tracking a conveyor belt

Tracking rule 1 The belt tracks to the side with the least tension. Check if the belt is in the centre To start, take your measuring tool and measure the distance on either side of the belt to find out which direction the belt needs to shift in order to be in the centre. Assembly without tensioning limits stress/strain on the conveyor components. These applications include conveyors that may be wider than they are long, have lateral forces applied to the belt or product, or a combination of these conditions. Within 7-10 revelations of the belt, you should begin to see the belt tracking towards the center of the conveyor. The intermediates are the sections of conveyor between the infeed and the outfeed. Conveyor belt tracking is important but it doesnt have to be complicated. Run the belt until it has done a full cycle around. This also assumes that there is an airline readily available at the conveyors installation point. , Fabricated Metals How can we help you? Preventing mistracking is essential, as even slightly misaligned conveyor belts can lead to spillage, excessive wear of the belt, and major damage to equipment or even the structure. Conveyor Belt Tracking. Contact us to build a new custom conveyor for you. Belt tracking measures ensure that this does not happen and any issues can be fixed before the conveyor becomes unusable . And even after your belt is up and running, Flexco stays involved. 3 Basic Conveyor Belt Tracking Rules To Follow The Tracker works where other belt training devices fail to reduce edge damage, prevent spillage and extend belt life. Belt Conveyor Tracking - Video Guide - Spaceguard PROK offer a range of customised belt guiding products such as training frames/persuaders to helpkeep the belt correctly aligned during operation and are designed for the safety of your belt and people with upgraded features to extend belt life. Can be used with Knife edge idler transfers. Scott enjoys traveling and spending time with his family. Before considering belt conveyor tracking methods it may be of use to give a brief overview of what a belt conveyor consists of. , Automotive MINELINE Additionally, depending on the width and length of the conveyor, the intermediate may also have rollers or other supports to hold the belt as it moves along the underside of the conveyor to minimize belt sag. 2525 Wisconsin Avenue Use a rubber mallet to tap the bolts in the direction you . Lay Out the Conveyor Belt. Loosen the two bolts on the end.Push the screw to push the bearing out. PROK accessories and frames for guiding and tracking. Highly resistant to abrasions and tears, the POSITIVEBELT offers extended durability. Connectivity Dashboard for the Novitool Aero Splice Press, Access to Product Literature, Instructions, Video, & More. The belt is the material on which the products are transported. Have us revolutionize your workplace. on DirectIndustry, the industry specialist for your professional purchases. One of the most common ways to try and combat tracking issues that may be caused by the conditions is to apply a v-guide to the bottom of the belt and notch the conveyor drum and frame accordingly. With their modular chain design, conveyor belt tracking is no longer an issue. This can result in costly downtime should a belt need to be replaced and a spare one is not on-hand. Exception Cases: Non-Standard Belt Conveyor Applications. A bend pulley is used for changing the direction of the belt. Each new belt moves in its own path to its predecessor; however, belt tracking alignment issues can become present during any stage of the belt's life. BlogBest Practices, Industry Insights, & Other Expert Perspectives, Training Learn About Online, In Class, & On-Site Training, Product Calculators Calculators to Help Guide Your Product Selections, Distributor Portal Flexco Authorized Distributor Access for Ordering & Order Status, Calendar Trade Show Schedule & Local Event Listings. There is an allowable tracking tolerance of 25 mm that can occur without posing serious risks to site operations. Our conveyor belt tracking solutions and trainers help reduce spillage, avoid uneven belt wear and eliminate potential damage. Additionally, it is possible for the belt running surface, or underside, to be a different material than the top surface. During the entire process, it is crucial to keep records. Continue making minor adjustments as necessary. Skip to content Home Profile Products Belt Trackers Belt Scrapers Load Zone Impact Control Dust Control and Skirting Fasteners Conveyor Idlers & Frames Safety Products Belting, Pulleys & Lagging Services Conveyor Belt Tracking - Hoverdale Measure the distance between two points so you know how far your adjustment will be. We partner with you to select the right products and get the best possible performance from your belt conveyor system. Therefore, it is critical that frames and pulleys are aligned evenly to provide a strong structure for the belt to pass across, even from installation. Each of these parts play a role in ensuring correct belt conveyor tracking. The taper ideally should be very gradual, as you can imagine any angular parts the belt will run over could cause damage to the belt. To this point its been established that the preferred and most reliable way to track a belt conveyor is by using crowned pulleys. Tracking rule 1 Additional belt tracking