Rubber Rollers

About Rubber Rollers and Rubber Roller Manufacturers Including: Conveyor Rollers, Polyurethane Rollers, Rollers, Rubber Rolls & Urethane Rollers.

Rubber rollers, also called "rubber rolls," are cylindrical tubes used to facilitate movement to machine components. Rubber rollers also provide support and transportation to materials moving through the machine. Rubber roller manufacturers produce rubber rollers that vary widely in size, ranging from one inch to several inches in length. Width also varies. Rubber rollers are often formed with the vulcanized molded process that uses heat and pressure to cure the rubber. The rubber is then bonded to the core.

Rubber rollers are common components of many different types of machinery, including web machines, converters, roller conveyor systems and printing machines. Process rollers alter roller systems by providing directional changes and changing power transmission levels. Unlike process rolls, idler rolls do not alter the rollers systems but simply provide support and the means of transportation of materials. Rubber rollers are used in photocopiers, laser printers, photographic imaging and printing presses. The medical industry uses rubber rollers in medical chart recorders and medical imaging equipment. Rubber rollers are also used in mailrooms for high-speed mail sorting. Other rubber rollers include film and microfilm rollers and magnetic tape capstans. Elastomeric rubber rollers include application or dispensing, squeegee, transfer, energy-absorbing and drive rollers.

Rubber roller manufacturers use a variety of rubber materials. Neoprene is a general purpose material that has good mechanical properties, chemical resistance and high resilience. Nip rolls, pull rolls and feed rolls in flexo and gravure printing machines are typically made of neoprene. Nitrile, also known as “NBR” or “Buna-N,” is the most commonly used elastomer in the printing industry, as it is exceptionally resistant to oils, chemicals and water. Silicone is a fairly expensive covering material that has good high temperature, chemical and ozone resistance. Certain rubber roller manufacturers coat rubber rollers with EPDM (sometimes referred to as “EPT”), because it has excellent ozone, chemical and heat resistance up to 350ºF (176.7ºC). Polyurethane has high-friction characteristics and is used in applications in which toughness and cut resistance are necessary (e.g. pull rolls). Hypalon has good physical, chemical resistive and temperature capabilities, as well as excellent ozone characteristics, making it ideal for a wide variety of roller applications. Viton is a very expensive material used for its excellent chemical resistance and high temperature characteristics.

The proper selection of rubber rollers depends on several important factors, including industrial applications, machinery size and product shape, size and weight. Environmental conditions, such as temperature and moisture, to which the rubber rollers will be exposed during operation, must also be considered. Substances, such as chemicals, oils and acids, with which the rubber rollers might come into contact, must also be considered before determining the appropriate type of roller. The outside diameter and runout tolerances, surface finish, hub material and amount of tackiness are characteristics that one should be aware of when designing rollers, especially clean rubber rollers. It is critical to understand how the physical properties of rubber rollers compare to the actual operating conditions and to keep up to date on improvements in roller technology. This knowledge allows for improvement of the equipment performance and end-product quality.

Rubber Rollers and Rubber Roller Manufacturers Images Provided by Hiawatha Rubber Co.

Types of Rubber Rollers

• Cleaning rollers are used in countless applications to clean varying surfaces. Clean rollers are highly specialized and are especially useful for removing dust and particulate.
  
• Conveyor rollers are integral components of roller conveyor systems. Conveyor rollers, that form roller beds, transport materials along the conveyor from one location to another.
  
• Dead shaft rollers have internal bearings at the location of the spinning roll body that rotate around a stationary, or dead, shaft.
  
• Distribution rollers are rubber-coated rollers used in the printing process to distribute ink from the fountain to the ink drum.
  
• Drive rollers have integral shafts with a keyway for sprockets or gears in order to run the roller.
  
• Idler rolls, also called “guide rollers,” provide support to the roller system. However, idler rolls do not convey power or make changes in direction like process rolls.
  
• Live shaft rolls are rolls containing external bearings in which both the roll shaft and the roll rotate. These rollers work best under high loads and rough environmental conditions, such as high temperatures.
  
• Polyurethane rollers, or "urethane rollers," are strong and abrasion resistant. Although urethane rolls have a low resistance to acids, they maintain good resistance to chemicals and oils.
  
• Natural rubber rolls perform well in low temperatures and maintain good strength and elastomeric properties. However, natural rubber rolls have a low heat and oil resistance.
  
• Neoprene rollers have great weather and heat resistance and maintain a moderate resistance to most chemicals.
  
• Rollers are cylinders used in industrial equipment to move machine components and products.
  
• Rubber rolls are rubber tubes that facilitate movement of materials through machinery.
  
• Silicone rollers, while often more costly than other types of rubber rollers, perform well under temperatures as high as 500º F (260º C). Silicone rolls also have great resistance to ozone and chemicals but are not typically used in situations requiring great strength.
  
• Stinger rollers rotate around a stationary shaft and have internal bearings.
  
• Urethane rollers are made of a thermoplastic polymer and are used in printing presses, labeling machines, and as ink rollers.
  
• “V” rollers are hourglass-shaped rollers that may or may not have outside or integral bearings. “V” rollers are used for conveying pipe longitudinally.
  
• Web spreader rolls are used to prevent web wrinkling and to fix wrinkles by stretching and spreading the web.

Rubber Rollers Terms

Balance Correction – A process used to correct roller imbalance and associated rotation by either lessening roll weight through drilling or increasing roll weight by adding weights to the roll interior.

Balance Toleration – The amount of imbalance that a roller can tolerate while still working properly.

Ball – The bearing mechanism placed between roll races that keeps the internal race motionless, while permitting the rotation of the external race.

Ball Retainer – The mechanism that facilitates high roller speed through the separation of the bearing balls.

Bearing – A rotary support mechanism placed either on the interior or exterior of a roll to facilitate roll movement.

Calendering – A process by which paper is made by passing it between two rollers, smoothing and polishing the surface.

Coil Coating – A process in which a series of rubber rollers deposit a thin film of paint coating on a continuous metal or plastic web.

Doctor – A blade-like device that removes foreign matter from a roll. The doctor rests on the uprunning surface of the roll.

Dynamic Balancing – Balancing in which a certain degree of rotation occurs due to imbalance. Dynamic balancing is corrected in a balancing machine.

Durometer – An apparatus used for measuring the hardness of rubber.

Elastomer – A material, such as rubber, capable of returning to its initial length after being stretched at room temperature to twice its original length.

Glaze – A build-up on rubber rollers or the blanket of a printing press that negatively affects uniform ink distribution.

Piling – The building up of ink on the rollers, plates or blankets of a printing press.

Roping – Using a bar or roller to gather the full width of stretch film to create a “rope” that is nearly unbreakable.

Static Balancing – Balancing, often occurring in low-speed applications, in which the roll is properly balanced so that no rotation occurs.

Web – Paper used in print media, insert cards, etc. and sold in a roll for high volume, high-speed printing.

Web Handling – The industry involved in processing continuous material strips called webs that will be used in future processing operations. Common web materials include plastic, metal and paper.

Wrinkling – A deformation in a rubber roll in which folds and creases form on the surface of the roll.