Belt Scrapers
Belt Scrapers are exceptionally simple in design, its operations can certainly save thousands of man-hours, reduce injury hazard and prevent downtime from damaged components. These are used in bulk material handling belt conveyors to avoid material carry back and reduce spillage. Clean belts help prevent material build-up on snub pulley & return idlers, thereby reducing maintenance and downtime. The function of an efficient belt cleaning system is to remove the fugitive material which remains on the return strand of the belt and to assist in spillage control by returning that material to the main material flow within the confines of the discharge chute.
Types of Belt Scrapers
- Primary belt cleaners or Precleaners
Primary belt cleaners or Pre-Cleaners are an essential part of any conveyor system. Belt cleaners help remove bulk material product carry back and prevent it from falling off at various points of the conveyor along the return side of the belt causing various housekeeping and conveyor belt maintenance problems. These are installed at a positive angle, these primary belt cleaners would be mounted directly against the head pulley below the normal trajectory path of the material.
- Secondary Belt Cleaners
Secondary Belt Cleaners remove bulk material product build-up and prevent it from falling off at different points of the conveyor. Points along the return side of the belt can cause various conveyor belt maintenance problems due to carry-back.
Installed after the point where the belt leaves the head (discharge) pulley and or anywhere on the return side of the belt where it can be cleaned and maintained effectively.
Function, Cleaning and Care
- Primary belt cleaners
The function of the primary cleaner is to”scalp“the belt of the coarse carry back materials which would otherwise overload the secondary and tertiary cleaners. In terms of volume, the primary cleaner is responsible for the removal of up to 75% of the total carry back and is an essential part of the system. It has the added advantage of placing the carry back directly into the flow of material. The course materials do not cause a problem of carry back. This is normally because of the fine and sticky particles in the mix of material. These fine and sticky particles are removed by the secondary and tertiary cleaners.
- Secondary Belt Cleaners
The function of the secondary cleaner is to remove fine and sticky materials from the belt after the primary cleaner has removed the course carry back. In terms of volume removed, the secondary cleaner does not appear to be as effective as the primary cleaner. However, this does not ring true when looking at the mess around a conveyor or the build-up on return rollers. It is the fine and sticky material that is responsible for the mess as it is particularly hard to remove. In many cases, it is necessary to apply water to the belt in front of the secondary cleaner to achieve the required result.