in picking bins and in table surfaces where the goods are to slide level with the surrounding surfaces.

The ball is in steel and measures 15 mm in diameter. The load capacity is 50 kg per roller; with three balls under the goods the surface therefore carries a filled transport crate or a smaller tool with margin. The outer diameter is 24 mm, the collar diameter 31 mm and the material thickness in the plate 2.8 mm. The net weight stops at 0.04 kg, so not even a table with a hundred units affects the weight of the structure noticeably. All the figures come from the manufacturer's data sheet.

The temperature range is -30 °C to +70 °C and the unit is not rated as heat resistant beyond that. That is enough for chilled warehouses and unheated premises in winter, but not for stations near ovens or hot goods; there you need to look at other versions.

The mounting is a drop in type, into a cut out where the collar rests against the surface around the hole. The thin plate of 2.8 mm makes the unit well suited to fitting in board material and sheet metal, and the low overall height means the ball field can be integrated into existing benches without the working height changing. Check the hole diameter and the spacing against the manufacturer's data sheet before you punch or drill; a hole pattern in sheet metal is a dull thing to redo.

Small ball rollers with a low profile typically sit in picking bins and outfeed compartments where light parts are to slide forward to the operator, in sliding tables for board material, in fixtures where parts are positioned before welding or gluing and in packaging machines where carton blanks are guided through the machine. What these environments have in common is that the goods are light, the space tight and the overall height limited. In box conveyors and picking racks in particular the low profile is the point; the ball sticks up just enough for the box to roll, no more.

Ergonomically the balls make a bigger difference than they look like they do. When a crate slides instead of being lifted, the small lifts that otherwise add up to a heavy working day disappear; the operator pulls the goods toward themselves, turns them and pushes them on in a single movement.

A 15 mm ball puts demands on the underside of the goods. A flat and relatively hard base rolls easily; soft corrugated board can sag down between the balls if the spacing is wide, and then the rolling resistance rises quickly. Set the balls closer together for light and soft goods and wider apart for stiff goods, and always test with your actual packaging before the hole pattern is locked. Mixed goods are sized by the smallest item.

It is worth comparing with the larger ball rollers in the same series before you decide. If the goods weigh more than a crate, or if the bases are worn and uneven, a larger ball with a higher load capacity is the safer choice; for light and flat parts the small ball does the same job at a lower overall height.

Care is about cleanliness. Dust and chips in the ball seat slow a small ball down sooner than a large one, so blow it clean regularly and replace units that stick; with a net weight of 40 grams and drop in mounting it is no big operation.

Do you want to check the hole pattern and the spacing against your sheet before you order? Get in touch with us.