Definitive Guide for Choosing the Right Conveyor Belt

Because choosing the right conveyor belt for your conveyor system will lead to effective production, a longer operational lifetime and component compatibility.

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Here are a number of tips to identify if your conveyor belt is being subjected to additional wear and tear or abrasion:

&#; Check that your operating tension (PIW) is at the correct level and that it meets the load capacity. If unsure, seek outside assistance.

&#; If your power load has increased lately, check to see if your conveyor belt idlers are catching or succumbing to wear and tear.

&#; If the product load has increased, it is likely that the impact rating has also increased and the surface of the conveyor may need upgrading to protect the belt.

&#; If the product weight has increased, check to see if its troughing abilty is still appropriate or whether it is catching on the pulleys, idlers, impact beds and frames.

&#; Check to see that you have installed the appropriate conveyor width to match your pulleys, drums and loading zones. If not, replace the items, as this is more cost effective than replacing the entire conveyor belt.

&#; Check to see how far the actual conveyor has to travel. If this has been changed, then the belt may need adjusting by lengthening or shortening, adjusting the tension and/or adjustment of the conveyor to adapt to the product weight.

&#; Check your cover of your conveyor belt to see if it is still able to manage the present load or load fall &#; if it is showing signs of wear, then the cover may need reviewing.

If you&#;re struggling to understand which of these issues needs resolving then you may need an audit to identify where your system has weaknesses. This will help to avoid higher costs incurred in the future.

#7. Conveyor Belt Covers

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing your conveyor cover, you should also ensure that you have a thorough technical understanding of what your cover is subjected to, which will assist with the selection process and reduce the wear and tear to the cover and increase its longevity.

The main considerations are as follows:

• the type of material being transported
• the load factor and drop to belt ratio
• the quality of the cover
• the &#;fit for purpose&#; factor
• the appropriate elastomers
• the overall thickness

Selecting the appropriate cover is not a one size fits all process, it depends on what is being conveyed. The material may be sharp and abrasive with large deep penetration points, corrosive and need to protect the cover from wear.

The weight and how far the material or rock will drop to meet the belt will also need to be considered. The greater the weight and the longer the drop, the higher the potential for the belt to fatigue and not resume its original shape. This can also increase the propensity for tears and large areas of abrasion.

Dependent on your system, most of the wear occurs on the top surface of your conveyor belt and a smaller amount on the bottom cover. The quality of the belt cover is a very important factor in ensuring that the top surface remains in good working order for the long-term sustainability of your conveyor belt. The better quality of your belt cover means it lasts longer.

If the cover is fit for purpose, it will not be subjected to as much wear and tear and will have a greater life expectancy. The strength and construction of the cover is determined by the elastomers, which are capable of withstanding most unfavourable material composition being conveyed. For instance, there is a particular composition of elastomers designed to withstand tree sap from damaging the belt cover.

There is another important ratio, 3 to 1 which should be used when determining the thickness of the top and bottom covers. An accurate summation of cover thickness can be determined by using the belt frequency factor. The more often you use it, the shorter the life of the belt.

If your material is overly abrasive, the conveyor should be made shorter with a sustainably thicker belt. That being said, the cover&#;s resistance to abrasion is more important than the thickness when it comes to durability. ASC partners with manufacturers who believe in overall belt durability over belt thickness, as this can add additional weight to the system and increase overall power consumption.

At All State Conveyors, we have extensive knowledge and understanding of the conveyor belt industry. We provide custom made, heavy duty, fit-for-purpose and standard belts with numerous covers.

Selecting the right conveyor belt for your business, it is essential to understand the various types of materials that are available. The conveyor belt industry has undergone significant advancements in recent years, and there are now numerous options available that are designed to meet specific industrial needs.

Rubber conveyor belts

It is most common types of conveyor belts on the market. They are versatile and can be used in a wide range of applications, including food processing, agriculture, mining, and more. Rubber belts are designed to be durable and resistant to wear and tear, making them ideal for heavy-duty applications.

