How to adjust belt conveyor tracking
Belt conveyor misalignment is a common concern in bulk material handling due to typical difficult working conditions. This problem is responsible for the premature wear and failure of the belt conveyor, as well as for the spillage of the transported materials. Therefore, controlling and fixing it is important to preserve high levels of productivity and safe operations. That’s why industries dealing with bulk material handling need to know how to adjust belt conveyor tracking so it maintains its desired path.
Main causes of belt conveyor misalignment
Belt conveyor misalignment can be caused by multiple factors, starting from a damaged conveyor structure or ill-fitting components, in particular the incorrect installation and alignment of structure frames, pulleys and rollers. However, even when these requirements are perfectly fulfilled, the problem may remain due to other circumstances proper to bulk handling applications. First, the transportation of heavy loads at high speeds, especially when materials are not loading center of the belt, can compromise the belt’s ability to run correctly. Moreover, open air bulk handling operations expose belt conveyors to critical environmental conditions, like wind or storms, which can make the belt drift laterally. Once identified the possible causes of your belt conveyor misalignment, Rulmeca suggests you how to adjust belt conveyor tracking through its specifically designed products.
How to adjust belt conveyor tracking
Due to the importance of avoiding belt conveyor misalignment, Rulmeca integrates its production with specific components having this function. Belt conveyor idlers consist of one or more rollers which are supported or suspended by appropriate frames and transoms. All different available configurations aim at supporting the belt and the conveyed materials along the loaded and return side of the conveyor preventing it from failing. Among them, Rulmeca self-centralizing transoms are the most suitable solution to adjust belt conveyor tracking: the rollers supported by the frame rotate automatically whenever the belt drift laterally and self-corrects to maintain it constantly in central position following the correct path. As previously mentioned, the integration of such troughing sets on a belt conveyor helps increasing productivity and ensures safer operations for personnel.
