Conveyor transfer points require some care to maintain.
Some of the most common ongoing transfer point maintenance tasks are primary and secondary cleaner blade replacement, cleaner performance monitoring and tensioner adjustments, spillage cleanup, and transfer chute maintenance and clog mitigation.
Many of today’s urethane blade designs are highly effective when it comes to removing adhered material from a belt and controlling carryback. Cleaning is essential, because cargo pressure and material moisture content on the carrying side can cause material to cling to a belt after discharge. As a result, spillage drops off during the return run, releasing dust and fines over the entire length of a system.
Frequently maintaining a basic belt cleaner to make sure it is adequately tensioned and cleaning properly is costlier in labor over the long run than installing quality belt cleaning equipment upfront. This is known as return on performance, which differs from return on investment in that it calculates the savings in labor for maintenance and equipment life over the long term – instead of merely the period in which the initial capital investment is recovered regardless of increased costs and replacements afterward.
Shoveling spillage is something that can be done on an ongoing basis, but for remote transfer points where fugitive material builds up over time, the job requires transporting personnel and equipment. Allowing volumes of spillage to build up may lead to permit violations for airborne emissions and wastewater runoff, so sealing a transfer point to mitigate spillage ultimately saves in both labor and possible fines.
Transfer chutes can experience buildup due to material properties, lump/particle size, temperature, moisture content, abrasiveness and corrosiveness. When clogs happen, production stops and backflow fouls components in the discharge zone and spills over the edges of the system. Due to the distance and equipment needed on extended conveyor lengths, the unscheduled downtime and associated costs can be excessive.
Equipment reliability
Quality and durability are key elements for a sustainable remote transfer point.
Equipment geared toward mitigating common transfer chute issues can include service-friendly primary and secondary cleaners, autonomous tensioners, belt alignment devices, self-adjusting skirting and vibration.
Service-friendly primary and secondary cleaners are track-mounted components that pull away from the stringer for safe service outside of the system. After performing the proper lockout/tagout/block-out/test-out procedures, a single worker has easy access to safely service the blades using basic tools.
John Barickman is senior product development engineer at Martin Engineering.