Types of conveyor belts

PVC Conveyor Belts

Polyester conveyor belts are renowned for their exceptional strength and durability. They are made from high-quality polyester fabric coated with PVC or polyurethane. This coating helps protect the fabric from wear and tear, making it ideal for use in industries that require heavy-duty belts. Polyester conveyor belts find common applications in the automotive, recycling, and food processing industries.

Nylon Conveyor Belts

Nylon conveyor belts are known for their high tensile strength and excellent durability. It commonly used in the construction, mining and quarrying industries.

Steel Conveyor Belts

Steel conveyor belts are some of the most durable and rugged conveyor belts on the market. They are made from stainless steel and are designed to withstand high temperatures and heavy loads.

Used in the food processing industry, that require high levels of sanitation.

Resistant to corrosion and used in applications where they are exposed to water or liquids.

Modular Conveyor Belts

Modular conveyor belts are made from individual plastic modules that are linked together to form a continuous belt. They are highly versatile and can be customized to meet specific industrial needs.

They are easy to clean and maintain, which makes them ideal for use in applications where hygiene is a top priority.

With the right material, you can improve the efficiency of your operations and ensure that your business runs smoothly.

For more details about our conveyor belting products grades, belt thickness, width, length, etc details please contact us Lakhotia India Team.

Call us today to talk to your sales rep, or us at [ protected]

This guide is to help educate on the different types of conveyor belts. These seven conveyor belts are the most common in conveyor belt applications.

Types of Conveyor Belts

1. Roller Bed Conveyor Belts
2. Flat belt conveyors
3. Modular Belt Conveyors
4. Cleated Belt Conveyors
5. Curved Belt Conveyors
6. Incline/Decline Belt Conveyors
7. Sanitary and Washdown Conveyors

Roller Bed Conveyor Belts

The roller bed conveyor belts utilize gravity to hold the items on the belt. This type of conveyor belt is flat and made up of rollers selected to match the specifications of the load above. Shorter roller belts can be made up of two rollers, but more rollers will need to be added as the distance of the belt lengths. Therefore, a longer belt will be required as well.

Roller Bed Conveyors can be utilized for moving, packing, sorting, assembling, and inspecting items. Many of us have witnessed roller bed conveyors used at the airport baggage claim or in those intense Internet videos with people loading numerous articles quickly into boxes.

Flat Belt Conveyors

Flat Belt conveyors are used mainly in manufacturing environments and slow assembly lines. With the correct belt, Flat Belts can also move small, soft, or irregular-shaped items. They are utilized to transport items within an operation. This belt uses a series of pulleys to drive a continuous flat belt. Objects are positioned on the belt and carried from one spot to the end of the belt. These belts can be made of a natural material of a synthetic fabric like polyester or nylon.

Modular Belt Conveyors

Modular Belt Conveyors are made up of interlocking sections of hardened material, usually hard plastic, in a single loop. The sections of material can be replaced individually. Only replacing one area helps save cost, not the entire belt. In addition, hardened plastics are better suited to handle rough, sharp, or abrasive materials. 

Modular Belts have a higher cost. However, they also can do a majority of conveying functions. Modular belts can go around corners, travel straight, and go up and down inclines. All of those motions can use the same motor. 

The plastic in the modular belts makes them a good fit for food products since they are easier to clean and have spaces where fluid can be drained or retained on the conveyor. The plastic makeup of the belt aids with detecting unwanted metals as well.

Cleated Belt Conveyors

Cleated belt conveyors are utilized to move products up an incline. These conveyors feature raised cleats on the belts to help hold the products or items in position as they travel up or down the conveyor. Another advantage of the cleats is that they create consistent spacing between the items on the conveyor belt. There are numerous shapes and sizes of cleats. Another type of cleated belt is the elevator belt that utilizes scoops or buckets to carry materials or products up a steep incline or a vertical surface.

Incline/Decline Belt Conveyors

Similar to Flat Belts, except Incline Belts have a rough surface. This surface creates more friction and helps items hold their position as they travel up the belt. These belts do not produce the same spacing that a cleated belt does. 

