Ball roller BU 150113 T 28

A ball unit with a steel ball for ball tables, turning stations and conveyor sections where the goods have to be able to move freely in all directions, not just forward. Fitted in a group the units turn a table surface into a ball table where cartons, crates and boards can be pushed sideways, turned and lined up by hand; it is the standard solution at packing stations, corner transfers in conveyor flows and machine loading where the goods have to be reoriented before the next step.

The overall height is 36 mm and the dynamic load capacity 100 kg per unit at 4 km/h according to the manufacturer's data sheet. The temperature range runs from minus 30 °C to plus 70 °C; the unit is therefore not intended for heat resistant applications such as oven unloading, where other versions are required. The net weight is a low 0.17 kg. The exact dimensions of the ball and the housing, the hole preparation and the mounting method are shown in the manufacturer's data sheet and drawing, which you should have in front of you before the table is prepared.

The basic rule of the ball table is simple: the goods must always rest on at least three balls, wherever they are on the table. The spacing between the units is therefore chosen by the base dimensions of the smallest goods, not the largest. A carton that temporarily stands on only two balls can tip and wedge itself, and then the whole point of the table is gone. Think about direction as well: a ball table has no natural forward direction, so stops and edges have to govern where the goods are to go and where they are to stop.

The load calculation is just as straightforward: divide the weight of the goods by the number of balls actually carrying, and compare with the load capacity of the unit. Bear in mind that a skewed or soft base concentrates the load on fewer balls than the geometry suggests; calculate conservatively and add a margin, especially if the goods are sometimes dropped onto the table instead of sliding on from the side. Shock loads are what kill ball units early.

The underside of the goods decides how well a ball table works. Flat, stiff bases of plastic, wood or sheet metal roll excellently. Corrugated board works for lighter cartons but wears with intensive use, and goods with straps, nails or protruding parts on the base should be kept away; such things damage both balls and goods. Also keep the table surface free from chips and debris, because particles pressed against the ball are the most common reason ball units start to stick. In a workshop environment a simple brush by the table is cheap insurance for a long service life.

Around Swedish industry this type of unit sits in parcel sorting where goods are lined up for labeling, on packing tables where heavy cartons are turned without lifting, in aligning board material against a stop before sawing or edge machining, and in serving machines where the part has to be turned the right way before clamping. In ergonomic risk assessments ball tables often turn up as a measure, for good reason; turning goods on balls takes a fraction of the force compared with lifting and turning it, and shoulders and backs are grateful for every lift that disappears from the operation.

The steel ball is the right choice in dry indoor environments, where it gives a long service life at a low cost per unit. In damp or chemically loaded premises you should instead look at stainless versions, which are available in the same product family and share the same basic design.

Not sure about spacing, the number of units or the load capacity for your table? Get in touch and we will work it out together.