8 things to remember to keep your conveyor system running smoothly

Conveyor systems, when designed and specified correctly, are very reliable...but here's how to increase your performance

Most conveyor systems are designed to handle a specific product or products. They run quite smoothly with little preventative maintenance if specified correctly. However, there are steps to take to keep that peak performance.

1. Don’t exceed your conveyor’s capacity.

Remember—a conveyor has two capacities: Structural, or static live capacity, and Live Load, or drive capacity. Exceeding either can harm your conveyor and its overall performance. Your conveyor should have been provided with both of these numbers. If there are questions regarding either capacity, contact us for assistance.

2. Don’t forget to lubricate springs on spring balanced gates.

If you notice that your Spring Balanced Gates don’t lift as easily as when they were first installed, it’s probably because the springs are getting dry. Try lubricating them with the proper oil and see if that helps.

3. Lubricate reducers with the proper oil.

A serious situation can arise if reducers aren’t properly maintained with the right oil. Using the wrong oil could be just as bad as no oil, causing gears to wear out far before their time, so be sure to read your maintenance manuals to determine what to use and how often.

4. Employees working with or around conveyors should be familiar with all safety warning stickers.

Many times, employers hire people and place them wherever necessary to get the job done. If you find yourself bringing people near the conveyors that aren’t used to dealing with them, it’s strongly advised that you provide them with adequate safety training. They should understand the inherent risks of conveyors and the meanings of all warning labels.

5. When installing long, straight conveyor units, use a chalk line to mark the center lines of conveyors.

This is plain ol’ common sense. Keeping conveyors in line helps prevent out-of-square units in a line and and makes sure product flows smoothly from one end to another.

6. Keep recommended spare parts on hand.

Conveyor users should keep a stock of spare parts as part of their preventative maintenance program. If there is a question concerning what parts to stock, see your conveyor vendor for assistance. Having stock on hand means that you’ll likely keep the conveyor in better repair. It also means less downtime in case of an breakdown. Given that a down conveyor can cripple an operation, this is an investment well worth making.

7. Permanently installed conveyors should always be bolted to the floor.

Not only does this keep conveyors in line and working efficiently, it will prevent accidents and make your operation safer. A conveyor not properly bolted (also called lagged) to the floor could topple under load or if bumped.

8. Remember to increase horsepower if conveyor speed increases.

Just increasing the speed of the conveyor to move products faster isn’t enough. It’s imperative that the horsepower be increased to match. As a rule, it takes twice as much horsepower to move a package at 130 FPM (feet per minute) than at 65 FPM. Use the formula to get an idea of the horsepower requirements. More on calculating conveyor speed.