One of the most important pieces of equipment in food processing plants is the belt conveyor. It transports everything from product boxes to potato chips for frying. These versatile machines can be purchased from a quality manufacturer and are very reliable.
There are always problems with conveyors. Problems such as belt slippage, motor wear out, and damaged components can all be caused by regular wear.
Keep your Belt Conveyor in Top Shape
The nine tips below will ensure your belt conveyor runs at its best for many years.
Choose the right conveyor
You must first choose the right conveyor for your particular application. You should take into account the weight and speed of your product as well as the direction in which you wish to transport it. Also, consider whether you require metal detection, weighing, or sorting.
Talk to conveyor manufacturers to find the best solution for your product. Consider getting a conveyor with more capacity than you require. You can increase production without having to replace the conveyor.
Keep your belt clean
Clean your conveyor belt is more than food safety. A dirty conveyor belt can cause slippage, particularly on the underside. This will reduce the conveyor’s capacity to carry weight. Also, belt wears on components like belt rollers can cause motor and belt failure. The conveyor’s life expectancy will be extended by cleaning it regularly.
You should consider purchasing a conveyor that is equipped with simple-to-clean components like belt scrapers, belt lifters, and CIP systems. This will allow you to maintain your conveyor belts cleanliness without having to disassemble it.
Keep your motor clean
The motor can overheat if it is clogged by food debris, grease, dirt, or other food products. A motor that is overheated will eventually cause it to burn out and must be replaced. Your conveyor motor should be cleaned by your sanitation crew to prevent it from overheating.
Take a look at your bearings
Make sure to inspect your conveyor’s bearings regularly. Loose bearings and dry bearings can lead to conveyor failure. Lubricate your conveyor on a regular schedule during your maintenance routines. You could also consider self-aligning sealed bearings, which require very little or no lubrication.
You should clean up any lubricant that may have come into contact with your bearing. If you leave lubricants on your conveyor belt for too long, they can cause damage.
Wear the right pulley alignment
Your belt conveyor’s performance is greatly affected by the alignment of your pulley. An aligned pulley will ensure equal belt tension on both sides of the belt’s section. This is vital for extending the life of your belt. You will notice premature stretching on one end of your belt if the pulley doesn’t align properly or is worn unevenly.
The belt may also stretch depending on how you load your product onto the conveyor. It can cause the belt to wear quicker if the product is loaded on one side. If possible, the product should be loaded towards the middle of the belt.
Check for belt slippage
Poor belt tension can lead to belt slippage. Also, if you load too much product onto your conveyor belt, it could cause the belt to wear down. You can reduce the wear and tear on your conveyor by inspecting it regularly for any signs of slippage.
A new conveyor is a good investment if you load too much or too heavy a product onto it. Make sure only to invest in conveyor and hoist rentals that offer you best conveyor
Overloading a conveyor more than it can handle will eventually lead to belt, bearing, and motor failure. This could cause your processing process to slow down.
Make sure your motor and drive have the right dimensions
When moving a conveyor from one section to another, or investing in a new conveyor for the first time, ensure that the motors and drives are large enough to handle the product. Motor and drive failures will occur if you load the product onto a conveyor that’s not rated to transport the product.
You should know the weight of your product before you purchase a conveyor. This will enable your product production to grow without needing to buy a new conveyor.
Replace damaged parts by inspecting them
Conveyor breakdown can be caused by worn parts. This can lead to prolonged downtime as you wait for the replacement parts. Conveyor downtime can be reduced by inspecting the conveyor regularly for worn parts and replacing them promptly.
It might be worthwhile to speak to the conveyor manufacturer to find out which parts are more susceptible to wear and to stock replacement parts straight away. As you already have the part, this will minimize downtime in case the worn part fails.
Implement preventative maintenance
Preventative maintenance will keep your belt conveyor’s performance high. Preventative maintenance is important. Follow manufacturer’s guidelines and inspect all components. Replace any worn parts. Upgrade wires and cables to high-quality replacements. These simple tasks can extend the life expectancy of your belt conveyor and help avoid costly breakdowns. Keep a log for every belt conveyor so that you can ensure proper preventive maintenance.
Monitor your preventative maintenance efforts. It is simple. Preventive maintenances a cost-effective tool that allows employees to manage their assets and track preventative maintenance. Get more information about this cost-effective tool.
Extending Conveyor Life
These tips will allow you to extend the life expectancy of your belt conveyor while keeping it in peak condition for many years. Before you buy a new conveyor or move an old conveyor to a different section of your facility, check with the manufacturer to ensure that it is suitable for your product. Follow their maintenance and repair recommendations. This will help to keep your belt conveyor running at peak performance.