After being put in charge of maintaining your factory's pneumatic conveyor system, you may have discovered the conveyor's belt is not rolling properly. If so, use the following guide to troubleshooting the issue with the conveyor to see if the problem is something you can easily fix yourself.
Step 1: Check the Conveyor Belt's Alignment
The first thing to check when a troubleshooting problem with the conveyor system is the alignment of the belt. If the belt is slipping or vibrating while moving cargo through the plant, it may simply be a case of the belt shifting off of the rollers.
With the machine still running, walk along the conveyor system to find any areas where the edges of the belt do not appear to be in a straight line. If you notice any of these areas, turn the conveyor system off, and examine the belt more closely.
Push any areas of the belt that are sticking out back into place, and look down the conveyor to ensure it appears to be in alignment. Then, turn the machine back on.
If the jumping or vibrating behavior has stopped, misalignment of the belt was likely the issue. However, if you still notice a problem or the conveyor belt shifts back out of alignment, go on to the next step.
Step 2: Inspect the Belt Rollers for Damage
If the belt keeps shifting outward, the issue may be the rollers underneath that move the conveyor along. If one or more of these rollers are loose or damaged, this can make the belt run unevenly, contributing to the erratic movements.
After turning off the system, check the rollers before and under the areas of the belt where the conveyor keeps shifting out of place. Lift the belt so you can fully visualize the rollers. If they do not appear smooth or have gouges in them, you may need to replace them with ones recommended by the manufacturer.
If the rollers do not exhibit signs of wear and tear, check the bolts that attach them to the conveyor's frame. If these have become loose, the rollers may jump while they are turning, in turn making the conveyor belt jump.
Tighten the bolts, then turn the machine back on. If the issue is still not resolved, the issue may not be with the conveyor belt but with the pneumatic system itself.
Step 3: Examine the Pneumatic Cylinders
After ruling out a problem with the conveyor belt, the next step is to examine the pneumatic cylinders that run the system. If the air pressure within these cylinders is not kept in optimal range, the machine will not be able to move the conveyor smoothly.
With the machine on, check the pressure gauges to make sure they are within normal range. The dial should indicate the needed level. If the pressure is too high, the system is likely malfunctioning and should be inspected by a professional.
If the pressure is too low, one of the cylinders may have an air leak. Check for a leak by placing your hand several inches away from the surface to see if you feel air forcibly blowing out. If so, replace the cylinder according to the model manufacturer's recommendations.
Once you have gone through the above troubleshooting guide, you may still not be able to find the issue with the conveyor or may discover you are not qualified to fix it yourself. If so, contact the industrial supplier from whom the factory purchased the pneumatic conveyor system to find out if they can recommend a technician out to diagnose the problem to see whether the system is repairable or needs replacing. For more information, contact companies like HAF Equipment Inc.
Share28 June 2017
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