A conveyor belt is one of the essential parts of the conveyor system that helps to grow the industrial sector. It is mainly used for transportation, handling material in warehouses, distribution, and many other places like airports. This efficient device has made it easy to convey different types of materials, including food, agricultural, paper, and even your suitcase at the airport! However, the conveyor system will not perform well or will deteriorate quickly if you choose the wrong belt type.
So, for the smooth running of your system, you are required to select an appropriate conveyor belt. But with so many options, how will you choose the right belt for your system? Here are some of the essential steps that will help you to make this decision.
Material or product being conveyed
Figuring out the type of material or product being conveyed on the belt is essential in selecting the best belting option for a specific application. Apart from this, the other relevant details include other factors such as weight and size of the material or product being conveyed, is the environment wet or dry? Are there any abrasive materials? Or is the product and environment temperature wet or dry?
A flat belt might be ideal for many applications, including simple conveyance of packaged materials and heavy or oversized objects that might need a stronger option, like modular plastic belting.
Conveyor Function and Application
A conveyor only used for getting the products from one point to another has different belting requirements compared to the one used for positioning, indexing, accumulation, or any other application. Apart from this, the incline or decline level also helps to shortlist the best belting option.
Listing the products that must be conveyed on the conveyor belt is essential in choosing the best belting option for your application. Weight, type, and size are some of the crucial details of the products being conveyed.
Weight: The product weight is one of the essential considerations when choosing an appropriate belt, as heavy materials may wrap or bend the belt. For the smooth running of your system, it is better to find the weight of your product.
Type: The next consideration is the type of conveyor belt. It must be according to the products that need to get transported.
Size: It is another essential consideration when purchasing a belt. Your product must fit comfortably on the belt surface. If not, it might get entangled in your conveying machine or cause some damage to the production process.
Environmental Conditions
You must consider environmental conditions before purchasing a belt. It is necessary to understand the type of environment where you will place your conveyor. Some belts made with particular materials might not handle extreme cold or hot temperatures or a wet environment. For example, food manufacturers perform regular cleaning after production, so you must ensure you choose a belt which can handle the cleaning products & regular water exposure.
Incline or Decline & Radius Requirements
It is essential to consider the conveyor's movement while choosing the best for your applications. If the belt moves in a downward or upward direction, there might be a chance that the product placed on it would shift or slip or fail to be conveyed at all. Belts can be fitted with various accessories and extras such as flights / cleats, sidewalls or adhesive grippy coatings. You may also need to consider whether there is a requirement to conveyor your product around bends or a radius and need special flexing properties.
Dimensions (Length & Width)
This might sound like a given, but there's a lot involved while selecting the suitable conveyor belt for your system, but the most critical considerations are the width and length of the belt. Ensuring you have an accurate size of the belt is the very starting point the ensure your belt will track correctly once installed.
Wrapping Up
If you are still confused about choosing a conveyor belt or require expert advice, there are various conveyor belt suppliers who can help you with this concern and offer conveyor belts for sale at best prices. EngineeringStores.co.uk are experienced with over 35 years in the industry of conveyor belts and offers a comprehensive range at the best products available in todays market. If we can provide you with assistance or support please get in touch.
Read More at: How to Select the Proper Belt Fasteners