How Do You Keep a Conveyor Belt from Slipping?

Slippage on a conveyor belt may seem minor, but it can become a major issue. If conveyor components in Lubbock, TX fail to keep the belt working properly, you may experience damage to the motors, spills, belt failure and even employee injury. To prevent these disasters and keep your conveyor belt parts working smoothly, use the following tips.

Choose the right belt

In some cases, the slippage is not due to poor or broken conveyor components in Lubbock, TX. A conveyor belt will slip if you are using the wrong belt for the job. It may be too heavy for the motors or not strong enough for the materials it is carrying. Another common scenario is a belt that is too slippery for the materials placed on it. In any of these situations, a different pulley type should be chosen to achieve smooth operation of the belt.

Give it extra “grip”

Install lagging to give your pulley additional grip. This is extra material that you add to the pulley's surface. Consult with the belt's manufacturer recommendations or a belt specialist to determine how much lagging to add.

Don't tense up

Adding tension to a belt may seem like an obvious solution to reduce slippage, but all too often belts are overly tightened. Too much tension will overstretch the belt and place strain on the motor, wearing out your conveyor belt parts in Lubbock, TX. If you think you need to adjust the tension of the belt, do so in small increments and give the belt a few turns to adjust to the new settings before carefully making further changes.

Replace pulleys

If your belt is slipping, you may have the wrong pulley paired with it. Since smaller pulleys are less expensive, a smaller pulley may have been installed for economy, but it is not large enough for the job. Another common scenario is a worn pulley. Examine your current pulleys to determine if you need a different size or if it's simply time for a new pulley.

Consider a snub

A snub pulley supports an empty conveyor belt in its return. This improves traction of the drive pulley. Installed properly, it increases the arc of contact so there is better friction between the pulley and the belt, which results in less slippage.

Maintain the system

As with any other moving parts or mechanical systems, conveyor components in Lubbock, TX require ongoing maintenance for continued operation. It's essential to clean conveyor belts often and watch for signs of wear and tear, then make any necessary repairs right away.

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