Conveyor Belt Repair: Gears, Belts, and Sheaves

Conveyor belts - along with the gears, belts, and sheaves that comprise them - are designed for a simple purpose. They transfer motion using multiple gears or pulleys that, when combined with the right belt system, can become a viable advantage for everything from vehicle transmissions to industrial equipment and everything in between.

We also understand how crucial this equipment is for your business, which is why we offer a wide range of conveyor belt repair and related services for you to choose from depending on your needs.

Common Conveyor Belt Problems

By far, one of the most common conveyor belt problems you are likely to experience has to do with what is called conveyor belt mistracking. The tracking process itself is essential to make sure that the belt is always properly lined onto the conveyor path. If it isn't, mistracking occurs - which is when the belt has slipped to one side or the other. In this situation, the entire system will be out of alignment - just in a way that prevents you from getting crucial work done but in a way that also likely causes unnecessary wear and tear on the equipment as well.

Another common conveyor belt problem is similar in nature - belt slipping. Keep in mind that conveyor belts must be perfectly balanced in order to operate. They depend on tension while functioning and if there is too much or too little, but the belt can begin to slip. You may not have noticed that anything has even happened at first, but it will soon cause its fair share of problems before you know it.

Seized rollers are also a common conveyor belt problem experienced by many businesses. When conveyor belt rollers seize up, this unexpected friction usually causes sharp edges. This can eventually damage not just the conveyor belt, but the entire system as well.

Blockage is a particularly tricky issue for conveyor belts. Keep in mind that the entire goal of a conveyor belt is to easily transfer items from "Point A" to "Point B." If they get blocked, they literally cannot do that and the entire system experiences disruption.

Finally, material carryback and spillage are also situations that you will want to be mindful of. Material carryback is when an item on the conveyor belt gets caught, usually on the belt itself. You'll find this a lot when working with items like clays or minerals that can leave a residue.

Material spillage is when materials accidentally slide off of the belt. This is the most common when materials move to the point of the belt where they are being transferred to another part of the system, or at load points.

Why Maintenance is Key

Proactive conveyor belt maintenance is critical because it keeps your system working as it should. Not only does it eliminate frustrating and potentially costly periods of unexpected downtime, but it also goes a long way towards reducing premature wear and tear on your equipment. Any piece of equipment that isn't functioning properly has the potential to break down well before you would reasonably expect it to. This increases both maintenance and operational costs, with the latter having a particularly big impact on your ability to remain productive.

That in turn allows you to keep those conveyor belts working for years and to achieve the highest possible return on investment, which in and of itself is the most important benefit of all.

Gears, Belts, and Sheaves

Any conveyor belt system consists of three main components: the gears, the belts, and the sheaves.

A sheave is a component with a groove that is intended to perfectly fit the belt itself. Typically, a sheave will take the form of either a wheel-like object or a pulley.

The belt is obviously exactly that - a belt that actually transports material from one end of the system to the other. Gears are what make the sheaves work, creating the forward momentum necessary for the belt to work.

IPG Can Provide You With Custom Parts

At IPG, not only can we offer you reliable, effective conveyor belt repair services - we also regularly work with clients to develop custom parts for unique applications.

Custom gear engineering in particular is important because it helps to meet your exact requirements. You're no longer spending a significant amount of time hunting around for a part that may or may not work. You know, beyond the shadow of a doubt - all so that you can continue to innovate without any artificial restrictions.

Custom parts also mean that you'll be working with legitimate experts in the field. After taking the time to learn as much about your requirements as possible, they can help you select the perfect material, style, pitch, width, pressure angle and more. Even if you're already fairly confident that you know exactly how you want your parts made, they can still help avoid issues or increase efficiency in the process in a way that you just won't be able to accomplish using stock parts alone.

If you'd like to find out more information about conveyor belt repair, or if you'd just like to speak to a custom gear manufacturer to get your next big project started properly, please don't delay - contact the team at Illinois Pulley and Gear today.