Extend your conveyor belts’ lifespan to cut costs
The importance of budget control is self-evident for all types of businesses, and it is also the major reason that conveyor belt lines have been widely introduced to various industries. And Bsbeltfactory can help your intention of cutting costs go further if you learn to extend the conveyor belt’s lifespan with our suggestions.
At the very beginning, you must be glad to know it isn’t a hard task and that the proper operation of the conveyor belt line is half the battle. Moreover, follow our tips listed in the later part, there is no way you will fail to make it.
Tips you should know
1. Find the optimal feeding direction and speed.
In order to reduce the impact and wear of the material on the belt, the feeding direction should follow the running direction of the belt, and the drop of the material falling onto the belt should be minimized.
2. Avoid overload transportation
You need to calculate the weight of goods transported on the belts carefully so as not to exceed the load capacity of your belts. Because the overload will cause the belt frequently bears excessive tension which has no initial signs of bad effects but will result in the belt breaking much earlier than its designed lifespan.
3. Avoid the crimp and raised belt
The lifespan of the conveyor belt has also been affected by the transition length and transition method at the head, tail, and intermediate transfer of the belt conveyor. So try not to appear crimped, raised in the middle, etc.;
4. Take proper protection of the belt
Some proper protection and adjustment should be given to your conveyor belt according to the changes in seasons. For example, sun protection covering the rubber conveyor belt during the summer season can largely extend its service life.
Repair the damage on time
No matter how carefully you use the belt lines, damages may happen after a period of operation. For example, It may be scratched by some sharp objects accidentally absorbed in the transportation process. But damage happening doesn’t mean that a conveyor belt is scrapped. As the belt may show damage in different ways, tiny or huge. If the minor problems can be repaired to recover the function in time, it will last longer. You can also put off the time to replace a conveyor belt, after all, buying another conveyor belt also takes time and money.
So, what method can be used to remedy the damage to the PVC conveyor belt? As a leading conveyor belt manufacturer, we have sorted out some practical methods for your reference.
Quick repair to surface damage of PVC conveyor belts
If you have a close look at the PVC conveyor belt, you will notice that its working surface is covered with a layer of glue, which is the protective layer of the core material of the conveyor belt. Once there is damage happened on the working surface, you can follow our 4-step method to get it repaired easily and quickly.
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- Step 1 Cutting the damaged section
According to the shapes of the damaged covering surface, it can be repaired in a circular or rhombus shape. Drawing an outline that is at least 15~20mm enlarged around the damaged section, and the covering surface within the cut line will be cut at an angle of 45°, and then peeled off. You must be careful so as not to damage the underlying cloth layer.
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- Step 2 Preparing a repair strip
Prepare a piece of repair strip(If you don’t know what it refers to, you can find a detailed explanation in the next part of this blog.) the size is consistent with the cutting surface, and the thickness with the original covering of the belt. If the repair strip does not have enough thickness, it can be laminated in multiple layers. And the surrounding area of the strip also needs to be at an angle of 45° to make a match with the cutting surface of the belts. One more thing you need to know is that the vulcanized strip is used for cold bonding, and the unvulcanized strip is used for hot bonding.
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- Step 3 Cleaning the sections to be spliced together
Brush and clean the repaired part and the patch, remove the debris, apply glue on the repaired part and the patch at least twice, and make sure they dry fully.
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- Step 4 Make a good match
Fit the repair patch and fully roll it firmly, and use a knife to gently cut the excess edge around it to make it smooth.
Extra details that you may want to know
With the 4 steps above, you already could have the conveyor belt repaired and prolong its service life. But more things you need to know to get the repair job done easily and successfully are as follows:
- Water seepage in the adhesive layer, humidity in the environment, and residual solvents from cleaning will affect the effect of the repair, so make sure it is dry.
- After the repair is completed, the repair glue still needs a certain period for the curing reaction. When the repaired belt has been put into use again, its working time and operating load need to be considered according to the force of the repaired part and the repair situation. It can gradually reach full-load operating strength. But it should be prevented the impact of heavy objects and keep the glue surface dry.
- Use the repair strip. The repair strip is a relatively good conveyor belt repair material, which can stick to the belt firmly, has high tensile strength, and makes quick and easy reparation of conveyor belt lines a reality. It is suitable for the repair of long-distance scratches, edge wear, and partial layer damage of conveyor belts as well as the sealing of cold seamless lap joints of belts, etc.
Belts repair strip Being consistent with conveyor belts, the repair strip also has various options for specifications. You can select based on the size of the conveyor belt and the shape of the damaged area. To repair a strong belt that is pierced in the middle, and has defects, a wider strip of 150-400 mm is recommended. For an ordinary conveyor belt with scratches and no punctures, you can choose a narrow one of 100-150mm.
Conclusion
If you find it hard to match a repair strip or feel difficult to tell whether it is worth taking the time and effort to get the damage repaired. You can contact us to get more specific advice on your particular problems. Bsbeltfactory is your reliable expert to solve all problems concerning the conveyor belt and its applications. We have worked hard in this industry for 17 years, obtaining dozens of technical patents, and serving thousands of clients throughout the globe.
