Why Consider Steel Belts for THE APPLICATION?
Engineers who specify metal belts have options available to them that they do not have when using other products or materials. Some essential features and benefits are talked about below.
HIGH STRENGTH-TO-WEIGHT RATIO:
This is an advantage in practically every application where high strength, light-weight, or both are important.
DURABILITY:
Metal belts can withstand sustained contact with extremes of temperature, hostile environments, and vacuum. A variety of alloys may be used, each using its own resistance to chemical substances, humidity, and corrosion. Engineers generally decide on a belt material based on physical properties, availability, and cost.
NO LUBRICATION:
Unlike the links of a chain, a metallic belt is an individual element and, therefore, does not generate any component friction that will require lubrication. This reduces system maintenance, boosts reliability, and helps to keep the system clean.
NONSTRETCHABLE:
Spring steels with a higher modulus of elasticity make metal belts virtually nonstretchable as compared to additional belt types and chain. This makes them ideal in high performance applications for precision positioning.
SMOOTH OPERATION:
Metal belts are clear of the pulsation of chordal action often seen in additional belt types and chain. This results in exact translation of the control system motion profile.
ACCURATE AND REPEATABLE:
Metal timing belts could be fabricated with a pitch precision of ±0.0005 inches station to station. This high degree of precision is extremely important in developing indexing, positioning, or processing equipment.
Great THERMAL AND ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY:
Metal belts can transmit energy in the kind of heat, cold, and electrical power.
NO STATIC BUILD-UP:
Metal belts discharge static electricity, an essential capability in the produce of electronic components such as for example integrated circuits and surface mount devices.
CLEAN:
Unlike HTD or flat neoprene belts, metal belts do not generate particulate and are well suited for food and pharmaceutical processing.
CLEAN ROOM COMPATIBLE:
Metal belts do not require lubricants and can not generate dust that would introduce foreign substances into clean space environments. Additionally, they may be sterilized in an autoclave.
PRECISE CONSTRUCTION:
Edges are smooth and sizes are tightly toleranced.
Metallic conveyor belt pulleys are critical to the look of any automated conveyor belt system. They act as the driving drive behind the movement of the belt, generating torque and acceleration. In very general terms it can be stated that pulleys are categorized as friction drive or timing pulleys (type I and II). Precision is the name of the game when it comes to pulleys. A steel belt is only as good and precise as the pulleys. The majority of pulleys recommended by Ever-power are made from anodized aluminum (hard coating) with the proper friction coefficient to drive the metal belt. Stainless steel may also be used nonetheless it is expensive and heavy, though it might become indicated in certain applications where extra hardness is essential. If your application takes a lighter pulley, the specialists at Ever-power will help you select the best material.
Selecting the correct pulley size and construction can have a significant effect on the lifespan and effectiveness of a conveyor belt. Ever-power engineers have the data and experience to help you choose the correct pulley type, diameter, and composition to reduce maintenance downtime and increase product volume.
Metallic Conveyor Belt Pulley Types
Ever-power designs custom metallic conveyor belt pulleys and configurations to bring optimum efficiency to one’s body. While metal conveyor belts are usually made of stainless steel, pulleys can be produced from a variety of materials, including aluminum or a variety of plastic composites. According to the unique needs of your system, the pulleys can also be fitted with custom timing attachments, relief stations, and more.
Independently Steerable Pulley
Ever-power has developed an innovative concept in smooth belt tracking called the ISP (independently steerable pulley), which can be utilized in the following system designs:
· Two pulley conveyor systems in which the ISP is the idler or driven pulley
· Systems with multiple idler pulleys on a common shaft
· Systems with serpentine or additional complex belt paths
Steering toned belts with an ISP is founded on the idea of changing tension romantic relationships over the width of the belt by adjusting the position of the pulley relative to the belt.
Rather than moving the pulley shaft remaining/right or up/straight down by pillow prevent adjustment, the ISP fits a adjustable steering collar and sealed bearing assembly to your body of the pulley.
The steering collar is designed with either a skewed or an offset bore. When rotated, the collar changes the angle of the pulley body, resulting in controlled, bi-directional motion of the belt over the pulley face.