Sanitary and Washdown Conveyors

These conveyor belts are made of rated materials and are ready to be sanitized often. These belts are usually associated with food-grade applications. Sanitary conveyors are generally flat wire belts. These are tough belts that stand up to wear and tear and are easy to clean.

IBT Has Your Conveyor Belt

IBT Inc. has two in-house conveyor belting groups. This includes heavyweight conveyor belts and lightweight conveyor belts and their different applications.

Bluemaxim contains other products and information you need, so please check it out.

Heavyweight Conveyor Belt

Rock Belts

These belts have fabric construction and can range from a single-ply fabric to multiple-plys of fabric. Each individual ply has a different tension rating. The rubber covers adhere to both the top and bottom to protect the fabric-plys. 

Typical top covers or carry covers range from 3/16&#; to &#;&#; depending on the design and strength of the conveyor belt. The bottom cover or pulley cover varies from 1/16&#; to 1/8&#; depending on the design and strength of the belt. 

Fenner Dunlop Patriot X & NOVA X lines

Fenner Dunlop offers their Patriot X line of rock belts. These belts are available in 24, 30, 36, and 42-inches. The proprietary cover compound offers significantly better rip, tear, and impact performance compared to typical plied belting. The new finger splice design is optimized for both performance and fabrication efficiency. The Patriot X line has a safety factor greater than 8:1. 

Fenner Dunlop also offers the Nova X line. This belt has a patented dual crimp weave for higher strength and low stretch applications. The Nova X line uses a unique fabric weave that allows for improved mechanical fastener retention and splice life. This line conveys bulk material more reliably with the advanced flexible belt core and makes it resistant to rips, tears, impacts, and punctures.

Applications:

• Crushed Stone

• Ready Mix

• Cement

• Sand

• Gravel

• Fertilizer Plants 

MOR Belts

MOR stands for moderately oil resistant. These use the same fabric design as the rock belts, but the rubber used on the top and bottom covers are designed to resist oil penetrating them and causing the rubber to swell. 

Some MOR belts do not use a bottom cover. This is referred to as a bareback or BB. 

Fenner Dunlop WoodMaster Line

Fenner Dunlop&#;s WoodMaster is a member of the Plylok line. WoodMaster is plied belting with less than 2% stretch and superb abrasion resistance for general purpose applications. The increased gauge rubber between splices helps the WoodMaster to absorb more energy and gives more impact resistance.

Applications:

• Paper Mills

• Saw Mills

• Wood Board Plants

• Wood Chips

• Bark

• Broken Belts

• Chipper End Feed

• Planer Belt

• Pulp Belts

• Sander Belts

Lightweight Conveyor Belting

Food Handling

Food handling belts are plied rubber with a rubber cover. They can be interwoven with PVC or RMPVC covers. Food handling belts are smooth for horizontal conveyance and textured/cleated for incline/decline applications. They have a plied monofilament or spun polyester carcass with a urethane or PVC cover.

Applications:

• FDA approved

• Handle direct food contact or packaged products

• Found in bakeries, pet food production, and more.

Package Handling

Package handling belts are plied rubber. They can come with or without a cover. Package handling belts are smooth for horizontal conveyance and textured/cleated for incline/decline applications, utilized by manufacturers, packaging, distribution centers, etc.

Applications:

• Manufacturers

• Packaging

• Distribution Centers

Power Transmission

Power Transmission belts are flat belts that transfer horsepower from one point to another. They have a nylon core with rubber covers. Power Transmission belts have a plied fabric/rubber construction and are usually a monofilament with a urethane cover. 

Applications:

• Printing

• Labeling

• Paper Industry

• Driving Live Rollers

Want to learn more about your Conveyor Belt Options?

As your experts for conveyor belting, we want to help you find the best belt for your application- but that&#;s not all. IBT&#;s IRPG team partners with various industries, offering a wide selection of heavyweight and lightweight conveyor belting and custom fabrication services. Contact your local IBT rep to learn more about your conveyor belt options.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Steel Cord Conveyor Belt.