Three steps to selecting a belt-cleaning
system for your belt conveyor
When your belt conveyor’s operation is less than efficient,
it can place a stranglehold on productivity
and profits. One way to keep your conveyor operating
efficiently is to install a belt-cleaning system. A
properly selected belt-cleaning system can reduce
material buildup and spillage that can damage the
conveyor belt and other components and pose
health risks to operators who have to clean it up.
After discussing some belt conveyor and belt-cleaning
system basics, this article details three steps to
help you select a belt-cleaning system for your belt
conveyor.
A typical belt conveyor, as shown in Figure 1, contsists of a spliced smooth belt, made of rubber or other material, that runs on a head pulley, idlers, and a tail pulley. In operation, material drops onto the conveyor belt at the tail end. As the head pulley rotates, the belt is pulled forward and across the idlers, moving the material toward the head pulley at the conveyor’s other end. The material discharges from the belt as it passes around the head pulley. The belt can be slightly troughed or have sidewalls to contain the material. Depending on its design and components, the belt conveyor can move virtually any material, from dry powders and large rocks to sludges and slurries, at a range of conveying rates.