The ISP is exclusively available from Ever-power. It provides a simple approach to steering flat steel belts. Users may combine ISP steering with the traditional belt tracking designs of crowning, flanging, and timing components to make a synergistic belt monitoring system which efficiently and specifically steers the belt to specified tracking parameters.
Unique Characteristics and Advantages of the ISP
· Toned belts are tracked quickly by rotating the steering collar.
· ISP designs minimize downtime when changing belts on creation machinery.
· ISP system is simple to use and requires simply no special tools or schooling.
· ISP simplifies the look and assembly of conveyor systems using flat belts.
· Existing idler pulleys can normally become retrofitted to an ISP without main system modifications.
· No maintenance is required once the belt tracking parameters have been established.
· It prolongs belt existence by minimizing aspect loading when working with flanges and timing pulleys.
ISP Pulley (picture and cross-section view)
Installation and Use
The ISP is mounted to the system frame using commercially available pillow blocks. A clamp is used to prevent the shaft from turning.
The Rotated Shaft Approach to ISP Flat Belt Tracking
· Is used in combination with systems having a single pulley on the shaft.
· Is ALWAYS used when the pulley body is certainly a capped tube design.
· Is NEVER used when multiple pulleys are on a common shaft.
· Utilized selectively when the ISP is usually a steering roll in a multiple pulley program.
Secure the ISP to the shaft using the split collar and locking screw built into the ISP. Rotate the shaft and collar as a unit. When the required tracking features are obtained, avoid the shaft from rotating by securing the shaft clamp. The pulley body will today rotate about the bearing included in the ISP assembly. This technique allows the belt to be tracked while running under tension.
Secure the ISP to the shaft using the split collar and locking screw included in the ISP. Rotate the shaft and collar as a device. When the desired tracking features are obtained, prevent the shaft from rotating by securing the shaft clamp. The pulley body will right now rotate about the bearing included in the ISP assembly. This method allows the belt to be tracked while working under tension.
The Rotated Collar Method of ISP Flat Belt Tracking
· Used to individually modify each belt/pulley combination whenever there are multiple pulleys on a common shaft.
· Used when systems have a cantilevered shafting typical of serpentine and additional complex belt path systems. It is suggested that these adjustments be made only once the belt reaches rest.
Fix the shaft via the shaft clamp, loosen the locking screw of the steering collar, and rotate the steering collar about the shaft. When the desired belt tracking features are obtained, secure the locking screw.
Which Design Is Right for You?
There are numerous applications for this new product, therefore Ever-power designs and manufactures independently steerable pulleys to suit your needs. Contact Ever-power to discuss your queries or for design assistance.
Ever-power may be the worldwide head in the design and manufacturing of application-specific pulleys, metallic belts, and drive tapes. Our products provide exclusive benefits for machinery used in precision positioning, timing, conveying, and automated production applications.
System Configuration
#1 1 – The drive pulley is a friction drive pulley.
· The ISP is definitely a friction-driven pulley. This configuration is usually specified for a tracking precision of 0.030″ (0.762 mm) or greater.
· Teflon® flanges are mounted on the pulley body to determine a lateral constraint. The steering feature of the ISP is used to set one edge of the belt against the flange with minimal side-loading to the belt.
System Configuration
Number 2 2 – The drive pulley is a timing pulley.
· The ISP is usually a 
friction driven pulley. One’s teeth of the drive pulley and the perforations of the belt establish a lateral constraint. The steering feature of the ISP is used to reduce side-loading of the belt perforations. Tracking accuracy is between 0.008″ (0.203 mm) and 0.015″ (0.381 mm) for metal belt systems.
OR
· The ISP is usually a timing pulley. The teeth of the ISP and the perforations of the belt are used for precise tracking control of the belt with the steering feature of the ISP utilized to minimize side loading of belt perforations. Again, tracking precision can be 0.008″ (0.203 mm) to 0.015″ (0.381 mm) for metal bells.
Note: Although it is generally not recommended to have timing elements in both the drive and driven pulleys, this design can be used selectively on metallic belt systems with long center distances between pulleys and in applications where particulate accumulation on the surface of the pulley continuously changes the tracking feature of the belt.