How to track a conveyor belt! A conveyor belt should not drift off path as it would cause the conveyor to work incorrectly. When standard products just won't do. These are a "pivoting base style", available in both trough and return applications automatically providing belt centring. Tracking is a process of adjusting idlers, pulleys and loading conditions to adjust and fix any tendency of the belt to run any way other than intended. Additionally, the top material and surface finish of the belt should be a concern when selecting belt return supports or rollers. 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. Often V shaped, though other shapes are sometimes used. Tracking is important because it keeps your belt on track; literally. Using a standard level, you can quickly check your conveyor systems levelness. We are demonstrating on a standard belted conveyor in this case a low profile light duty belted conveyor we built for a client. There is an allowable tracking tolerance of 25 mm that can occur without posing serious risks to site operations. 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. How can we help you? Advantages of Crowned Roller Belt Tracking: 1. Whichever side the belt is tracking to, due to the shape the central area is where the belt tension will be higher. The adjusting screw gets tightened against itself and the side hardware gets locked down. Your email address will not be published. The combination of double row teeth and sprockets with a central disk ensures that the belt is perfectly guided. More recent slider bed models are made from sheet steel, either stainless or galvanized, although roller beds are still common in some industries. Connectivity Dashboard for the Novitool Aero Splice Press, Access to Product Literature, Instructions, Video, & More. There are a two different types of conveyor tracking systems that work best: Belt Positioner - A belt positioner is used when a conveyor belt mistracks to one side of the belt. With 9 subsidiary locations and Conveyor belt mistracking is a common problem that spans a variety of industries. Bring production back on track. Common issues of conveyor belt tracking and causes. Three Quick and Easy Steps to Track a Conveyor Belt With the conveyor running, loosen the set of bolts nearest the tail pulley. At least 90% of the conveyor belts Ive observed mis-tracking can be traced back to being out of level and/or square. How can we help you? There are many reasons a belt will mistrack. Thats why we dont just sell products. 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. 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. Turn the conveyor on and loosen the bolts near the tail pulley. Always start with the snub rollers closest to the ends of the conveyor and work towards the center. This can result in costly downtime should a belt need to be replaced and a spare one is not on-hand. the importance of these characteristics cannot be stressed enough. , and Printing & Publishing. Poor belt tension can result in bad . Additionally, it is possible for the belt running surface, or underside, to be a different material than the top surface. They're available in numerous materials such as thermoplastics, metal, rubber, fabric and leather. , Food & Beverage A belt may also need additional tracking adjustments as it is worn in. Once the snub roller is in the desired position, retighten the bolts to lock the belt in position. If your business relies on conveyor belts, you want them to be up and running when you need them. These pulleys can be coated with a material to improve friction. Our Partnership ApproachRead About Flexcos Approach to Partnership, Global LocationsMore About Flexco Locations Around the World, Flexco BrandsThe Flexco Portfolio of Brands, Our Inclusion CommitmentLearn how we are driven by our values, Leadership and ExpertiseMeet Our Management Team & Subject Matter Experts, Flexco HistoryA Timeline of Flexco History from 1907 to Today, Associations & CertificationsFlexco Industry Partnerships & Product Certifications. V-guided belts are more costly than conventional belts due to the added material and labor. 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. Lay Out the Conveyor Belt. The drive and idler assemblies consist of drums, bearings, shafts, roll holders, and in the case of the drive, a motor mount. Were going to show you the process of tracking and tensioning a conveyor belt. As well as saving in the cost of repeatedly buying replacement belts, correct belt conveyor tracking can decrease overall maintenance and downtime. This will loosen the snub roller, which is our primary means of steering the conveyor belt. After the snub roller has been adjusted, be sure to re-tighten the bolts so it will be locked into the new position. He has 20 years of Maintenance and Engineering experience across multiple disciplines. Belt tracking is the ability to maintain control of the desired path of a conveyor belt once it is aligned and installed. 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. Now that youve read our guide to conveyor belt tracking, take a look at our products and see how Span Tech can help you. In a nutshell, this is the process of aligning and then controlling a belt so that it maintains a desired path. Insights and Real Life Application Stories from our Experts in the Field. Continue making minor adjustments as necessary. We will be demonstrating on a custom made crowned rolled conveyor, but the concept will be similar on other types of conveyors as well. The health of the belt is subject to time, which is why commonly older belts see larger tracking issues. If the pulley is slanted down on the right side, the belt will move to the right. It is important to note that these guides should be used in conjunction with a trapezoidal crowned pulley. A Drive Pulley has an external power source which rotates the pulley and thus drives the conveyor belt. Additionally, these devices add cost, lead-time and potential points of failure to the conveyor system. 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. Sometimes however it's simply just faulty conveyor design. 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. This white paper seeks to outline current industry best practices, explaining why certain approaches are better, and dispel myths around alternative belt tracking methods. An Idler pulley rotates freely and is driven by the belt only, it has no drive function of its own. Belt tracking is when you modify idlers, pulleys, and loading conditions so the belt follows the intended path without straying at any point. A, The structural support must be stable, rigid, and able to withstand forces including belt tension, product weights, uneven flooring etc. This frees up the snub roller, which is the main force steering the belt. Conveyor belt tracking devices help get a mistracking conveyor belt back on track. Frame Constructoin and Belt Materials Proximity switch logs when the unit is activated, Safe online incremental conveyor belt tracking. Resource Library Access to Product Literature, Instructions, Video, & More. A basic belt conveyor tracking adjustment involves gradually repositioning the pulleys to aid the belt in realigning. We have been making conveyors since 2014 and we offer a wide range of options. That will loosen the primary method of steering the conveyor belt, the snub roller. Turn the conveyor on and loosen the bolts near the tail pulley. Before you adjust anything, measure what the current tension distance is. Go to the side of the belt that you will be making the changes and locate the adjustment screw. 