Belt Tracking Method Gets Results Again

Further to my earlier articles on the use of side guide rollers to track conveyor belts, here is another example of how they will produce a step change in performance. ( See my page for other articles). #conveyor #belts #tracking. They buy time for root cause analysis.

We upgraded two side by side conveyors with:

• 5 roll 50 degree idler carry sets. ( Was 3 roll 35 degree.)
• Solid side guide rollers, with large grease reservoir, on almost all carry and return idler sets. This minimises the load on each roll, prevents belt buckling and damage. They also allow wider belts to be installed on existing conveyors with minimal change. The wider belt is kept on existing pulleys and away from steel structure.
• Wider belts. We allowed for a future change from 1400mm to 1500mm, using the existing pulleys and return rollers. Initially the existing width of 1400mm has been used pending the arrival of the wider 1500mm.

The changes upgraded the nameplate flow by over 77% without changing the belt speed. This will allow single stream operation, with one conveyor down for maintenance.

The data shows up to 900 tracking events that stopped the conveyors in the year prior to the change. There have been almost zero after the change. (A few caused by the temporary 1400mm belt, rock falls or other). The conveyors have been in operation for several years.

If build up in the loading chute or damaged belt etc occurs, the conveyor will continue to operate reliably without damaging the belt or drift, until the next shut. The root cause can then be addressed at that time.