How to fix conveyor belt sag problem
Despite belt conveyors provide a reliable and efficient bulk handling solution, they can experience occasional problems if improperly designed. One of the most common risks is belt sag due to the weight pressure of the heavy and large loads transported. The deflection of the belt under the stress of load causes the spillage of materials, an increased energy consumption and the premature wear and failure of the system. Below are the most proper solutions by Rulmeca for the realization of belt conveyors able to prevent and fix sagging problem and production line upsets.
How to prevent conveyor belt sag
Maintaining an adequate belt tension is critical to prevent belt sag along the entire length of the conveyor. At the same time, it’s worth recalling that over-tensioning entails some drawbacks, such as increased drive power consumption and additional stress on the belt and other components. Thus, the most recommended solution to prevent an excessive deflection of the belt is correctly supporting it from underneath. The belt line must be stabilized, providing a strong and rigid support in the loading zones so that it can remain consistent and flat. The amount of support needed is determined by the specific features of the conveyor and application, including loading zones, size and weight of material load, level of impact forces, and angle and speed of transportation. Belt conveyor idlers exactly fulfill this function: they consist of one or more rollers supported or suspended by appropriate frames and transoms that support the belt and, of course, the conveyed material avoiding failure and spillage.
Rulmeca belt conveyor idlers
As Rulmeca addresses multiple industries dealing with bulk handling, different types and configurations of belt conveyor idlers are designed to prevent conveyor belt sag during the transportation of the most varied materials. Standard upper carrying sets with the function to support the loaded sections are available in flat of troughed arrangements. Indeed, Rulmeca designs support brackets for light upper set flat roller, plain or with impact rings, and transoms for light, medium and heavy upper sets with two or three rollers, plain or with impact rings. Besides weight, also lump size material entails the risk of belt sag. Rulmeca cantilevered sets are designed for the use on light or medium load capacity belt conveyors with small lump size material, while garland suspended sets are most suitable for the conveying of large lump size material. Finally, Rulmeca designs special pipe conveyors brackets which are able to convey materials closed up into a pipe shape which avoids material spillage. Their additional advantage is the possibility of setting up curved and inclined transportation as well.
