Conveyor belt maintenance plays an important role in any construction machinery. It is also used in asphalt plant or concrete plant. The proper functioning of conveyor belts maintenance are very important to smooth operation of asphalt mixing plant or concrete mixers. Conveyor belts should be maintained along with the frame holding the conveyor belt. The operator or maintenance personnel should be well versed with the basic maintenance of conveyor belt and its entire frame. Good housekeeping is the key to longer conveyor belt. It is advisable that a basic check list for conveyors be made and followed regularly.
Heat-resistant conveyor belt on Atlas double drum asphalt plant.
The maintenance personnel should regularly walk around both the sides of the system. And note the physical condition of the conveyor. Any unusual behavior of moving components must be taken note. Any material getting stuck has to be noted. Signs of misalignment or improper belt tracking have to be noted. Drive amperage requirements has to be checked. The same thing has to be compared to previous levels for similar loads and conditions or adjusted to the manufacturers standard.
Few things that the operator can take care of are:
Some few things that asphalt plant operator is very take care.
- Only authorized personnel are allowed to operate the conveyor.
- Operator should not run the conveyor when the motor guards are in position.
- Before removing the material stuck, the conveyor should be stopped.
- Anybody wearing looses clothes should not be allowed to go near the conveyor belts.
- Good housekeeping practice should be maintained near the conveyor for smooth operation.
- Lubricants, fuel or any spilled materials should be cleaned immediately.
- Any sharp object getting stuck in the conveyor should be immediately removed.
- Preventing off center belt loading of materials into the conveyor.
- Repairing or correcting any faults promptly to aggravate the problem further.
- It is important to check the loading point and transfer point spillage.
- To obtain maximum output from the conveyors, the operators can take care and maintain: drives, take up system, belt, pulleys, idler rollers, return rollers, head and tail rollers, pedestals, scrappers, guards, conveyor covers, walkway, control panel operating conveyor belt.
Conveyor belt inspection should involve:
- Belt conveyor alignment
- Removal of foreign object
- Maintaining the structure of the conveyor belt
- Removing the lubrication or fuel spillage from the conveyor belt
- Setting the scrapper
- Making sure that the material flow is not off center
- Adjusting the skirt boards if present.
- Checking for wear on top and bottom of the conveyor belt.
- Checking the belt for any cracks due to heat
- Checking the tension of the belt to avoid excessive stretch.
