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I. Starting and stopping of belt conveyors Belt conveyors should generally be started under unloaded conditions. When several belt conveyors are installed in sequence, a lockable starting device should be used to enable starting and stopping in a specified order from the control room. In addition, to prevent sudden accidents, each belt conveyor should also be equipped with local start or stop buttons, allowing any individual conveyor to be stopped separately. To prevent the conveyor belt of a belt conveyor from being torn longitudinally for some reason, when the length of the belt conveyor exceeds 30 m, a stop button should be installed along the entire length of the conveyor at regular intervals (such as every 25–30 m). II. Installation of belt conveyors The installation of belt conveyors is generally carried out in the following stages. 1. Installation of the frame for the belt conveyor: The installation begins with the head frame, followed by the sequential installation of the intermediate frames, and finally the tail frame is installed. Before installing the frames, it is necessary to draw a center line along the entire length of the belt conveyor. Maintaining the center line of the belt conveyor in a straight line is an important condition for the proper operation of the conveyor belt; therefore, when installing each frame, it is essential to align them with this center line. The allowable deviation of the frames from the center line is ±0.1 mm per meter of conveyor length. However, the error of the frame center along the entire length of the belt conveyor must not exceed 35 mm. Once all individual sections have been installed and positioned correctly, they can be connected together. 2. Installing the drive unit: When installing the drive unit, it is necessary to ensure that the drive shaft of the belt conveyor is perpendicular to the center line of the belt conveyor, that the center of the drive drum aligns with the center line of the belt conveyor, and that the axis of the reducer is parallel to the drive shaft. At the same time, all shafts and drums should be leveled. The horizontal error of the shaft is allowed to be within the range of 0.5–1.5 mm, depending on the width of the belt conveyor. While installing the drive apparatus, tensioning devices such as idler wheels can be installed as well; the axis of the roller in these tensioning devices should be perpendicular to the center line of the belt conveyor. 3. Installation of belt conveyor idlers: After the frame, drive mechanism, and tensioning device have been installed, the idler frames for the upper and lower idlers can be installed, so as to give the conveyor belt a gradually changing curvature; the spacing between the idler frames in the curved sections should be 1/2 to 1/3 of the normal spacing between idler frames. After the idler rollers are installed, they should rotate smoothly and effortlessly. 4. Finally, to ensure that the conveyor belt always runs along the center line of the idlers and drums, the following requirements must be met when installing the idlers, frame, and drums: (1) All idlers of the belt conveyor must be arranged in rows, parallel to each other, and kept horizontally aligned. (2) All the drums of the belt conveyor are arranged in rows, parallel to each other. (3) The support structure frame of the belt conveyor must be straight and remain horizontally level. To this end, after the drive drum and idler frame have been installed, the centerline and levelness of the conveyor should be finally adjusted. 5. Then fix the belt conveyor frame to the foundation or floor slab. After the belt conveyor is fixed, feeding and discharging devices can be installed. 6. Installing the conveyor belt on a belt conveyor: When installing the conveyor belt on a belt conveyor, first lay the belt strips on the idler rollers in the unloaded section; after surrounding the drive drum, lay them on the idler rollers in the loaded section. A hand-cranked winch of 0.5–1.5 tons can be used to hang the straps. When tightening the straps for connection, the roller of the tensioning device should be moved to its extreme position; the trolley and the screw-type tensioning device need to be pulled in the direction of the transmission mechanism ； The vertical clamping device is used to move the drum to the very top. Before tensioning the conveyor belt of a belt conveyor, the reducer and motor should be installed, and a braking device should be fitted on inclined belt conveyors. 7. After the belt conveyor is installed, a no-load test run is required. During the no-load test run, it is necessary to pay attention to whether there is any deviation in the operation of the belt conveyor, the operating temperature of the drive unit, the movement of the idler rollers, and the degree of contact between the cleaning devices and guide plates and the surface of the conveyor belt. Appropriate adjustments must be made, and only after all components are functioning properly can the load-tested operation be carried out. If a spiral tensioning device is used, its tightness must be adjusted again during the trial run under load. If the drum is not level, it causes the conveyor belt to deviate; if the installation is off by too much, the machine should be stopped to level it out ； If the machining deviation of the drum’s outer diameter is too large, the outer surface of the drum must be machined again ； Material adhering to the surface of the drum can cause the conveyor belt to deviate from its path; such material should be removed regularly ； Once the conveyor belt starts to deviate under load, the position of the feed inlet should be changed to make adjustments ； The conveyor belt drifts when unloaded, but the issue is corrected once material is loaded. This phenomenon is usually caused by excessive initial tension, and it can be resolved with appropriate adjustments. III. Maintenance of belt conveyors To ensure the reliable operation of belt conveyors, it is crucial to detect and resolve any potential faults in a timely manner. To this end, the operator must constantly monitor the operation of the belt conveyor, and any abnormalities detected must be addressed promptly. It is very important for machine operators to regularly inspect and check for any conditions or components that require attention. For example, a idler roller may not seem very important, but a high-speed conveyor belt that transports abrasive materials can quickly wear through its casing, creating a sharp edge that can severely damage an expensive conveyor belt. Trained workers or experienced staff can detect potential accidents in a timely manner and prevent them from occurring. The conveyor belt of a belt conveyor accounts for a significant proportion of the total cost of the conveyor. To reduce the costs associated with replacing and repairing conveyor belts, it is essential to focus on training operators and maintenance staff in the knowledge related to the operation and repair of conveyor belts.