8 tips for better conveyor belt tracking
Are you having trouble tracking your conveyor belt? One might often think it is the belt itself that is causing the problem, but this usually isn’t true. In this blog we will discuss possible issues you might encounter, as well as some helpful tips on how you can better track your conveyor belt.
Causes for conveyor belt tracking problems
There may be several reasons a conveyor belt is experiencing tracking problems: a misaligned conveyor or belt, an incorrect sliding bed, improper assembly of belt pulleys and rolls, wrong tension, an incorrect profile, poor protection against contamination or a wrong belt type.
How to improve your conveyor belt tracking?
There are some basic factors that ensure a conveyor belt’s continuous efficiency:
1. Choose the correct conveyor belt for operation
The conveyor belt you choose must be made of a material that is suitable for the product being conveyed. The belt must be able to withstand a certain weight, tension, detergents, cleaning techniques, and ambient temperatures. The wrong type of conveyor belt will not only cause tracking problems, but can also lead to conveyor wear, and incorrect product handling.
2. Align the conveyor belt correctly
A conveyor should be accurately aligned to ensure optimal performance. By inspecting the assembly of the conveyor, the calibration of the belt pulleys, rolls, spindles, belt frame and sliding bed, one can ensure that the belt runs as smoothly as possible.
3. Assemble belt pulleys and rolls straight
Belt pulleys, wheels, and rolls must be assembled at a right-angle to the belt running axis. Without parallel assembly, it will not be long before the belt will start running off in one direction by pulling more to one side than the other. Sometimes readjustment is necessary.
4. Tension the belt correctly
It is important that fabric conveyor belts have the right tension. If the tension is too low, the tracking will be affected. The risk of products slipping is increased if the traction is reduced. The modular belt can start sagging and hitting parts beneath it, which will negatively affect the service life of the belt. If the tension is too high, bearings might break, spindles bend, and the belt go “off track.” There is also a risk that the modular belt will unmesh and tear.
5. Adjust your conveyor belt without products on the belt
Since a load will have an impact on tension, the conveyor belt should be adjusted without products on the belt. Tense and adjust the empty belt using the recommendations your belt supplier has provided you. Then add products to the belt and make final adjustments as necessary.
6. Make sure the profile is doing its job
Products conveyed on the belt should be centered as much as possible. Sometimes a profile is necessary to help track the belt. A worn profile must either be repaired or replaced with the belt and the cause of the broken profile should be identified.
7. Make sure there is protection against contamination
All parts that come into contact with the conveyor belt should be cleaned regularly, and be protected against contamination. Contamination may result in breakage or changes in the texture which can thereby affect the belt tracking.
8. Make sure your conveyor tracks correctly with the help of Habasit’s “control guides”
To avoid problems with your conveyor we recommend you perform regular inspections. Routine checks will ensure fewer breakdowns, longer service life of the belt, increased reliability, and improved production security.
With the help of Habasit’s Installation and Maintenance Guide (6040) and Installation Guide HabasitLINK (6001) you can find out what you should look for and how to correct possible problems. You can also contact your local Habasit representative.
Contact us for support
Do you need help with installation or maintenance? At Habasit we have our own service technicians who will come and help you whenever necessary. We are experts at technical service and have a customer support division that is happy to answer all your questions about conveyor and power transmission belts. Do not hesitate to contact us!
