How To Keep a Conveyor Running Smoothly?

Are you monitoring the functioning of your conveyor system, or does it seem to be operating under strain due to age?

For productivity to be high and downtime minimized, conveyors must be running optimally. A few basic maintenance tasks can alleviate many problems. Each detail should be meticulously considered, from regular checks to proper lubrication and alignment.

Proactive routine inspections can be addressed along with monitoring other potentially disruptive problem areas before they worsen, ensuring operations remain seamless.

Interested in tips that will prepare your conveyor for any efficiency challenge?

Keep reading for expert insights that will ensure the longevity of your system.

1. Regular Inspection and Preventive Maintenance

To ensure the unimpeded operation of your conveyor system, it’s integral to arrange periodic inspection and maintenance sessions. Begin by scanning the machine for common wear symptoms, like unaligned belts, rollers with strange noises, fraying, or any other issues, such as a belt that gets stuck.

Small problems can quickly escalate if they are not solved right away. Next, make the weekly assessments more comprehensive, and pay attention to sounds.

Do the components rattle? Are there vibrations? Is any part becoming too hot?

All of these questions need to be answered. These problems usually stem from greater issues that can be fixed earlier for convenience and monetary savings.

On a monthly basis, start doing the basics like sensor cleaning, motor bolting, and bearing cleaning, followed by lubrication. Accomplishing these actions counters the effects of failures, rather than chasing after the problems.

Following a set routine documents each checkup and prepares you to build up efficiency over the long run. Finally, you can save money by reducing unplanned equipment outages due to failing parts wash, while extending equipment lifespan through effective maintenance.

2. Keep the Conveyor Clean

The effectiveness of a workplace and a conveyor system can be compared in the sense that both require cleanliness to perform at their highest peak. Failure to clean a conveyor system will expose it to the possibility of dust and debris, causing misfiring in sensors, roller sticking, and belt slip.

To avoid such issues, it is recommended that a routine be set in place and properly followed. Implementing practices such as wiping belts and rollers at the end of each shift will provide a great boost.

Also, remember to clear out the concealed spaces that tend to get neglected so that the equipment runs properly. With routine cleanings, one is able to properly inspect and identify any signs of damage further down the line.

Finding issues in early stages greatly reduces overall maintenance expenses. Such expenses can also be avoided by keeping the system clean, as this prevents equipment issues.

Hence, avoiding equipment problems is more efficient from a budget standpoint, and ensuring that the proper requirements are fulfilled further highlights the importance of having a reliable system.

3. Monitor Belt Tension and Tracking

One maintenance practice that is often neglected is monitoring belt tension and tracking. Whether it’s too much slack or too much tension, both extremes can significantly affect the drive components and elongate the belt’s lifespan.

Remember to regularly check and adjust the belt tension and other practices to strike an appropriate balance. Slack also causes poor tracking, which leads to drifting off center.

Very often, the belt doesn’t align correctly, and as a result, the sense tracking guide or edge sensors prevent the alignment issue. Make sure to jog the system to confirm that the adjustments made are correct, because it is easy to make pre-emptive revisions.

By monitoring these aspects and applying necessary corrections, disruption to your workflow can be minimized, which protects the system’s integrity and ensures smooth operations.

4. Use Quality Parts and Lubricants

Often, the durability of a conveyor system depends on the lubricants and the parts used. Even though it may be convenient to use aftermarket parts to save money, it could result in greater expenses from repairs and revenue loss due to stopped production.

Always go with the manufacturer-approved parts, as such components are tailored to the specifications of your systems. Generic components do not offer a good fit, lasting duration, or reliable performance. Also, the type of lubricant used is equally important.

Each part, such as the bearings and chains, requires its specific type of lubrication. The wrong lubricant will result in overheating, corrosion, and breakdowns.

Thus, following the manufacturer’s recommendations and designing a realistic maintenance checklist ensures everything is covered. Adhering to proper maintenance routines ensures the conveyor system functions even when facing high operating conditions.

5. Ensure Proper Alignment

While alignment may sound trivial, it can heavily influence your conveyor’s performance. Minor discrepancies with the alignment of pulleys, rollers, or shafts result in friction, wear and tear, and reduced operational efficiency, which, in turn, decreases the life cycle of the system.

With the aid of laser tools or string lines, ensure that the alignment checks are incorporated into the maintenance routines. This check helps eliminate any chance of motor strain, soreness, product damage, and reduced efficiency due to misalignment.

Fixing alignment issues during the initial stages guarantees the balance of all the moving parts, enabling seamless operation.

All in all, the placement of alignment features into the system allows better precision with movements and bolsters overall performance, eliminating any chance of expensive issues in the future.

Conclusion

By following these simple yet effective maintenance practices, you can ensure your conveyor system runs smoothly and efficiently. Regular inspections, cleanliness, proper belt tension, quality parts, and alignment checks all contribute to extending the life of your equipment.

Staying proactive in maintenance helps prevent costly repairs, reduces downtime, and boosts productivity.

So, take the time to address these details and watch your conveyor system operate at its best, keeping operations seamless and your budget in check.