WHAT IS A CONVEYOR BELT?
Belt conveyor or what is often referred to as a conveyor belt is
a system for moving products from one point to another. This type of conveyor
is a tool to control the process of distributing objects.
Conveyors in Indonesia for the distribution process often still
use a simple concept. The concept of a simple belt conveyor can push the price
of the conveyor belt itself.
Material transfer using a belt conveyor depends on the product
being moved. Belt conveyors for moving objects with light weight such as boxes
in a factory are definitely different from the type of conveyor belt used in
mining belt conveyors.
HISTORY OF CONVEYOR BELT
Belt conveyors have been in use since the 1800s. In those years
belt conveyors were often used to lift mining goods. Mine conveyor belts are
used to simplify the process of distributing mining products.
Over time, in 1905 for the first time belt conveyors were used
to carry out underground mining processes. The rise of the industrial
revolution, which is very concerned with the level of productivity in work
until the coneyor belt is finally used in creative activities.
Henry Ford, who carried out the Ford industry, used conveyor
belts in the assembly process of their cars for the first time in 1913. Until
now there have been various records such as the installation of the longest
conveyor belt in Western Sahara in 2015.
CONVEYOR BELT MAKING
Belt conveyors are made using the extrusion process. This
process allows the manufacture of conveyor belts using existing molds. This
process is used to ensure the conveyor belt has an even size even though the
thickness is different.
HOW DOES THE BELT CONVEYOR WORK?
In carrying out the distribution process with a belt conveyor,
this system consists of 2 pcs pulley drums, namely the head pulley drum
conveyor and the tail pulley drum conveyor. Pulley drum conveyors are useful
for helping the conveyor belt run, where the pulley drum will later turn around
so that the conveyor belt will also move.
The rotation of the pulley is only tested on one pulley, the
pulley that moves is called the driving pulley / head pulley drum, on the other
hand the one that does not move as the silent pulley / tail drum.
The conveyor belt will move when the driving motor located on
the driving pulley runs at the same speed and direction. A push roller conveyor
will be placed when the object being moved is very heavy or large.
When the belt conveyor has
moving distances are very long or require a long time so that
the push roller in the form of an idler heavy duty roller conveyor is also
placed as a support for the conveyor belt itself. The benefits of the roller to
support the conveyor belt are always in place and avoid so that the conveyor
belt does not loosen.
BENEFITS OF CONVEYOR BELT
Belt conveyors are used in various industries because of the
advantages offered when using a belt conveyor:
Conveyor belts can increase production productivity because
workers can focus on their work so they can save time.
Reduce the possibility of workers experiencing injuries because
they have to carry heavy objects.
Can move various shapes or weights for a low fee.
The process of cleaving iron material by pairing separate
equipment in the form of an iron separator that will attract it with a magnet.
Avoiding objects to be scattered by installing a barrier booth
on the left and right sides.
The least formation of broken objects when moving using a
conveyor belt.
Easy transfer of products from one route to another.
Maintenance activities are not very complicated because conveyor
belts have long lasting energy.
BELT CONVEYOR APPLICATION
The various advantages of using conveyor belts make various
industries interested in using conveyor belts. Belt conveyor for coal is one of
the conveyor belts for the mining industry that uses mining conveyor belts for
their manufacturing process. Some other industries that use conveyor belts:
Automotive
Agriculture
Electronic
Food
Drink
Packing
Fertilizer
Cattle meal
Development
Tobacco
Belt conveyor installation requires detailed calculations.
Aspects that affect the use of conveyor belts need to be considered. Factors
that influence in determining the installation of a conveyor belt include
loading and unloading points, product weight and size, purpose of use, and the
type of industry that will use it.
What is the Method of Maintaining the CONVEYOR BELT?
Belt conveyors have a significant role in moving objects from
one place to another. The destruction felt by the conveyor belt will limit the
process of moving objects which will cause a decrease in the productivity of a
manufacturing process.
The industry needs to make sure that their conveyor belts are
always in top condition. The excellent condition of the conveyor belt allows
the conveyor belt to work according to the proper manufacturing capacity.
Checking in an orderly manner and having an audit system,
observing the components of the conveyor belt on a regular basis. Ensure that
the conveyor belt components are always there if something goes wrong.
Distribute training to people involved in the creation process
so that they can immediately report when they see things that could stimulate
further destruction.
We can maintain the age of the conveyor belt by selecting the
type of conveyor belt that is suitable for the related work, design a photo of
the conveyor belt unit that is in accordance with the existing position and
allow it to carry out regular checks with preventive maintenance methods.
Leftover conveyor belts should not be used. Although the waste
conveyor belt will have a cheap selling price for the conveyor belt, if you
want to make sure the manufacturing process is in optimal condition, the
leftover conveyor belt should not be used.
CONVEYOR BELT COMPONENTS
Reflecting the conveyor belt, the outside of the conveyor belt
is called the cover or over layer, whereas the inside of the conveyor belt
which serves to provide the framework and strength of the conveyor belt is
called the carcass.