measures: Guide wheel 2. In a review of the technical resources put forth by the major US belting manufacturers, the overwhelming consensus as to the proper way to track a conveyor belt is by using trapezoidal crowned pulleys. As the belt grips onto the central area and the roller pulley continues to turn the belt is re-aligned centrally. How to track a conveyor belt: Conveyor belt tracking is only necessary when a belt 'wanders' from side to side, causing belt edge damage, premature belt failure, structural damage and, in extreme cases, a fire risk. Belt tracking is when you modify idlers, pulleys, and loading conditions so the belt follows the intended path without straying at any point. Automatic belt tracking systems rely on a series of sensors to watch the edge of the belt. Turn the conveyor on and loosen the bolts near the tail pulley. They're often used as the head pulley, however centre drive conveyors are common. Connectivity Dashboard for the Novitool Aero Splice Press, Access to Product Literature, Instructions, Video, & More. Its all part of our commitment to being your most valued partner on the job. With a rubber mallet gently tap the bolts in the direction you need the belt to move. Conveyor belt tracking is the process of aligning and controlling a conveyor belt so that it follows the desired path. For example, the belt material should not be so stiff that it does not hug the drum on the drum tapers. Here are three easy steps for tracking a conveyor belt. 1. The way this is accomplished can be a little different depending on the type of conveyor, but the basic principle remains the same. It is placed on the return side of the belt and features fixed rollers that direct the belt into the correct path. , Consumer Goods/Appliances We use cookies to improve your website experience. To overcome the issues posed by conveyor belt misalignment, it is critical to ensure that your conveyors are designed with adequate belt tracking protocols in mind. Tracking is something you need to do with every belt you buy; if you or other workers track improperly or not at all, the belt wont run as intended. Positive drive belt conveyors rely on the use of sprockets or pulleys which engage with features on or within the belt to propel the belt forward. For belt conveyors, one of the biggest pain points in the life of a maintenance technician or installer is conveyor belt tracking. To start, take your measuring tool and measure the distance on either side of the belt to find out which direction the belt needs to shift in order to be in the centre. applications however a standard belt conveyor without any additional tracking measures would be insufficient. If you suspect this, remove the conveyor belt from the unit and lay it out on the floor to ensure its straight. As well as saving in the cost of repeatedly buying replacement belts, correct belt conveyor tracking can decrease overall maintenance and downtime. Run the conveyor and observe from one end to see which way the belt is tracking (left or right). Were going to show you the process of tracking and tensioning a conveyor belt. If you use conveyor belts to make your business go, our new line of EZSpan conveyors can help. Belt Positioner A belt positioner is used when a conveyor belt mistracks to one side of the belt. They are not recommended for general use as belt conveyor tracking assistance as they incur higher productions costs and have a limited scope for use. , Other BlogBest Practices, Industry Insights, & Other Expert Perspectives, Training Learn About Online, In Class, & On-Site Training, Product Calculators Calculators to Help Guide Your Product Selections, Distributor Portal Flexco Authorized Distributor Access for Ordering & Order Status, Calendar Trade Show Schedule & Local Event Listings. Tracking Your Conveyor Belt Correctly - Increase The Longevity of a Belt Belt tracking must be controlled before spillage can be eliminated. Resource Library Access to Product Literature, Instructions, Video, & More. You are going to force the tension out, and forcing out the tension on one side of the belt will send the belt in the opposite direction. , Fabricated Metals Follow these simple steps: Ensure the conveyor frame and pulleys are squared off and parallel. One of the most important factors to keeping a conveyor belt running properly is conveyor belt tracking. By using our website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our, Top 5 benefits of investing in belt condition monitoring. If the pulley is slanted down on the right side, the belt will move to the right. Any adjustable parts should be set up once the belt has been adequately run in. Just like ripping a large piece of plywood, conveyor belts are cut into smaller widths during the manufacturing process. Instead, use the snub rollers or idlers to track the belt, as intended. For example, if you need the conveyor belt to move to the left (when standing at the infeed end of the conveyor and facing the discharge end of the conveyor), gently tap the bolts on the left-hand side. These pulleys can be coated with a material to improve friction. Making sure a new metal conveyor belt is tracking correctly is especially important because often times when a new belt is installed, it will not track the same as the old belt. A guiding pulley, or control pulley, is a snub pulley that is adjustable. Again wait