Maintenance Tips For Flat Belt Conveyors
Flat belt conveyor is the most common form of conveying system. Its simple design and versatility makes it ideal for a wide range of applications.
These are used to prevent liquids from leaking off the belt. They are generally shaped like lugs and come in different sizes.
A snub pulley works with the drive pulley to enlarge the area of contact. This increases the amount of power that is transferred to the belt.
Adaptability
A flat belt conveyor can transport a wide variety of materials over long distances. It can also be made of different materials, like neoprene, silicone, polyurethane (often mistakenly called urethane), felt or various natural rubbers to better suit a given situation and purpose. A range of accessories are available for this type of conveyor, like walkways and lighting. There are a number of frame designs, like welded steel or aluminum extrusion, that can be used to support the belt, as well as idlers and pulleys.
Modular plastic belts are another option that allows for a high level of adaptability and versatility. They consist of interlocking pieces that can be easily removed and replaced. This reduces overall maintenance costs and downtime over the lifespan of the conveyor, since only the damaged part needs to be fixed.
Flat belt conveyors can be programmed to use a progressive indexing system, or can operate as a continuous flow conveyor. They can be designed to look across or down at a load, and can include cleats or alignment guides to keep the belt in place. They can be built with a head drive or middle drive, and can accommodate reversing stations. They can also be equipped with a tail pulley and nose bars. Choosing the right flat conveyor system will allow you to streamline workflow and eliminate manual processes. It will also enable you to better meet the ergonomic considerations of all car wash employees.
Efficiency
In flat belt conveyors, there are various ways to maintain and optimize their efficiency. For example, it is important to lubricate the moving parts of the system regularly to prevent them from overheating and breaking down prematurely. This will help reduce maintenance costs in the long run and ensure that the conveyor belt can perform optimally. Flat belt conveyor In addition, it is also advisable to conduct regular maintenance on the entire conveyor system to identify any problems before they escalate into serious issues that could impact production.
Another reason why flat belt conveyors are very efficient is that they offer much more flexibility than their traditional counterparts. While they can still carry a lot of weight, they are also more capable of navigating a number of inclines and declines. This means that they can be used to transport products in a variety of directions and facilitate a wide range of manufacturing processes.
For instance, they can be used to transport PCBs between a reflow oven and cleaner, or even between several different stages of ESD assembly. This makes them ideal for complex and fast-paced production environments. Furthermore, they can also be outfitted with cooling fan banks, guide rails, and integrated vision systems to enhance their functionality even further.
Safety
While conveyor systems boost productivity, efficiency, and workflow, careless or negligent behavior can lead to severe accidents. The primary causes include loose or falling items, failure to perform maintenance Flat Belt Conveyor Manufacturer on a timely basis, and not following lock-out/tag-out protocols during system fix. In addition, employees must be trained to be aware of potential safety hazards that may arise from conveyor belts and other machinery in the working environment.
One of the most common hazards is pinch points, rotatory parts that provide a point where two individual conveyor surfaces/rollers meet. These points can shear or crush workers’ fingers, hands, and other body areas leading to limb trauma or even amputation. They can also cause malfunctions or explosions on the conveyor.
Other common conveyor safety risks include crooked frames and uneven pulleys. These problems can make the belt sway and mistrack, which could affect the entire conveyor system’s operation. The best way to avoid these issues is to regularly check for these problems.
A skewed frame is easy to spot by examining it from different angles. Similarly, a crooked pulley is a simple problem to identify by comparing them to the belt’s middle line. This can be easily fixed by adjusting the idlers in that area. In addition, staff should regularly check whether the pulleys are evenly lined up with the conveyor frame.
Maintenance
Regardless of the industry a conveyor system is in, there are certain maintenance tasks that must be performed on an ongoing basis to keep it functioning smoothly. Using a mobile CMMS app like Limble can help you schedule preventive work, make sure you’re keeping the right amount of spare parts in stock, and keep all your maintenance documentation and history in one place.
The conveyor mechanism may become blocked by debris, whether it’s from the materials being transported or the environment in which the conveyor is operating. It’s important to inspect the conveyor regularly for debris buildup, with the frequency of this inspection determining production level: weekly inspections are recommended for high-production conveyor systems and monthly or quarterly checks for low-production conveyors.
It’s also essential to keep an eye out for small signs of belt mistracking, especially near transfer and load points. This can cause a number of issues, from snagging items to blockages that slow production or even shut down the entire conveyor system.
Finally, it’s crucial to remember that if a part starts to wear down, it should be replaced as soon as possible. If this isn’t done, the other parts of the conveyor will have to compensate for the added strain and risk failing themselves. If you have trouble with any of these components, there are many different repair methods available to you, such as cold curing, which involves applying a cement made from a base compound and curing agent to the damaged area.