Conveyor belt tracker with continuous, precise adjustment
“Most reversing belt trackers use a paddle wheel or roller of some kind to move the actuator,” explained Martin Engineering Product Development Engineer Andrew Timmerman. “Like anything mechanical, the more moving parts there are, the more opportunity for something to wear out. In comparison, this unit reduces the number of parts in a rugged design, using either an air or electric actuator to reverse the working direction.” Engineered for reliability and longevity, the unit gives conveyor operators a new option for powering the tracker, allowing them to best suit their individual circumstances.
“We wanted to offer both types of actuator to meet the needs of virtually any location,” Timmerman continued. “The sensors communicate the pulley direction, sending a signal either to an electrical relay or a pneumatic solenoid to extend or retract the cylinder as needed, depending on which version is specified,” he explained. For locations where no electricity or plant air is available, Martin Engineering designed the Roll Generator to serve as a self-contained mini power station.In those cases, the tracker uses an electric actuator to move the rolls and correct the belt’s position. The electric actuator is also used when 110 V / 220 V power is available from the plant. The Martin® Tracker™ Reversing is available in Lower Units for installation on the return side of the belt and Upper Units for use on the conveyor’s carrying side.