Optimum cleaning performance

Comprehensive replacement program for conveyor belt cleaner blades

1 Carryback from inadequate cleaning affects components and safety along the entire system

2 Martin Engineering’s belt cleaner replacement program ensures fresh polyurethane blades, custom-fitted on-site

3 A worker inspects a freshly molded belt cleaner blade at the Martin Engineering facility in South Africa

4 Factory-trained and MSHA-certified Martin technicians provide custom fitting, installation and tensioning

5 A Martin technician installs a remote monitoring sensor to track belt cleaner wear and tension

Martin Engineering has announced a factory-direct replacement program to deliver freshly-molded polyurethane cleaner blades for conveyor belts. Custom-fitted on-site and installed free of charge, customers pay only for the replacement blades. The program from Martin Engineering assures customers of accurately sized and professionally installed replacement blades that are matched to their specific application, providing optimum cleaning performance and service life to minimize the cost of ownership.

Manufactured in-house for the highest quality assurance, Martin’s replacement blades are made with specially formulated, color-coded urethane to suit virtually any application. The blades have up to 53 % more urethane in the wearable area than competitive designs, extending equipment life and durability. To achieve consistent cleaning throughout all stages of blade life, Martin’s patented Constant Angle Radial Pressure (“CARP”) technology incorporates a specially engineered curved blade to maintain optimum cleaning performance and efficiency. This innovative system maximizes quality control and eliminates shipping and labor costs by having the new blades delivered and installed direct from the factory.

Martin replacement cleaners reduce costs

The need for conveyor belt cleaning is well established, delivering long-term benefits in both safety and production. Properly maintained belt cleaners reduce the accumulation of carryback under the conveyor and minimize dust buildup on rollers and other components. Excessive dust and spillage can foul rolling components and cause abrasion on the belt, reducing the life of equipment by as much as 30 %. Even though a multiple-cleaner system can be abrasive when in contact with the belt, it contributes less than 5 % to the overall belt wear, delivering a significant net benefit.

The belt is typically the most expensive piece of equipment on a conveyor, so not removing carryback at the discharge will contribute to premature belt failure. Material buildup on the face of idlers and rollers due to inadequate cleaning is one of the primary reasons a belt will mistrack, causing it to drift toward the stringer and damaging its edges. Fouled idlers and rollers can also erode the covers of the belt through abrasion, leading to premature replacement.

Timing the replacement of cleaner blades

Bulk handlers commonly have several conveyors carrying different types, sizes or grades of materials. Depending on the number of belts, monitoring belt cleaner wear and effectiveness can be labor intensive and require an experienced eye. Beyond carryback, dust and spillage, allowing a cleaner to go too long can lead to pull-through or detachment from the assembly, resulting in belt damage, potential equipment replacement and unscheduled downtime.

Available technology includes Martin’s N2^® remote monitoring system to track tension and wear on all cleaners without having to physically visit the equipment. This technology offers the ability to monitor primary belt cleaner blades in real time and minimizes the need for manual inspections. Customers have immediate access to details on the mounting assembly, tensioner and blade wear, along with total annual cost information for budgeting purposes. The intuitive system notifies technicians and plant operations personnel before re-tensioning or replacement is required and/or when abnormal conditions occur. This critical intelligence reduces the need to expose personnel to moving conveyors, improving both efficiency and safety while lowering costs. It allows service personnel to deliver and install replacement wear parts during scheduled outages.

Martin offers the components and monitoring service free of charge for qualifying customers. The company also supports the components with factory-direct service and provides customer alerts without cost. The factory-direct replacement program is just one element of the company’s decades-long push to develop new and evolving technologies, improve bulk material handling efficiency and reduce safety hazards.