and watch between adjustments to allow the belt to settle into its new position. BELT TRACKING PRODUCTS - PPI-We keep it moving Each of these components play a significant role in the tracking of the conveyor belt. Belt mistracking is one of the most common, troublesome, and misunderstood problems with conveyors. Conveyor systems are the backbone of industry and are found in many facilities around the globe. Simply snap dimensions from one corner to the opposite corner on each side of the conveyor. In these instances, there is a real possibility of the v-guide separating from the belt. He is dedicated to developing people within his network. And even after your belt is up and running, Flexco stays involved. Flexco Global Headquarters Go to the side of the belt that you will be making the changes and locate the adjustment screw. Belt Positioners, Trackers, and Trainers - Flexco Using a standard level, you can quickly check your conveyor systems levelness. This loose piece of guide can cause damage to the conveyor and/or surrounding equipment; taking what might have been a simple belt replacement scenario to something far more intensive, costly and time consuming. To start, take your measuring tool and measure the distance on either side of the belt to find out which direction the belt needs to shift in order to be in the centre. Glide Tracker Roller solves the majority of tracking issues without the need for expensive mechanical steering rollers, which can be tricky to install and difficult to commission. With 9 subsidiary locations and Since the surface that the belt rides on needs to be low in friction and as economical as possible, the use of roller beds has fallen out of favor. If the belt begins to go off centre for any reason, the crowned pulley will naturally guide the belt back into the centre. Aerospace In many applications however a standard belt conveyor without any additional tracking measures would be insufficient. it is just as important to work with a conveyor manufacturer well versed in conveyor pulley and belt design, as this is the best way to ensure the conveyor will operate as intended. We produce a wide variety of belting systems, transloaders, and more to suit your industrys needs. Measure the distance between two points so you know how far you have adjusted it. Customers in more than 150 countries. , Automotive Due to the nature of the positive drive and the need for the belt to engage with the sprocket or pulley, these types of conveyors are less likely to suffer from belt alignment issues. It helped when you said that mobile conveyors should be free of debris to prevent problem build-up. By tracking a new belt, you can ensure it runs the same track as the last one and operates optimally. Just like flying an airplane, small adjustments result in large changes. In truth, these items are not fail safe methods of belt tracking and therefore should not be viewed that way. How to identify and solve common conveyor belt tracking issues You can watch the video, or read below. Following the manufacturers recommended maintenance schedule will also help keep the conveyor and its belt in good working order. Take it slow and be careful not to adjust too much at one time. Fortunately, tracking your new belt is easy. Lagging is where the face of the pulley is coated with a material such as rubber or ceramic coating which increases traction. Most conveyors are manufactured with smaller rollers on the underside of the unit which are commonly referred to as snub rollers or idlers. PROK also keeps an in-depth record of the operations and subsequent maintenance changes, an on-site technician can evaluate these details and provide suggested maintenance plans whilst ensuring components are stocked and available to the customer. Works will most belts. Downers Grove, IL 60515, Flexco is Worldwide Once the belt reaches the centre however the tension should be even as there is an equal amount of slack on each side of the belt. , Food & Beverage This will loosen the snub roller, which is our primary means of steering the conveyor belt. A number of these are available with different weaves and coatings. When using trapezoidal crowned pulleys for belt tracking, belt material and width also play an integral part. The distribution of the material load can also misalign the belt, materials are loaded off-centre or in large lumps to one side can cause this, as well as varying wet/dry conditions. Belt Manufacturers Agree: Trapezoidal Crown Pulleys are the Way to Go. Reasons and counter-actions are known, however, the cause of mistracking and the effect on the belt. Use a rubber mallet to tap the bolts in the direction you want the belt to move. Be careful not to make any large adjustments. When performing belt conveyor tracking, there should be enough tension in the conveyor for the belt to conform to the crown pulleys if used. Once the belt has even space on both left and right sides of the pulley and continues to run straight over the course of several minutes, the belt is tracked. Flexco Mineline products are designed and engineered to work in some of the toughest applications in the world that test the strength and durability of your conveyor system. The cylindrical portion is typically one half of the drum width. We will be demonstrating on a custom made crowned rolled conveyor, but the concept will be similar on other types