I. Pre-Installation Preparations
1. Inspect the conveyor equipment status: Ensure that pulleys, rollers, and bearings are in good condition and operate smoothly. Clean dust, oil stains, and debris from the equipment surfaces to prevent foreign objects from scratching the conveyor belt.
2. Inspect the PVC conveyor belt: Verify the dimensions and specifications, and confirm that the belt body is free of cracks, damage, delamination, or other quality defects. Store the belt under controlled temperature and humidity conditions, avoiding direct sunlight and exposure to chemical contaminants.
3. Prepare installation tools: Gather necessary tools such as clamps, traction devices, and pulleys; avoid using hard prying tools that could damage the belt body.
II. Standard Installation Procedures
1. Belt Positioning: If replacing an old belt with a new one, connect the new belt to the old one to simultaneously facilitate the removal of the old belt and the pulling-in of the new one. For horizontal conveyors, the old belt may be cut at any point; however, for inclined conveyors, a specific cutting point must be carefully selected to prevent the old belt from sliding down uncontrollably.
2. Traction and Seating: During the process of pulling the new belt into place, ensure that the belt body does not become pinched or jammed against the conveyor frame. Secure one end of the conveyor belt to the frame, and use a pulley system to tighten the other end until there is no noticeable sagging in the belt at the return idlers.
3. Critical Alignment Requirements: It is imperative to ensure that all drive pulleys and idlers are parallel, that their shaft axes are precisely centered, and that the pulleys themselves are properly aligned and leveled. This constitutes the fundamental basis for preventing belt misalignment (running off-center) during future operation.
If the belt body must be folded for storage or placement, ensure that the folded area maintains a sufficiently large curvature radius. Do not place heavy objects on the folded section, as this could damage the belt body.
III. Post-Installation Adjustments
1. Initial Tension Adjustment: For a newly installed conveyor belt, set the initial tension force according to the manufacturer's recommended values. Avoid excessive tension, which increases wear, or insufficient tension, which leads to slippage. After a period of operation, re-inspect the belt and perform a secondary adjustment of the tension as needed.
2. Belt Misalignment (Run-off) Adjustment:
Roller Position Adjustment: Adjust the tensioning bolts located on both sides of the conveyor frame. Slightly advance the roller on the side toward which the belt is drifting (the "run-off" side) until the belt body returns to its central position. Installation of Guide Strips to Prevent Misalignment: This constitutes an effective solution for resolving persistent belt misalignment. Based on the belt width and operating conditions, select guide strips that are resistant to both abrasion and corrosion. These strips should be installed along the sides of the conveyor belt, with their angles precisely adjusted to ensure the contact angle meets specifications, thereby preventing excessive friction or a failure in the guiding mechanism.
If the misalignment is caused by a lack of parallelism between the rollers, the issue can be resolved simply by realigning the rollers to ensure they are parallel.
3. Commissioning (No-Load & Under-Load): Upon completion of the installation, conduct an initial "no-load" test run. Observe the belt for any signs of misalignment, abnormal noises, or excessive vibration. Once normal operation is confirmed, gradually apply a load to conduct a "load" test; if no anomalies are detected during this phase, the conveyor is ready to be put into regular service.
Installation and Adjustment Precautions
Regular Post-Installation Inspections: During daily operations, periodically inspect the guide strips, belt tension, and the overall condition of the belt body. Promptly correct any deviations resulting from wear and tear to prevent minor issues from leading to the premature retirement of the belt.
