Here are essential maintenance tips for conveyor belts

Jun 03, 2023

It's important to care good care of your conveyor belt system so it will last as long as possible. Here are essential maintenance tips for conveyor belts.

Conveyor belts are essential pieces of equipment for various industries. Without them, many factories and companies wouldn't be able to work as efficiently.

Therefore, it's important to take proper care of these devices. Here are some essential maintenance tips for conveyor belts.

Clean the belt regularly

If you want to keep your conveyor belt in good condition for as long as possible, it's important to clean the belt regularly. Various industries use conveyor belts for food packaging, agricultural materials, or other products.

You want to keep the top of the belt clean to avoid contamination. But you also want to clean the underside of the belt to avoid build-up that can reduce the device's functionality.

Clean the motor regularly

You will also need to add regular motor cleanings to your conveyor belt maintenance checklist. Not all conveyor belts have motors, but most modern models do.

These motors are what keep the belt moving and working properly. If dirt, dust, and debris collect on the motor, it can clog fan vents, resulting in overheating.

An overheated motor will eventually give out and stop working, so you want to clean the motor frequently.

Inspect the bearings

Inspecting the bearings is another essential maintenance step. Unless your conveyor belt has self-aligning sealed bearings that don't need lubrication, you will likely need to lubricate your bearings.

When the bearings become dry or loose, it can cause your conveyor belt to break down and stop working. Therefore, you’ll need to inspect the bearings often to ensure they are properly lubricated.

Inspect pulley alignment

It's also a good idea to inspect the pully alignment. When the pulley is aligned correctly, it creates equal tension on both sides of the belt's cross-section to keep it working well.

If the pulley is misaligned, the tension will not be evenly distributed, which can cause stretching. The more the belt stretches, the sooner you will need to replace it.

Misalignment is one of the most common conveyor system issues, so be sure to inspect your belt's pulley alignment each time you perform regular maintenance.

Inspect for wear & tear

And, of course, you’ll need to frequently check the conveyor belt for signs of wear and tear. As with any machine or device, you must perform regular inspections to ensure the system runs correctly.

If you notice that there are malfunctioning parts, broken pieces, or significant signs of damage, you will want to fix them as soon as possible. Perform the necessary repairs and replacements to keep your conveyor belt in good condition.

Now that you know some helpful conveyor belt maintenance tips, you can use these strategies today. The better you care for your conveyor belt system, the longer it will last.