For many industries and worksites, conveyor belts oversee the main production operations. They transport goods, conduct assembly lines, and can adapt for numerous functionalities. With conveyors at the center of most warehouses, a conveyor belt failure greatly affects a worksite's productivity. So, what could cause a conveyor belt to fail?
Improper Installation
During the installation, numerous factors contribute to the success of the belt's productivity, from tracking to tensioning. Tracking allows the belt to move along the conveyor's pulley system efficiently. When mistracking occurs, it causes misalignment issues that affect the belt’s speed and other mechanics within the system. Similarly, improper tensioning affects the belt’s movements. Low tension belts droop, creating drag and slowing down the speed of the belt. High-tensioned belts risk snapping and adding extra friction to any movement. Improper installation hinders various properties and mechanics of a belt, causing it to fail.
Wrong Belt Type and Sizing
Conveyor belts come in various forms, each with different properties that enhance certain functionalities. Using the wrong belt type causes failures. Specific belts like incline conveyor belts are designed for certain systems like incline and decline tracks. They feature specizlized grips that ensure the security of goods as they traverse inclination and declination. Using a regular rubber belt on an inclined system leads to slippage and other hindrances to the conveyor system. Likewise, the wrong belt size also affects the functionality of a belt. Belts too big for their tracking system create more friction, slowing down conveyor speeds and increasing risks of the belt snagging.
Load Overweight
Sometimes the belt itself isn't the issue. Adding too much strain on a conveyor belt generates operational problems, as with any system. Loading a conveyor belt with overweight items creates risks of the belts snapping under the pressure of the heavy products. Increased friction also occurs from an overweight load, causing the belt to slow down or completely stop moving as the bottom of the belt dips and collides with the rollers on the track.
Material Carryback
Another external issue that affects the success of a conveyor belt is material carryback. Carryback often arises when systems transport loose items such as gravel. Little flyaway pieces or sticky carryback residue get between the tracks and belt, hindering the conveyor's movement and causing a systematic failure.
Many of these causes of conveyor belt failures also increase the risks of damage. Understanding the roots of your conveyor system failure ensures your equipment stays in top condition. With proper belt installation, the right weight management, clean tracks and belts, and the appropriate belt for your system, your conveyor can run efficiently with few mishaps.