Aggregates Manager

September 2013

Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine

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EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT 6 Culprit: Poor skirting, no impact protection. Solution: Check and maintain skirting with an easy-touse system. Skirting is important in the load zone because it stops material spillage leaks, controls dust emissions, and eliminates other resulting problems, such as belt damage and mistracking. Seek out a skirting system that is easy to service and has corrosion-resistant components for less maintenance. You will also want to ensure that the proper impact protection is available and the belt is properly supported in the load area. Your impact protection should take into account lump weight and drop height, as well as deliver maximum protection to your belt in the load zone. If your clea ners arenʻt mounted pro taking into perly and a account the renʻt beltʻs mate cleaning effi rial path, y ciency could our suffer. 4 Culprit: Small pulleys. Solution: The proper pulley diameter is crucial to belt performance. When it comes to slippage, the surface area where the belt goes from full tension (top) to partial tension (bottom) and "shrinks" puts an extensive amount of pressure on the lagging to move with it and prevent slip. While CEMA does not specifically recommend a pulley diameter by application, the engineers of conveyor systems make recommendations for pulley diameters based on the design of the conveyor. Often, the small pulley will be substituted to save costs without consideration for this belt shrink — if they minimize the pulley size, they also minimize the area in which the lagging can help the belt shrink as it wraps around the pulley. Reducing the size of the pulley too much may cause slippage. 5 Culprit Improperly squared belt. Solution: Square belt using appropriate tools. Squaring the belt involves marking the center of the belt at 3- to 5-foot intervals for approximately 20 feet from the splice area, drawing a center line based on those markings, and using a square to draw a line that is perpendicular to the average center line across the belt width. Don't forget to use a proper belt cutter (as opposed to a utility knife) for a safer, straighter cut. 7 Culprit: Belt mistracking. Solution: Identify the cause of the mistracking and install a belt trainer. Misalignment of rollers or pulleys, an incorrect splice, and material buildup are just a few of the things that can get your belt off track. Friction and tension have been proven to provide effective tracking when used together. Choose a tracker with a pivot and tilt design that provides friction and changes the tension profile of the belt. 8 Culprit: Seized rollers cut into belt. Solution: Regularly inspect conveyor for seized (non-rotating) rollers. For steel rollers, look for flat spots with sharp edges; these should be replaced immediately or risk cutting the belt. For composite rollers with a steel core, look for flat spots with sharp edges; these should be replaced immediately or risk cutting the belt. For composite rollers without a steel core, replace when feasible. 9 Culprit: Incorrectly mounted cleaners or belt cupped when passing by cleaners. Solution: Ensure that the cleaners are mounted correctly by reviewing installation instructions. If the belt is cupped, introduce a hold-down roller to flatten the belt and ensure proper cleaner to belt contact. 10 Culprit: Poor attack angle, worn blade, or incorrect blade in reference to the material path. AGGREGATES MANAGER September 2013 EM_AGRM0913.indd 25 25 8/15/13 3:13 PM

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