of conveyors as well. Dont worry if youre slightly out of square, as most manufacturers provide what are referred to as squaring rods on the bottom side of the conveyor. There are many reasons a belt will mistrack. Aside from taking longer to obtain the initial conveyor with a v-guide, it will also take longer for a replacement belt to be obtained. Usually the problems can be blamed on poor installation, such as pulleys and rollers not being properly adjusted, or using the wrong belt tracking measures. If your conveyor is out of level or square, the belt will move to one side or the other. If you find your end pulleys have been adjusted, this might be your problem. Check out our conveyors page to see some of the designs we offer. Though it can be time-consuming, tracking your belt isnt difficult. But what about tracking in applications that are viewed as non- standard or nontraditional? Advantages of Crowned Roller Belt Tracking: 1. This frees up the snub roller, which is the main force steering the belt. Take a few minutes of your day to track and save yourself hours of downtime in the future. They are suitable however to lessen the effects of transverse forces on the belt, such as occasions where side loading is required. Demonstration on a crowned roller conveyor.See more at https://www.royalconveyors.com/tracking-a-conveyor-belt/L. Tracking & Alignment Systems | Airmatic Our conveyor belt tracking solutions and trainers help reduce spillage, avoid uneven belt wear and eliminate potential damage. In order to keep the potential point of failure to an absolute minimum, and unnecessary costs down, the use of these devices should be saved for only those applications that absolutely demand them. It should be noted that often tracking problems are multifaceted with more than one cause, poor correction of tracking will also compound problems leading to high belt wear. More recent slider bed models are made from sheet steel, either stainless or galvanized, although roller beds are still common in some industries. With the conveyor running, loosen the set of bolts nearest the tail pulley. Be sure to check both the frame and the pulleys for the correct levelness. Ask the Experts Insights and Real Life Application Stories from our Experts in the Field. Eliminate Problems Methodically to identify the root cause. This debris, if not cleared, can create a crown or raised portion on the pulley which can result in the conveyor belt mis-tracking to one side or the other. The people of Flexco are committed to applying superior knowledge and products to make your belt conveyor operation as productive as possible. How to Track a Flat Conveyor Belt - Conveyor Equipment Bringing in air where there is none is cost prohibitive to many. As mentioned above, usually a belt will follow a path moving towards the edge of the roller it meets first. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your business. The surface across which the belt rides can be a roller bed or slider bed assembly. This is why it is critical to work with a conveyor manufacturer that uses standardized conveyor designs centered on the use of trapezoidal crowned pulleys. Where a belt has a v-guide in the underside, often the pulley will be straight faced, as there is no need for the pulley to have a crowned shape, the guide alone should keep the belt centred as required. Additionally, if the belt is too narrow or too wide, it will not track appropriately. Unfortunately, this can make the problem worse. At Flexco, we pride ourselves on helping you - and your belt conveyor system work better than ever before. In order to lessen the wear on the belt, the side . A, The structural support must be stable, rigid, and able to withstand forces including belt tension, product weights, uneven flooring etc. The first step is to eliminate the immediate problem to return the conveyor to its prime operational condition, PROK suggests systematically eliminating one common cause out at a time to help identify the root cause. We use cookies to improve your website experience. And should there ever be a failure in the air supply, the pneumatics would be inoperable unable to assist as intended. Thats why we dont just sell products. Use your wrench to move out the adjusting screw. For example when loading items onto the belt, the belt can be shifted off centre, without tracking measures in place the belt would run off and become damaged. This article will look at what tracking is, how to track a conveyor belt and how to fix issues that can impact the proper tracking of a belt. Pulleys and rollers should be fitted at right angles to the belt running axis. An imperfect track can result in unwanted downtime, leading to frustration and profit loss. Use the filters at the left to refine your results and find the belt trainer that is best suited to your application. Please wait while we gather your results. Belt conveyor tracking is the practice of keeping the conveyor belt travelling along the path as it is required. Before you adjust anything, measure what the current tension distance is. A guiding profile is a shaped wedge that is added onto running side of the belt. In some extreme conveyor designs it is not possible to use a v-guide to aide in belt guiding; these instances include conveyors with small diameter idler drums or nose bars. Our unique Pivot and Tilt technology is used in many