Understanding and Addressing Conveyor Belt Damage from Mistracking
Many flaws in a conveyor system tend to gouge or tear the belt, but even minor issues like fraying can cause significant long-term damage. Belt-edge damage often results from belt mistracking at various points along the conveyor's path, where constant friction slowly wears down the belt. This type of damage usually doesn't occur suddenly and may not immediately show visible signs.
Left unaddressed, belt mistracking can reduce the belt's size enough to impair its ability to handle its rated load, aside from compromising its integrity. Such issues can arise from problems within the conveyor itself, such as misaligned idlers or the buildup of abrasive materials along the idlers' sides.
To rectify mistracking, various solutions can be employed depending on the specific cause. Methods like laser surveying can realign idlers, or businesses might choose to install self-aligning idlers. However, the first step in resolving misalignment issues is conducting a thorough evaluation of the conveyor system to identify and address the root cause before implementing corrective actions.