Belt Conveyor Tracking
19th October 2021
One of the largest maintenance issues associated with belt conveyors is belt tracking. Belt tracking is the adjustment method used to keep the belt running straight and true on the end rollers and the belt conveyor frame. There are many factors that can affect belt tracking. These include; belt splicing accuracy, conveyor roller accuracy, roller size, proper belt tension, side loading on the conveyor belt from pushing product on or off the belt and build up on conveyor roller from the debris. Conveyor design can aide greatly in minimizing the issues associated with belt tracking. The most common methods used to aide in the belt tracking are crowned roller and v-guided belting.This method works by the taper sections of the roller steering the running conveyor belt to the center to the roller. This is however not exact. Due to the tolerance of the belt splice, the accuracy of the belt conveyor frame, and weave of the belting the conveyor belt will drift back and forth across the face of the roller. On larger rollers a drift of +/- ½? can be expected.
Advantages of Crowned Roller Belt Tracking:
1. Works will most belts. Most conveyor belt manufacturers assume some method of roller crowning will be used to aide in belt tracking. Most belts will accept a modest level of crown without adversely effecting belt wear.
2. Can be used with Knife edge idler transfers. Knife edge idler transfers are small diameter idler rollers used to transfer small or delicate parts on or off the belt conveyor. This transfer method requires a belt that is flexible enough to go around rollers as small as ¼? diameter. Typically belts of this type are compatible with crowned roller tracking.
This article comes from dornerconveyors edit released