A banana roller, also known as a bow roll or spreader roll, is a specialized roller used in various industrial applications, particularly in web handling processes such as printing, converting, and packaging. Its distinctive shape resembles a banana, with a slightly bowed or curved surface. This unique design helps to spread and evenly distribute tension across the width of the material (web) passing over it.
Banana rollers are typically used to address issues related to wrinkles, creases, or edge misalignment that can occur during the processing of thin, flexible materials such as paper, film, foil, or textiles. They help to maintain uniform tension and prevent the material from skewing or wandering off-course as it moves through different stages of production machinery.
The roller's surface can be covered with various materials depending on the specific requirements of the application, such as rubber, polyurethane, or even metal coatings. These coverings provide traction and grip to ensure proper web handling without damaging the material's surface.
