What you should know about conveyor system inching drives
Although an inching drive may be used only a few times a year, it proves its real value at those times. By permitting a conveyor or bucket elevator to be "inched" through its cycle, malfunction inspection and maintenance procedures can be carried out more efficiently. The common alternative to an inching drive -- jogging a conveyor or elevator from position to position with the starter switch -- is generally not practical or successful. Jogging lacks accuracy and can place damaging stresses on the system, especially one with a large motor and a heavy load. In some applications an inching drive may be mandatory to protect equipment from serious damage. This article discusses factors for selecting the proper inching drive for your conveyor system.
Because an inching system must be closely matched to the main drive reducer, the two should be selected and designed as a complete package whenever possible. None of the elements are complex when taken separately, but the total can make a fairly sophisticated package. Thus, the interrelationships between the components must be carefully considered to ensure proper operation and trouble-free service.