Efficient Plant Jan./Feb. 2023 - 18

feature | conveyor technology
Steering
roll
Parallel
stay
Guide
roll
The pivoting ribbed-roller design grabs the belt and uses the opposing force to shift it back into alignment. Courtesy Martin Engineering
and dust from escaping from the sides of
the chute.
RETHINKING BELT CLEANING
Faster belt speeds can also cause higher
operating temperatures and increased
degradation of belt cleaner blades. Larger
volumes of cargo approaching at a high
velocity hit primary cleaners with greater
force, causing some designs to wear
quickly and leading to more carryback and
increased spillage and dust.
A solution is heavy-duty engineered
polyurethane blades made to order and
cut onsite to ensure the freshest and
longest-lasting product. Using a twist,
spring, or pneumatic tensioner, the primary
cleaners are forgiving to the belt and splice
but are still highly eff ective for dislodging
carryback.
For the heaviest applications, one primary
cleaner design features a matrix of tungsten-carbide
scrapers installed diagonally
to form a 3D curve around the head pulley.
18 | EFFICIENTPLANTMAG.COM
Field service has determined that it typically
increases service life by a factor of fi ve,
compared with urethane primary cleaners,
without needing re-tensioning.
POWER GENERATION
Systems designed to operate at high speeds
over considerable distances are generally
powered only at vital locations, such as the
head pulley, disregarding adequate power
for autonomous " smart systems, " sensors,
lights, accessories, or other devices along
the length of the conveyor. Using auxiliary
power can be complicated and costly,
requiring transformers, conduits, junction
boxes, and oversized cables to accommodate
the inevitable voltage drop over long runs.
By attaching a patented mini-generator to
idlers and using the kinetic energy created
by the moving belt, the accessibility obstacles
encountered when powering ancillary
systems can be overcome. Designed to
be self-contained power stations that are
retrofi tted onto existing idler support structures,
these generators can be employed on
virtually any steel roller.
Automation is the way of the future. Conveyor
monitoring, tied to safety and predictive
maintenance, will become increasingly
reliable and widespread, allowing conveyors
to autonomously operate and predict maintenance
needs. Ultimately, moving large
quantities of bulk materials inexpensively
and safely will result in the development of
many new and higher-capacity semi-automated
bulk transfer sites. EP
R. Todd Swinderman, P.E. is CEO Emeritus
at Martin Engineering, Neponset, IL
(martin-eng.com). He served the company
as Vice President and General Manager,
President, CEO, and Chief Technology Offi cer
before retiring to establish his own engineering
fi rm. For more information on conveyor
safety, download Foundations for Conveyor
Safety by Swinderman, Marti, and Marshall,
at martin-eng.com/content/product/690/
safety-book.
JAN/FEB 2023
Belt
direction
Belt
direction

http://www.martin-eng.com http://www.martin-eng.com/content/product/690/safety-book http://www.EFFICIENTPLANTMAG.COM

Efficient Plant Jan./Feb. 2023

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