The carcass of the conveyor belt usually consists of polyester,
nylon and steel, on the contrary for the cover itself it is usually made of
rubber or a combination of plastic (PVC) according to the needs needed.
Each cover belt conveyor has a different character. The conveyor
belt itself has a different character based on the tensile strength (Tensile
Strength) or the resistance energy before the conveyor belt breaks (Elongation
at Break).
Inside the conveyor belt there is a fabric belt. Fabric belts on
conveyor belts are often referred to as ply which are made from textile fibers.
Fabric belt/ ply is part of the carcass of a conveyor belt.
The thickness of the ply arrangement on the conveyor belt will
continue to be so strong that the strength of the conveyor belt will continue
to be strong. But we need to remember that the ply belt conveyor will affect
the selling price of the conveyor belt per m2.
CONVEYOR BELT SYSTEM PARTS
Belt conveyor when assembled for the manufacturing process has 6
main parts, namely:
1. BELT CONVEYOR
Belt conveyor is the main component of conveyor belt parts. Belt
conveyor is the part in charge of moving objects from one place to another.
2. PULLEY DRUM CONVEYOR
The pulley drum will support the conveyor belt to support the
conveyor belt so that the conveyor belt has shape and so that its density is
maintained. It's just that we must confirm that the pulley drum conveyor
installed on our belt conveyor unit is in good condition.
3. DRIVE UNIT/ MOTOR DYNAMO CONVEYOR
The drive unit is located on the pulley. The drive unit will
move the conveyor belt because the drive unit will make the pulley turn
according to the specified direction. The conveyor belt will then move because
of the frictional force between the conveyor belt and the pulley.
4. IDLER HEAVY DUTY ROLLER CONVEYOR
The support will support the belt conveyor parts of the belt
conveyor system. Belt conveyor supports are usually made of heavy duty roller
conveyor pipes.
5. SUPPORT BELT CONVEYOR
Support belt conveyor will help the belt conveyor in carrying
out its duties in moving material from one place to another.
6. TRANSFER SYSTEM
The transfer system is the place specified as the input position
(loading point)
as well as the output (unloading point) of something created.
The input given to the belt conveyor will then be carried by the belt conveyor
to a predetermined output position.
7. TAKE-UP UNITS
The installation of the take-up unit is needed so that the conveyor
belt is not easily loosened so that it can continue to be tense. The take-up
unit will compensate for the stretch felt by the conveyor belt when it is
operating.
8. SKIRTBOARDS
Skirtboards are installed to hold the material so that it is
always located on the conveyor belt and to prevent the material contained in
the conveyor belt from spilling from the conveyor belt
9. BELT SCRAPER
Material that is still attached to the conveyor belt after the
unloading process is tried will be cleaned with a belt scraper so that the
conveyor belt is kept clean.
2 Types of CONVEYOR BELT CONNECTION
Belt conveyor splicing is a method used to connect one end of a
conveyor belt to the other end. The conveyor belts are connected so that the
conveyor belts can become one unit. There are 2 procedures for connecting a
conveyor belt, namely:
1. COLD SPLICING
The conveyor belt is connected without using a heater, but the
conveyor belt is only connected using glue.
2. HOT SPLICING
The conveyor belt is connected using heating equipment (heater),
but the conveyor belt connection with the hot connection procedure also uses
glue.
7 Types of BELT CONVEYOR
The conveyor belt used in the manufacturing process varies
depending on the needs to be filled. Each type of conveyor belt available has
different specifications. The following are the types of conveyor belts in
general:
1. ROLLER BELT CONVEYOR
The conveyor belt surface of the roller belt conveyor consists
of rollers which are specified according to the requirements at hand. The
specifications of the selected roller for the roller belt conveyor include the
weight of the product being moved or the speed at which the product is moved.
Moving distances that continue to be long will require more rollers to
function.
2. FLAT BELT CONVEYOR
Flat belt conveyor is a conveyor belt that is usually used. This
type of conveyor belt has a flat surface.
3. MODULAR BELT CONVEYOR
Modular belt conveyors are usually made of hard plastic, unlike
the usual conveyor belts made of rubber. This type of conveyor belt has
partitions for the process of dividing between products.
4. PATTERNED BELT CONVEYOR
The surface of a cleated belt conveyor differs from that of a
conventional belt conveyor which is flat without lumps. This type of conveyor
belt has prominent surfaces in their conveyor belt design. One type of
petterned belt conveyor is a sergeant belt conveyor.
5. CURVED BELT CONVEYOR
The support for curved belt conveyors is not as straight as
usual. Curved belt conveyors use curved supports for the process of moving
their products.
6. INCLINE/ DECLINE BELT CONVEYOR
The transfer of objects from the top position to the bottom
position usually uses an incline/decline type conveyor belt. This type of
conveyor belt is used to avoid the product being carried from falling when it
is moved.
7. SANITARY BELT CONVEYOR
Belt
conveyors for food usually use a conveyor belt type sanitary belt conveyor,
namely a PVC belt conveyor. This PVC belt conveyor is used for industries that
prioritize cleanliness so that the area can always be sterile.