Precautions for the use and storage of conveyor belts

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Precautions for using mesh belts: Compared to ordinary mechanical parts, rolling bearings have a higher level of precision; therefore, extra care must be taken when using them. 1) Keep the conveyor belt and its surrounding area clean. 2) Use it carefully and attentively; if carelessness leads to strong impacts on the conveyor belt, it can result in scratches, dents, breaks, and other damages. 3) Use appropriate tools. 4) Pay attention to preventing rust on the conveyor belt; avoid using it in humid environments, and wear gloves to prevent sweat from coming into contact with it. 5) Users should be familiar with the conveyor belt. 6) Establish operating procedures for using the conveyor belt: a) Storage of the conveyor belt; b) Cleaning of the conveyor belt and its surrounding areas; c) Inspection of the dimensions and manufacturing quality at the installation site; d) Installation procedures; e) Inspection after installation; f) Dismantling procedures; g) Maintenance (regular inspections); h) Refilling of lubricants. Storage of the conveyor belt: The conveyor belts are coated with an appropriate amount of rust preventive oil upon leaving the factory and wrapped in rust-proof paper. As long as this packaging remains intact, the quality of the conveyor belt is guaranteed. However, for long-term storage, it is advisable to keep it at a temperature of around 20 degrees Celsius and below 65%, on shelves that are 30 cm above the ground. Additionally, the storage location should be kept away from direct sunlight or contact with cold walls. Installation of the conveyor belt – Precautions before installation: 1) Preparation of the conveyor belt. Since the bearings are treated against rust and packaged, do not open the packaging until just before installation. Furthermore, the rust preventive oil applied to the mesh belt has good lubricating properties, allowing it to be used directly without cleaning for mesh belts intended for general use or those filled with grease. However, for conveyor belts used in instruments or those that rotate at high speeds, it is necessary to use clean cleaning oil to remove the rust preventive oil; otherwise, the belt is prone to rusting and should not be left there for an extended period of time. 2) Inspection of the shaft and housing: Clean the conveyor belt and the housing to ensure there are no scratches or burrs resulting from machining. There must be absolutely no abrasives (such as SiC, Al2O3), molding sand, chips, etc., inside the housing. Next, check whether the dimensions, shape, and machining quality of the shaft and housing match those specified in the drawings. Before installing the mesh belt, apply machine oil to all the mating surfaces of the shaft and housing that have passed inspection. The method of installing bearings varies depending on the type of bearing and the fitting conditions. The method of installing conveyor belts also differs based on the type of bearing and the fitting conditions. Since rotation generally occurs around an axis, the inner ring and the outer ring can employ interference fit and clearance fit respectively; whereas when the outer ring rotates, interference fit is used for it. (1) Press-fit installation: Press-fit installation generally uses a press, but bolts and nuts can also be used; as a last resort, a hammer can be employed for installation. (2) Heat-shrink fitting: The heat-shrink fitting method, which involves heating the belt in oil to cause it to expand before installing it on the shaft, allows the bearing to be protected from unnecessary external forces and enables the installation process to be completed in a short time. Precautions for heating: 1) Generally, the heating temperature should not exceed 100 degrees Celsius. 2) The conveyor belt is not allowed to touch the bottom of the oil tank. Additionally, thermal fitting can also utilize an induction heating device to heat the bearing and cause it to expand before installing it on the shaft. Removal of the mesh belt: The mesh belt needs to be removed during regular inspections or when replacing parts. Usually, both the shaft and the conveyor belt need to be continued in use, with the conveyor belt often also needing to remain in use. Therefore, the structural design must take into account preventing damage to the mesh belt, other components, and related parts when removing the bearings, and appropriate removal tools must also be prepared. When removing a statically fitted ring, tension can only be applied to that ring; the ring must not be pulled using the rolling elements. Maintenance of the conveyor belt: To ensure that the conveyor belt can fully perform its functions and maintain its optimal performance over the long term, it is essential to carry out regular maintenance (periodic inspections). Conducting appropriate regular inspections to detect faults early and prevent accidents in advance is very important for improving productivity and efficiency. 1. Cleaning: When removing the conveyor belt for inspection, first take visual records using photography or other methods. Additionally, it is necessary to check the remaining amount of lubricant and take a sample of it before cleaning the conveyor belt. a. The cleaning of the conveyor belt is carried out in two stages: rough cleaning and fine cleaning, and a metal grid can be placed at the bottom of the container used. b. During the rough cleaning, use a brush or similar tool in oil to remove grease or adhered substances. At this time, if the mesh belt is rotated in oil, be careful as foreign objects may damage the rolling surface. c. During the final cleaning, slowly rotate the mesh belt in the oil; this must be done carefully. The cleaning agents commonly used are neutral, water-free diesel or kerosene; occasionally, mild alkaline solutions are also used as needed. No matter which cleaning agent is used, it is necessary to filter regularly to keep it clean. After cleaning, apply rust preventive oil or grease to the belt immediately. 2. Inspection and Evaluation: To determine whether the removed conveyor belt can be reused, it is necessary to carefully check its dimensional accuracy, rotational accuracy, internal clearance, as well as the fit of its surfaces, raceway surfaces, retainers, and sealing rings. Regarding the inspection results, they can be determined by those accustomed to using conveyor belts or by experts. The criteria for judgment vary depending on mechanical properties, importance, inspection intervals, and so on. If any of the following damages are present, the mesh belt must not be reused and should be replaced. 　1) Fractures and defects in conveyor belt components. 2) Peeling of the rolling surface of the raceway. Fault detection methods for conveyor belts allow the identification or prediction of bearing faults while the belt is in operation, without the need for disassembly inspections, which is very important for improving productivity and efficiency. The main identification methods are as follows: 1) Identification through sound. Identifying using sound requires extensive experience. Thorough training is necessary to be able to distinguish between bearing noises and non-bearing noises. To this end, it is advisable to have a dedicated person carry out this task. By attaching a stethoscope or listening rod to the casing, the sound of the bearings can be heard clearly. 2) Identification through operating temperature: This method is a type of comparative identification technique, and it is only suitable for situations where the operating conditions do not change much. To this end, continuous temperature recording is necessary. When a fault occurs, not only does the temperature rise, but there are also irregular changes. 3) Identification through the condition of the lubricant: Lubricant samples are analyzed to determine whether foreign substances or metal particles are present, based on the degree of contamination. This method is particularly effective for bearings that cannot be approached for inspection or large bearings.