Understanding and Preventing Entrapment Damage in Conveyor Belts
Not all damage suffered by conveyor belts is immediately apparent upon inspection. Entrapment damage as a prominent example, is often misinterpreted as slow abrasion caused by the protective skirting, especially with steel skirtboards.
Initially perceived as excessive skirting pressure, the damage is typically caused by small amounts of material trapped beneath the skirt. Such material can find its way under the skirt due to various factors, such as the belt dipping below guard level or incorrect placement of the skirtboard directly in the material path within a chute. Typically, this damage manifests as heavily worn lines along the belt edges near the skirting area.
Once trapped, these materials gradually wear down the belt as they are pushed against the guard, resulting in the observed worn lines and scalloping on the skirt itself. Moreover, the material being pressed between the belt and the guard can lead to material loss from the conveyor.
To prevent entrapment damage, besides ensuring correct skirt installation, reinforcing the belt with bar supports to prevent sagging is crucial.