Riley Hopper Elevators –Balancing Efficiency and Ergonomics

Elevators take the load

Achieving the objectives of large volumes of product buffer, whilst ensuring good ergonomics for operators, were the main criteria considered by Riley Automation when designing their range of Hopper Elevator systems. A low level bulk hopper unit provides easy and comfortable access for operators when priming the system with components. The capacity of the hopper unit is designed to provide the optimum production buffer, based upon the size and weight of the individual parts being presented to the line.

With the low level hopper primed with parts, an inverter driven “flighted” belt on the elevator system systematically collects and transports the parts to the required destination. The inverter drive on the elevator enables the speed and therefore the discharge rate of the system to be set as required for the product or components being handled at that time. Riley hopper elevators can be used to present component parts to traditional hopper units which may be mounted directly above vibratory bowl feeders, or alternatively the hopper elevator can be used to feed parts directly into the bowl feeder.

Reliable and predictable feeding

Riley Automation hopper elevator units are operating successfully across a wide range of applications within many different industries including, plastics, packaging, food, medical device and automotive.
One example of the successful application of the Riley hopper elevator concept is demonstrated by the feeding of a wide range of domestic plumbing fittings to an automated assembly system. In this case, the hopper elevator is used to present the main plastic moulded body of the fitting to the assembly machine. With an output of around 1,500 parts per hour, the assembly system requires predictable and reliable parts feeding together with a minimum of a 1.0 hour production buffer. Add to this the need to handle 2 different component sizes, 32mm and 40mm, plus deal with a wide range of component shapes and the magnitude of the task becomes clear. The Riley hopper elevator not only provides the ergonomic access required to prime the system but also frees the operator for other duties in addition by providing the production buffer required.

All Riley Automation material handling solutions are tailor made for each individual application and combine engineering excellence with innovative ideas and technology. All hopper elevator systems are precision manufactured from laser cut components ensuring a highly accurate and cost effective production method. Options are available for the low level hopper capacity, elevator conveyor type, conveyor speed and loading height, thus providing the optimum solution for the product under consideration.