Rock Products

SEP 2015

Rock Products is the aggregates industry's leading source for market analysis and technology solutions, delivering critical content focusing on aggregates-processing equipment; operational efficiencies; management best practices; comprehensive market

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22 • ROCK products • September 2015 www.rockproducts.com C ompared to practices from more than a century ago, today's modern technology helps improve production much more efficiently. However, sometimes new technol- ogy and methods can malfunction, causing procedures to abruptly halt until the problem is resolved. In the long run, these types of problems will cost you time and money. Aggregate conveyor belts and equipment are susceptible to different types of maintenance issues over time. Here are some common areas of concern with conveyor belts and how to quickly repair them while on the job, courtesy of the experts at Applied Conveyor Technology Inc. Belt Slipping Upon Start If this is a new problem, it's possible that belt tension is to blame. Consider these options, which vary from one situa- tion to another. • Check the drive pulley to ensure that there is no build up. Once this has been done, increase belt tension as well as the amount of belt wrap on the drive pulley. • If the drive pulley is not the area of concern, your belt tension may just be a little off. Manually reset the tension require- ments for the load; although remember that this requires you to understand how much weight or tension is necessary to pull the material. At this point, you can either increase weight on gravity or increase tension at screw take-up. • There are multiple pulleys that help to move a product down the conveyor. Check all pulley lags. If they are worn or close to being inoperable, replace them immediately. While you are checking pulley lags, also see if they are at the appropriate diameters for the belt distance and size. • If your counter weight is too strong, you will suffer belt slips because of a lack of tension in the conveyor belt. A simple fix is to shorten the belt and then re-splice it. • If your pulleys and weight requirements are correct, it may be an error due to the mechanical generator. You will need to either consider a soft start or try adjusting the horsepower. All of the above tips also assist if there is slipping while the machinery is in operation. However, there are also a few additional places to check for quick fixes: • Check your belt idlers. If they are frozen, you will need to replace the idlers. Follow up with routine lubrication, proper cleaning and alignment adjustments. • If material is building up at the pulley face, clean the sys- tem and install proper conveyor belt cleaners. You may also want to examine the skirting and install material scrapers to keep the product flowing through evenly, which will reduce the risk of buildup in the future. Belt Running on One Side This is a common dilemma associated with aggregate mate- rials, and it is usually a sign that there is a problem with the idlers in a particular area of the belt train. Locate where the belt starts running to the side, then replace any frozen idlers. You also want to make certain that you conduct regular maintenance on all idlers, including lubrication, cleaning, and alignment when necessary. Other things to take into consideration: Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Conveyor Malfunctions Here Are Some Common Areas Of Concern With Conveyor Belts And How To Quickly Repair Them While On The Job. By Mark S. Kuhar Rip detector installed.

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