What Is a Conveyor Timing Belt?
Conveyor timing belt are timing belts specifically designed for product conveyance. These belts ensure synchronized conveyance by meshing with a pulley that has a matching tooth profile.
Different profiles can be attached to the belt’s back to aid in accurate positioning of the conveyed material.
Structure of Conveyor Timing Belts
Structure
- Main Body: Made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), known for excellent mechanical strength, ozone resistance, abrasion resistance, and low dust emission.
- Main Core Wire: Steel core wire, ideal for responsive and high-precision positioning applications due to its low elongation.
- Aramid Core Wire: Lightweight with excellent bending resistance, suitable for food applications.
- High-Strength Glass Fiber Core Wire: Offers simplified maintenance and good processability.
Belt Type
- Flex Type: Manufactured by molding in a fixed length, used in high-strength applications without joints. Manufacturing time may limit rapid delivery.
- Joint Type: Cut from long material and welded into a ring shape, based on the length between pulleys.
- Open-End Type: Used for reciprocating equipment without wheel processing, in a belt or plate form.
Other types include standard, wet food, dry food, antistatic, special conveying, and wide specifications, each with specific urethane types, core wires, and properties.
- Tooth Profile: Available in trapezoidal and circular arc shapes, in both metric and inch pitches.
- Canvas Specifications: Canvas on the tooth surface reduces friction with pulleys and table surfaces, lowering noise. Back canvas type is suitable for sliding and accumulating applications, reducing friction with conveyed material.
Special Processing
Conveyor timing belts may require various customizations for specific applications.
- Profile Processing: Essential for sorting, separation, feeding, and starting of conveyed materials. High-frequency welding attaches the thermoplastic polyurethane belt and profile securely. Profiles are added to the conveying surface and may include mechanical components or clamp-on devices.
- Cover Attachment Process: CR sponges, urethane sheets, and other materials can be bonded to the belt’s back to provide cushioning, grip, or slipperiness, with attributes like abrasion resistance, cushioning, mold release, and heat resistance.
- Hole and Tooth Grinding Processes: Holes are drilled for vacuum conveyance, and teeth can be ground for smoothness.
- Width Splicing: For wider than standard sizes, belts can be spliced side by side to create non-standard sizes.
Incidental Parts
- Pulley: Made from materials like aluminum, stainless steel, and steel, with optional surface treatments like plating.
- Clamps: Secure the ends of open-end belts, used in linear positioning and other applications where the belt moves back and forth between pulleys.
Selection of Conveyor Timing Belts
Choose belts with surface protrusions or high frictional resistance for conveyance, and smooth-surfaced belts for side material feeding. Consider the prime mover type, load power, and pulley diameter in selection.
- Prime Mover Characteristics: The prime mover type affects the compatible belt type. Confirm with the manufacturer about the timing belt’s suitability.
- Load Power: Related to the power consumed by the driven side, like pulleys, and depends on the friction between the pulleys and belt and the belt’s weight.
- Pulley Diameter: The size of the pulleys influences the suitable conveyor timing belt. Consider the diameter, rotation number, and teeth number in selection.
Replacement of Conveyor Timing Belts
Timing belts require periodic replacement due to wear and tear. Continued use of a deteriorated belt can lead to unstable conveyance. Regular inspections for wear and cracks are recommended.