Conveyor Belting

How long should my belt last?

Conveyor belt applications differ so much that belt life can vary from as little as a few weeks to as much as 10 or more years.  The product being conveyed and the operating environment can have a major impact on the life of the belt.  Conveyor design and maintenance are also significant factors in belt life.  There are hundreds of styles of conveyor belts, each designed with unique qualities that make them better suited for the many variables found in different conveying applications.  Sparks Belting’s trained sales engineers can help you select the best belting options for your conveying needs and also show you how to maximize the life of your belt through maintenance and design improvements.

How do you properly tension a belt when installing?

Installation and tracking of conveyor belting are often done by instinct or “feel”. The belt is installed and it is tensioned without a specific goal or target. Then, the conveyor system is turned on and tension is adjusted to prevent slippage when the product load is introduced. 

Download our Conveyor Belt Tracking Guide for more information.

If I use a v-guide on my belt will it solve my tracking problems?

No, the v-guide is used as an added tool on your conveyor system to assist in steering the belt. The accurate design and build of your system is the key ingredient to your belt tracking properly and the proper crown on the pulleys is crucial.

How many v-guides do I need to use on my belt?

Normally only one is necessary and recommended. The best practice is to adhere the v-guide to the centerline of the belt on the pulley side also known as CPS. The groove in the pulley and system should be ¼” wider and 1/16” deeper than the v-guide selected to allow critical movement required. There are circumstances that could present the option for 2 v-guides to be used but recommended practice is to stick to one v-guide CPS if at all possible. 

What is the proper way to store a belt in inventory?

 To prevent belting material from developing camber (swing), rolls should be stored off the floor in a dry area. They can be suspended on a bar placed through the center of the roll or placed on a pallet or skid to keep the material off the floor. Rolls should NOT be stored on their edges.

Where should we position the take-up pulley when measuring and installing a new belt?

When measuring a belt on a conveyor system, the take-up position of the adjustment pulley should be at about 25% of its maximum adjustment.

Motorized Pulleys

Can I use a variable frequency drive with my motorized pulley?

Sparks Dura-Drive Plus motorized pulleys are inverter duty.  They can operate continuously from a range of 30-60 hertz.  Operation outside this range is also possible.  Contact Sparks Belting for more information.