Introduction
In industrial automation conveying systems, through-hole slip rings are used to transmit power and signals for rotating equipment. Whether it is the sealed labeling of packaging production lines or the continuous operation of mining conveyor belts, they can solve the problem of transmission interruption caused by cable winding. As a professional slip ring manufacturer, ByTune will help you to understand the applications and advantages of through-bore slip rings in conveying systems, and share practical selection methods.
Typical Industrial Applications of Through-Hole Slip Rings
The following are the common transmission applications of through-hole slip rings and how they function:
Packaging Production Line
A packaging production line integrates processes, including filling, wrapping, and sealing, into a continuous workflow. Raw materials are fed into the system at one end, automatically transported via conveyor belts to designated workstations, and discharged as finished products at the output stage.
Through-bore slip rings are mounted on rotating machine segments (e.g., labeling/sealing units). The stator connects to the fixed power supply, while the rotor interfaces with moving parts, ensuring uninterrupted power transmission during operation.
Paddle Wheel Sorter (PWS)
Also known as a divert wheel sorter, this automated logistics system enhances sorting efficiency using a series of sequentially aligned paddle wheels and conveyors. It uses through-hole slip rings to operate its rotatable sorting devices, such as rotating arms and steering wheels.
When goods pass through the swinging wheel conveyor belt, sensors will promptly identify the type and destination of the items and then transmit signals to the control system through the slip ring. Based on this information, the control system controls the corresponding swinging wheels to tilt and sorts the goods from the conveyor belt to various required areas.
Printing Machinery
The printing press needs to transmit blank paper from the paper inlet to the printing area and then convey the printed paper to the paper outlet. Some rotating parts such as the plate cylinder and the blanket cylinder are needed in these operation steps. Paper is transmitted between these parts and spread out to print graphics and text. During this period, the driving motor of the printing press continuously rotates to drive the conveyor rollers to run. The through-hole slip ring plays this role. It can also adjust the signal to the motor to correct when there is a deviation in the position or speed of the paper.
Mining Conveyor Equipment
In mining operations, large-scale mining conveyor equipment uses conveyor belts to convey materials such as ores and coal. Through-hole slip rings connect these devices to the fixed drive system and supply power to maintain operations such as feeding and discharging.
Among them, the slip ring can also transmit control signals of some rotary screening machines, such as cylindrical screens. The control signal of the cylindrical screen assists them in separating ores of different particle sizes. Or adjust the rotation speed and tilt angle of the cylindrical screen according to the nature of the ore and screening requirements.
The Advantages of Using Through-Bore Slip Rings in Conveying Systems
1. Strong Anti-Interference Ability
Through-bore slip rings adopt precious metal conductive rings, brushes, and a multi-point contact structure, which can withstand high-load currents and reduce resistance. In industrial production environments, they always maintain low-noise operation and signal integrity.
2. Uninterrupted Transmission
Through-bore slip rings feature a special hollow shaft structure, enabling 360-degree unrestricted rotation while transmitting signals simultaneously. This also ensures that rotating equipment will not be tangled by cables, regardless of rotation or swinging.
3. Support for Multiple Signal Transmissions
Through-bore slip rings use a multi-channel design, capable of transmitting various types of signals, such as analog signals, digital signals, encoder signals, servo motor signals, etc.
How to Choose a Through-Hole Slip Ring for a Conveying System?
You may be wondering how to choose a suitable through-hole slip ring for your conveying system? This requires considering multiple factors comprehensively. Here are some common key points:
Working Voltage and Current
Select slip rings with strong current-carrying capacity, including those with carbon brushes or multi-ring parallel structures, to transmit large currents. Secondly, ensure that the rated voltage and current of the slip ring are greater than the actual values used to maintain a certain safety margin.
Central Aperture
Common central apertures of through-bore slip rings include 12.7mm, 25.4mm, 38.1mm, 50.8mm, etc. When selecting, ensure that they can accommodate the shafts, pneumatic pipes, or cables that need to pass through.
Signal Type
What types of signals need to be transmitted in your conveying system? Common types include analog signals, digital signals, high-frequency signals, etc. For example, for weak analog signals or small-current signals, slip rings with low contact resistance are more suitable because their signal transmission is more stable.
Rotation Speed
For conveying systems with low-speed rotation, the rotation speed of the slip ring is generally below 100 rpm. However, those high-speed automated production lines may require high-speed models (such as 1000+ RPM).
Operating Temperature
If the system works in a high-temperature environment, such as near high-temperature furnaces, heat treatment equipment, etc., it needs to work normally at temperatures above 150°C.
Protection Level
The protection levels of slip rings are generally IP54, IP65, IP68, etc. If the equipment is in a dusty and humid environment, such as mining machinery, marine equipment, etc., IP68 slip rings are more suitable.
Application Case
(1) Background:
A packaging machinery manufacturer required customized slip rings for the core rotating unit of their high-speed wrapper machines.
(2) Challenges:
The unit had a compact space, requiring the slip ring to pass through a 25mm drive shaft.
The system operated in a humid and dusty environment.
The customer needed the slip ring to transmit multiple signals and data, with additional protection for the cables.
(3) ByTune's Solution:
Based on these requirements, we designed a customized through hole slip ring for wrapper machines, featuring:
Compact dimensions (ID/OD): 25mm inner diameter (ID) / 86mm outer diameter (OD).
Flexible current/circuit configuration (10A, 12-48 circuits): Meets diverse power and signal needs, including main drive, sensors, and control signals.
Environmental adaptability (IP65, cable sleeve protection): Resists dust, moisture, and minor splashes common in packaging workshops.
(4) Results:
The customized slip ring was successfully integrated into the customer's packaging conveyor system, improving production efficiency by approximately 30%.
Conclusion
Today we have understood what a through-hole slip ring is and its applications in various conveying systems. This includes packaging production lines, sorting equipment, printing presses, and mining conveying equipment. In addition, we understand how it can improve transmission efficiency for these systems and how to choose a through-hole slip ring.
If you want to know what differences in the performance of through-hole slip rings will be in different working environments, our article "The Impact of Environment on Through Bore Slip Rings: Guidelines for Selection" may inspire you.