Modern Quarrying Quarter 1 2021

The belt is the essence of the conveyor system.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Working with an experienced belting manufacturer can help with increased performance and system efficiency to boost your bottom line

resistance they will ask about your roller/pulley sizes. These factors significantly impact energy consumption and drag build-up during operation. They will also want to understand your impact levels, incline angles, take-up distance, transition distance (for troughed conveyors), tensioning mechanisms and return rollers. Every factor requires a specific approach when selecting the right belt to benefit the performance of your conveyor system. For example, a conveyor system designed with return rollers operating at an angle greater than 30° will require rubber cleats or a cleat pattern design to successfully move product. However, if the return roller diameter and distance are not considered during belt selection, the cleats will interfere with the return rollers and produce “cleat chatter”. Cleat chatter occurs when the cleat or cleat pattern is encountering the return rollers, causing unwanted interference and affecting the function of the belt. If left unchecked, it can lead to early cleat and/or cleat pattern failure and excess wear on rollers and bearings. If this level of detail seems overwhelming, invite the supplier for a visit and give them the opportunity to explore your equipment first-hand. You could also

Similar to how the right set of tyres will improve the performance of a car with increased gas mileage, improved traction control, better handling and a smoother ride, having the right belt will improve the performance of the conveyor system

Puncture resistance, for example, is a leading cause of belt failure. It occurs when the belt carcass is punctured, or pierced, which leads to tear propagation, and ultimately, downtime for belt repair or replacement

Belt properties can be modified to complement the specific requirements of the application and conveyor system

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QUARTER 1 - 2021 MODERN QUARRYING