Conveyor Tracking

[pattimelt]

We have tried all the standard "go to" methods with no avail. One of our conveyor belts (at the take up) wants to walk east. Shimming hasn't helped; tweaking the iron hasn't helped. Adjusting the idlers hasn't helped. The belt is very tights, almost like it is binding somewhere, but there isn't anything visible. Other components are good throughout - it is just one spot. No vibration, misaslignment, etc. at the motor. Any suggestions?

 

[waross]

Crown the pulley slightly. (And check the pulley for parallelism.) If the pulley is tapered down to the west the belt will walk east. Belts tend to center on the highest point.

Bill
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"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[Skogsgurra]

Yes. And the crowning can be tested first with very simple means - like putting a glass-fibre armoured tape on the pulley. Once you know it it works, you can machine it correspondingly.

Beware! It is sometimes difficult to know what direction to wind the tape so it doesn't unwind. Especially on the non-driven pulley. Think twice.

Gunnar Englund

http://www.gke.org

--------------------------------------
Half full - Half empty? I don't mind. It's what in it that counts.

 

[tygerdawg]

Using crown rollers is the usual solution. But also you may consider decreasing the belt tension. If too tight, the effects on the belt of any misalignment of the rollers will be amplified. And if too tight, you risk failing your bearings.

TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering

http://www.bluetechnik.com

 

[jraef]

Ahhh... Nothing better than Electrical Engineers proving our worth by displaying the knowledge we accumulate from having to solve problems in other disciplines.... ;-)

"Dear future generations: Please accept our apologies. We were rolling drunk on petroleum."
— Kilgore Trout (via Kurt Vonnegut)
For the best use of Eng-Tips, please click here -> faq731-376

 

[waross]

The voice of seasoned experience, Jeff.
grin.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[GordS]

Is your feed dropping on the center of the belt? In our plant, the feed hits batterboards that an operator adjusts to direct the feed onto the center of the belt. If the belt is not tracking correctly, he will move the batterboard which changes where feed drops and moves the belt.

 

[PersonalProfile]

Fix the problem - sounds like pulley alignment (given the issue is confimed to one particular area near the take up), though may be idler, chute loading etc.
Crowing is not reccomended for steel cord conveyor belt and should not be required regardless.

Failing this tracking idlers or adjusting existing idlers to track the belt.

Regards,
Lyle

 

[pattimelt]

Thanks to all - problem turned out to be in a cover/chute going to the takeup Stenciled wrong, so it was placed on wrong takeup. After doing some measuring and swapping around, changed it out with another conveyor and voila! No more binding Appreciate everyone's input