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Conveyor Belt Maintenance

Conveyor belts are a major part of heavy industry these days, and a faulty belt, or weary machinery, can cost a company thousands of dollars in lost production if even one conveyor belt breaks down. Servicing and maintaining conveyor belts properly can prevent break down, and ensure every day is a working day.

  1. Shut down inspection

    • Inspect the conveyor belt when it is shut down and empty to check for any damage to the belt of the conveyor. When the conveyor belt is shut off, the safety lock should be engaged to ensure that it does not turn on during inspection. If there are any damaged parts of the conveyor belt, they should be fixed immediately using patches. If the conveyor belt is used outdoors, the belt should be cleaned at this time, and covered with a new layer of rubber. While the conveyor belt is shut off, have a look around the rest of the machine to make sure the belt is not loose in any one area.

    Running the Belt

    • After you have done the initial check with the conveyor belt shut off, turn on the conveyor belt and let it run without any materials on it. Walk the length of the conveyor belt to make sure there are not any snags or problems with the conveyor running on the track. A belt will run a bit differently when it is empty than when it is loaded, so once the belt is checked while empty, put on a load and check for tracking problems. If there are any areas that hang or snag, catalogue them for service.

    Fixing issues

    • Once the conveyor belt is checked, you must fix the catalogued issues. If there are any areas where the belt is snagging, it may be that the wheels underneath that section of the belt are not properly lubricated. Lubricate the wheel until it runs at the same speed as others. If you noticed any areas of the belt that were particularly dirty, shut off the belt and clean them. Debris clogging in a conveyor belt can not only damage the equipment, but also injure those working around it. Cleaning can be done using a water spray down, and scrapers to remove excess dirt can be attached to the conveyor belt heads to assist in cleanup.

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