of our designs to respond and compensate immediately to belt misalignment. Customers in more than 150 countries. The measurements should equal one another. Of all these components, the drums are the most vital aspect of the belt tracking process. This will loosen the snub roller, which is our primary means of steering the conveyor belt. A Simple Guide to Conveyor Belt Tracking - Cambelt International With 9 subsidiary locations and Sometimes, the belt may be shipped with imperfections that result in poor tracking, so it's worth having a check if possible. Its not uncommon for belts to be cut incorrectly at the factory. Contact us today: When these sensors see the belt edge wander they relay a signal to a series of pneumatic devices which fine tune the belt tracking via the conveyors tracking devices, which are tied into adjusting the trapezoidal crowned pulleys. Retain Records and learn from the process. Automatic belt tracking systems rely on a series of sensors to "watch" the edge of the belt. For example if the belt is travelling left, slightly increase the tension on the left side. a belt on a crowned pulley, it will travel towards the centre. Here are a few helpful tips to lookout for and an easy, 3-step process to get your belt conveyor running smoothly. These guides come in a variety of shapes and may be applied at the center of the belt, off-set from the center, or there may be two guides on each edge of the belt. The belt will always search for a position where all forces are balanced and rotate its direction to follow. An Idler pulley rotates freely and is driven by the belt only, it has no drive function of its own. Proximity switch logs when the unit is activated, Safe online incremental conveyor belt tracking. This system requires the use of trapezoidal crown pulleys and heres why. Note: The tension adjustment screws are found on the sides of the conveyor (on the end without the motor). Each new belt moves in its own path to its predecessor; however, belt tracking alignment issues can become present during any stage of the belts life. Material Handling Working with a conveyor system manufacturer that adheres to the design and engineering standards set-forth by the belting manufacturer is one way to help mitigate problems. You can watch the video, or read below. Some may argue that in fact its the crowned pulley that is not needed. The taper ideally should be very gradual, as you can imagine any angular parts the belt will run over could cause damage to the belt. Conveyor Belts Trackers and Training - Flexco If you have reason to think this may be the problem, remove the belt and lay it out flat to see if it looks straight. This can be corrected by proper loading-chute design and the use of adjustable deflectors, grid and chute bottoms that can be adjusted to correct the placement of the load on the . Once the belt reaches the centre however the tension should be even as there is an equal amount of slack on each side of the belt. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qg3KYK2LFY. BELT TRACKING PRODUCTS Belt tracking is critical to maintain both your belt and your structure. Tying up tracking frames is also done during isolation. MINELINE Best Practices, Industry Insights, & Other Expert Perspectives, Learn About Online, In Class, & On-Site Training, Calculators to Help Guide Your Product Selections, Flexco Authorized Distributor Access for Ordering & Order Status, Trade Show Schedule & Local Event Listings, Read About Flexcos Approach to Partnership, More About Flexco Locations Around the World, Meet Our Management Team & Subject Matter Experts, A Timeline of Flexco History from 1907 to Today, Flexco Industry Partnerships & Product Certifications. One of the most common conveyor belt maintenance issues is when the belt slips out of alignment and starts to drift off centre. Conveyor system misalignment and malfunction can damage operations in a wide range of industries. If the belt begins to go off centre for any reason, the crowned pulley will naturally guide the belt back into the centre. 2) Friction Drive Conveyor Belts 1. Both of these additional means of tracking the belt require the use of trapezoidal crowned pulleys. They create impactful efficiencies. Continue making minor adjustments as necessary, increasing the tension too much or too quickly could cause the belt to move too far in the opposite direction. As a way to prevent this scenario and eliminate the risk of wasted time and energy along with the loss of productive time, mining companies have turned to Track Straight to install its conveyor belt alignment systems at iron ore mine sites in Western Australia. Many kinds of conveyors use belts as the conveyor surface. Additionally, these devices add cost, lead-time and potential points of failure to the conveyor system. Measure tension distance Mis-tracking conveyor belts means downtime for your conveyor systems, and no matter what industry you are in, downtime means lost money. There are a two different types of conveyor tracking systems that work best: Flexco belt trainers use a combination of friction and tension to correct alignment issues and avoid forces that can damage your belt and your structure. The Martin Tracker provides immediate, continuous precision adjustment of wandering conveyor belts.
Group Therapy Weekender Vip Package, Raspberry Pi 4 Poe Requirements, Articles T