The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Corrugated Conveyor Belt

Because choosing the right conveyor belt for your conveyor system will lead to effective production, a longer operational lifetime and component compatibility.

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Here are a number of tips to identify if your conveyor belt is being subjected to additional wear and tear or abrasion:

• Check that your operating tension (PIW) is at the correct level and that it meets the load capacity. If unsure, seek outside assistance.

• If your power load has increased lately, check to see if your conveyor belt idlers are catching or succumbing to wear and tear.

• If the product load has increased, it is likely that the impact rating has also increased and the surface of the conveyor may need upgrading to protect the belt.

• If the product weight has increased, check to see if its troughing abilty is still appropriate or whether it is catching on the pulleys, idlers, impact beds and frames.

• Check to see that you have installed the appropriate conveyor width to match your pulleys, drums and loading zones. If not, replace the items, as this is more cost effective than replacing the entire conveyor belt.

• Check to see how far the actual conveyor has to travel. If this has been changed, then the belt may need adjusting by lengthening or shortening, adjusting the tension and/or adjustment of the conveyor to adapt to the product weight.

• Check your cover of your conveyor belt to see if it is still able to manage the present load or load fall – if it is showing signs of wear, then the cover may need reviewing.

If you’re struggling to understand which of these issues needs resolving then you may need an audit to identify where your system has weaknesses. This will help to avoid higher costs incurred in the future.

#7. Conveyor Belt Covers

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing your conveyor cover, you should also ensure that you have a thorough technical understanding of what your cover is subjected to, which will assist with the selection process and reduce the wear and tear to the cover and increase its longevity.

The main considerations are as follows:

• the type of material being transported
• the load factor and drop to belt ratio
• the quality of the cover
• the ‘fit for purpose’ factor
• the appropriate elastomers
• the overall thickness

Selecting the appropriate cover is not a one size fits all process, it depends on what is being conveyed. The material may be sharp and abrasive with large deep penetration points, corrosive and need to protect the cover from wear.

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The weight and how far the material or rock will drop to meet the belt will also need to be considered. The greater the weight and the longer the drop, the higher the potential for the belt to fatigue and not resume its original shape. This can also increase the propensity for tears and large areas of abrasion.

Dependent on your system, most of the wear occurs on the top surface of your conveyor belt and a smaller amount on the bottom cover. The quality of the belt cover is a very important factor in ensuring that the top surface remains in good working order for the long-term sustainability of your conveyor belt. The better quality of your belt cover means it lasts longer.

If the cover is fit for purpose, it will not be subjected to as much wear and tear and will have a greater life expectancy. The strength and construction of the cover is determined by the elastomers, which are capable of withstanding most unfavourable material composition being conveyed. For instance, there is a particular composition of elastomers designed to withstand tree sap from damaging the belt cover.

There is another important ratio, 3 to 1 which should be used when determining the thickness of the top and bottom covers. An accurate summation of cover thickness can be determined by using the belt frequency factor. The more often you use it, the shorter the life of the belt.

If your material is overly abrasive, the conveyor should be made shorter with a sustainably thicker belt. That being said, the cover’s resistance to abrasion is more important than the thickness when it comes to durability. ASC partners with manufacturers who believe in overall belt durability over belt thickness, as this can add additional weight to the system and increase overall power consumption.

At All State Conveyors, we have extensive knowledge and understanding of the conveyor belt industry. We provide custom made, heavy duty, fit-for-purpose and standard belts with numerous covers.

Dimensions

Luckily, the most important information in selecting the proper conveyor belt is also the easiest to put together- dimensions. Recording accurate dimensions for your belt is imperative to belt selection. Don't forget to take into consideration dimensions on any fabrications such as cleats, v-guides, hole punching, special covers, etc.  

Gathering dimensions will allow your belting representative to potentially rule out certain belt constructions that may not track properly due to their width-to-length ratio. 

Conveyor Information

Gather as much physical information as possible about the conveyor. This will allow your belting representative to know exactly what they are working with. 

Here are a few questions to consider when gathering your information: 

• What are the pulley diameters?  
• Is it a flat, incline, decline, or gooseneck design?  
• Is there a back-bend on the pulleys?  
• Are your pulleys lagged?
• Is it a slider or roller bed?
• How fast is the belt traveling?

About the Product and Application

The product and the application are critical pieces to understanding what is the best top cover for your belt. Make sure to consider the following when thinking about the conveyor use: 

• Do you need specific food safety requirements?  
• Is your product sticky, oily, powdery, or wet?
• Are you experiencing belt wear due to abrasion or cutting?  
• Are you looking for a belt that will not mark your product?

Environment

The last piece to consider when selecting the proper conveyor belt for your conveyor is the environment where your conveyor is placed. Temperature, dust, and contaminants can effect how long a belt will last. These are just a few environmental factors to consider when discussing the selection of your conveyor belt. 

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• What are the temperature extremes near this conveyor?
• Is there dust, oil, or contamination present?
• Are there safety concerns?