CONVEYOR BELTS

CONVEYOR BELTS

ADVANCED BUILDING TECHNOLOGY WHAT IS A CONVEYOT BELT?Aconveyor belt(orbelt conveyor) consists of two or morepulleys, with a continuous loop of material - the conveyor belt - that rotates about them. One or both of the pulleys are powered, moving the belt and the material on the belt forward. The powered pulley is called the drive pulley while the unpowered pulley is called the idler. There are two main industrial classes of belt conveyors; Those in generalmaterial handlingsuch as those moving boxes along inside a factory andbulk material handlingsuch as those used to transport industrial and agricultural materials, such as grain, coal, ores, etc. generally in outdoor locations. Generally companies providing general material handling type belt conveyors do not provide the conveyors for bulk material handling. In addition there are a number of commercial applications of belt conveyors such as those ingrocery storesDESIGN OF A CONVEYOR BELT

Material flowing over the belt may be weighed in transit using abeltweigher. Belts with regularly spaced partitions, known aselevator belts, are used for transporting loose materials up steep inclines. Belt Conveyors are used in self-unloading bulk freighters and in live bottom trucks. Conveyor technology is also used inconveyor transportsuch as moving sidewalksorescalators, as well as on many manufacturingassembly lines. Stores often have conveyor belts at thecheck-out counterto move shopping items.Ski areasalso use conveyor belts totransport skiersup the hill.Thebeltconsists of one or more layers of material. They can be made out ofrubber. Many belts in general material handling have two layers. An under layer of material to provide linear strength and shape called a carcass and an over layer called the cover. The carcass is often a cotton or plastic web or mesh. The cover is often various rubber or plastic compounds specified by use of the belt. Covers can be made from more exotic materials for unusual applications such as silicone for heat or gum rubber when traction is

TYPES OF CONVEYOR BELTSA wide variety of related conveying machines are available, different as regards principle of operation, means and direction of conveyance, includingscrew conveyors, vibrating conveyors, pneumatic conveyors, themoving floorsystem, which uses reciprocating slats to move cargo, and roller conveyor system, which uses a series of powered rollers to convey boxes orpallets.

Various improved and high tech Conveyor belts are designed now days to meet the requirements of different sectors. When there is a requirement to move products over a stationary or still path, rotation conveyor belts or conveyor are used. There is no doubt that rotational belts are of great use when there is a necessity to move large quality of products at regular intervals. These belts help to transfer the products timely another great part of these items is that they are cost-efficient. This is one of the major reasons, for which people prefer to use this conveyor belt. It can be used to transfer bulk loads as in-floor Conveyors or on-floor conveyors.

WORKING PRINCIPLEBelt conveyors are the most commonly used powered conveyors because they are the most versatile and the least expensive. Product is conveyed directly on the belt so both regular and irregular shaped objects, large or small, light and heavy, can be transported successfully. B Systems uses only the highest quality premium belting products, which reduces belt stretch and results in less maintenance for tension adjustments. Belt conveyors can be used to transport product in a straight line or through changes in elevation or direction. In certain applications they can also be used for static accumulation or cartons. Generally, this philosophy calls for belt cleaners that are: As far forward (as close to the conveyor discharge) as possible. Positioned out of the material flow. Designed to minimize risk to belt, splice, and cleaner itself. Designed to stand up to worst case conditions.

Designed for ease of maintenance, including simple blade replacement and reduced frequency of re-tensioning, Belt conveyors are available with either rollers (roller belt) or a solid surface (slider bed) to support the carrying belt. When the materials fall down on the conveyor, the roller under the belt will drive the belt come forward. In this way, we convey the stuff.

TYPES OF CONVEYOR SYSTEMGravity roller conveyorGravity skatewheel conveyorBelt conveyorWire mesh conveyorsPlastic belt conveyorsBucket conveyorsFlexible conveyorsVertical conveyorsSpiral conveyorsVibrating conveyorsPneumatic conveyorsBelt driven live roller conveyorsLineshaft roller conveyorChain conveyorScrew conveyorChain driven live roller conveyorOverhead conveyorsDust proof conveyorsPharmaceutical conveyorsAutomotive conveyors

Transition distance is defined as the distance from the center line of the first fully troughed idler roll to the center line of either the head or tail pulley. The distance from the pulley to the top of the wing idler is certainly greater than the distance from the pulley to the center roll of the troughing set. If the transition distance is too short, the edge of the belt can be over stretched. This will adversely affect the load support and belt life.APPLICATIONS General ConveyingMany belts fall into this category, and there is a belt for every need. Distribution Centers use fast-moving high grip belts to accelerate packages, and low friction belts to accumulate or divert packages. Long conveyors sometimes get over-tensioned (causing fasteners to pull out of the belt) or get knocked out of square (causing tracking problems).

Incline ConveyingThese are belts with various types of surfaces to either grip product firmly or collect it in pockets across the belt surface. Most offer a roughtop grip impression. Plied Rubber also includes diamondtop, steepgrade and tylerwire grip impressions. Nonwoven grip belts include roughtop and groovetop surfaces. Plied thermoplastics have those two plus sawtooth, lattice top, and other useful grip surfaces. Modular belting depends on "rubber" inserts that are good at grabbing flat surfaces.

Food/ Baking/ Personal Care/ Health CareThese belts are mostly plied rubber, plied thermoplastic, and plastic modular. Some include antimicrobial agents. Many are better classified as machine belts, since they do more processing than conveying. Processed Foods often require oil-resistant thermoplastic and plastic modular belts that can be washed down without absorbing liquid. Dough Processing sometimes requires oil-resistance and often requires an impressioned belt surface that can manipulate the dough and release it cleanly.

High Duty ConveyingTypically specialized applications involving extreme chemical, mechanical, cutting or abrasive conditions. Strapping machines are subject to considerable abrasion. Both Signode and Ovalstrapping use high duty belts, though one requires a high grip surface while the other needs smooth. Metal Stamping operations use a lot of these belts

Plastic ModularPlastic Modular belts are used in a wide range of industries. Traditionally they have been used in food processing where operators use knives on the belt, rinse vegetables, perform end of day washdown, and where USDA insists on a belt that will not absorb fluid or harbor bacteria. Though they create more noise than a flat belt and are more expensive, conveyor manufacturers in all industries are increasing their use of these belts because plastic modular is durable and easy to maintain. One caveat -- stay with a common pitch. Intralox and Rex make special pitches that are not compatible with price competitive brands.