To be able to move the products or heavy equipment in a company, the conveyor system plays a vital role. However, for the conveyor system to last longer, proper care and maintenance should be done, and choosing the right conveyor type, system design and paying attention to the regular maintenance is a must. Below are the problems that are usually appear when using overhead type conveyor including I-Beam monorails, enclosed track conveyors and power and free conveyors.
- Poor Take-up Adjustment. The conveyor works when the chain-up device pulls the chains or belts as it leaves the drive unit, with this, the chain or belt experience wear and tear, and the chains tend to lengthens and the belts tend to twist. Proper adjustments such as compressing the springs will help to reduce jamming, surging and extreme wear on the track and chain.
- Lack of Lubrication. The pulling of the chain to be able to move the conveyor system has friction in it, and when the chain has no lubrication, this friction doubles, thus, it causes the conveyor system to overload. To reduce friction in the chain, lubrication must be applied.
- Any chemical that can go in the conveyor system will cause deterioration of the track and chain. So keeping the surface clean can be the best maintenance that the company can do to prolong the life of the conveyor system.
- Handling of the Product. Every product that goes in the conveyor must be checked. Small boxes, or boxes that are too heavy or too awkwardly shaped may not be conveyed as it may cause jamming or excessive wear on the system. If these products may be able to make it through the conveyor system, it might cause issues in the sortation system, failing to place the product on its assigned place.
- Drive Train. Aside from the take-up adjustments, frequently checking the drive train parts is also a must. Checking the O-rings on a Lineshaft, and motor reducers should also be inspected.
- Bad Belt Tracking or Timing. Tracking and timing if the belt is travelling on a desired speed and time is a must in the conveyor system. If the timing of moving of the belt is inaccurate, it might cause product collisions and disruption of work. Timing is also important in a conveyor to keep track of where the product is.
Conveyors play a vital role in a company to move its products effectively. Any disruption or damage in the conveyor will result time wasted and costs. To avoid any issues, proper maintenance should be done, monitoring of parts like the motors and reducers, having key parts in stock all the time, and the most important part is to train personnel properly for correct usage.
At May Conveyor, belting is what sets us apart from others as we make our dies in-house by the May Tool & Die Group. We are a custom manufacturer of conveyor belting. We have pre-configured belts of various pitch & chain configurations for OEM & replacement applications as well as custom design capabilities. We provide belts for the metal working, recycling, machining, stamping, OEM, foundry, and mining industries. These precision components meet all automotive standards and is is how we have become known as a top quality supplier. Contact us today!