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. Measure tension distance Run the belt until it has done a full cycle around the conveyor so it can adjust. Carcass damage, uneven wear and bowed or spliced areas cause misalignment. Please wait while we gather your results. Industry: With a rubber mallet gently tap the bolts in the direction you need the belt to move. Cambelt International LLC 2820 W. Directors Row Salt Lake City, UT 84104, Benefits of Automated Conveyor Systems Airtight Enclosed Conveyor Systems. 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. The top surface of the belt can be smooth or raised, coated or non-coated, or it can have a rough-top. , Other Repeat the above steps with the rest of the snub rollers. 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. Conveyor belt tracking is important but it doesnt have to be complicated. Learn about our cookie policy. Flexco Global Headquarters While tracking may sound complicated, its much easier than youd think. Again wait and watch between adjustments to allow the belt to settle into its new position. Use the filters at the left to refine your results and find the belt trainer that is best suited to your application. Downers Grove, IL 60515, Flexco is Worldwide Conveyor belt tracking is the ability to control and maintain the desired path of a belt and is often an indicator of the system's health. A guiding profile is not usually utilised for belts running at high speed as the guiding profiles have a tendency to slip from their running groove. Bringing in air where there is none is cost prohibitive to many. Mis-tracking conveyor belts means downtime for your conveyor systems, and no matter what industry you are in, downtime means lost money. They create impactful efficiencies. As the belt grips onto the central area and the roller pulley continues to turn the belt is re-aligned centrally. Tracking is a process of adjusting idlers, pulleys and loading conditions to adjust and fix any tendency of the belt to run any way other than intended. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your business. Conveyors are a fairly basic, yet core automation technology for anyone in the facility to transfer materials between long distances on varying elevations. Conveyor belt tracking is the process of aligning and controlling a conveyor belt so that it follows the desired path. , Consumer Goods/Appliances This will cause the snub roller to move. Downers Grove, IL 60515, Flexco is Worldwide The goal of conveyor tracking is to ensure this belt runs straight. To check that your conveyor bed is square, snap dimensions from one corner to the opposite corner on each side of the conveyor belt. , Consumer Goods/Appliances As the process to track a conveyor belt is a relatively simple one, we've put together a quick additional guide to help you get your belt back on track. 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 number of these are available with different weaves and coatings. Use the filters at the left to refine your results and find the conveyor belt tracking system or trainerbest suited to your application. A large percentage of conveyor belt tracking issues are caused by the track being out of level or square. Use a rubber mallet to tap the bolts in the direction you . Take a few minutes of your day to track and save yourself hours of downtime in the future. Understanding belt tracking, being able to identify the root cause, along with common tracking issues and what causes them, can prevent long-term critical damage to your conveyor equipment. This is not always the case. Most conveyor belt manufacturers assume some method of roller crowning will be used to aide in belt tracking. During the manufacturing process, the belts can be cut improperly leaving a curvature or arc. When referring to conveyor systems, pulleys are sometimes also known as drums. Be sure to check both the frame and the pulleys for the correct levelness. 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. In these instances, there is a real possibility of the v-guide separating from the belt. If tape or other debris builds up on one or both of the end pulleys, it can lead to a crown or a raised portion on the pulley. Belt tracking must be controlled before spillage can be eliminated. Steps 1 and 2 should be repeated until the center of your conveyor belt is within a quarter inch of the tail pulleys center. Fortunately, tracking your new belt is easy. 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. The answer is potential damage, a lot of mess and possibly a serious injury as someone intervenes manually. Conveyor Maintenance for Drives, Motors and Chains. Tracking effect of cylindrical-conical or radially crowned pulleys Fabric belt conveyors are normally equipped with at least one, sometimes with several pulleys with cylindrical conical or radially crowned form. Tying up tracking frames is also done during isolation. Sometimes the cause of the mistracking is preventable, and even repairable, and other times, you simply have to find a way to redirect the belt. During conveyor maintenance the lagging should be checked to ensure it is still generating friction and hasn't become worn down. To get a belt running in the centre of a conveyor (tracking it), the key is changing the tension of the tension adjustment screws on the side of the conveyor. Analyze Belt Tension. Mistracking of the belt is one of the important operating problems of a belt conveyor. Wait and watch for several revolutions of the belt to see if the adjustment was sufficient. This will result in problems with conveyor belt tracking. If you have any questions, please comment on our Youtube video! The way this is accomplished can be a little different depending on the type of conveyor, but the basic principle remains the same. Conveyor belt tracking is the ability to control and maintain the desired path of a belt and is often an indicator of the systems health. 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. Here are a few helpful tips to lookout for and an easy, 3-step process to get your belt conveyor running smoothly.
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tracking a conveyor belt