Whether it’s an idler, bearing, belt cutter, or scale, the myriad conveyor components are vital to keeping production moving along.

by Tina Grady Barbaccia, Senior Editor

Siemens
High-performance aluminum

The Milltronics brand MBS conveyor belt scale, from Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc., boasts an accuracy level of plus or minus 1.0 percent and features high-performance parallelogram-style aluminum, strain-gauge load cells to provide instant response to vertical loading.

According to the manufacturer, horizontal forces such as belt drag or idler friction will not affect the accuracy of the belt scales. The load cells are equipped with overload protection that has been factory set at 150 percent of load cell-rated capacity. The modular, medium-duty belt scale — ideally suited for applications involving aggregates, sand, gravel, or crushed stone — does not have a crossbridge, which reduces material buildup and allows for a universal fit on most conveyor widths. With only four bolts, the belt scale is said to be easy to install and there is no assembly of weighing modules required.

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Douglas Manufacturing
Eliminates premature bearing failure

The Freedom Idlers CEMA (Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association) B, C, & D Series from Douglas Manufacturing are engineered for demanding applications, according to the company. The idlers feature a deep-drawn, metal-end cap, and a triple-polyurethane contact seal that prevents material contamination of bearing. The heavy-precision life ball bearings that are sealed for life are said to provide as much as twice the uninterrupted service life of regreasable, tapered roller bearings.

The rigid, self-cleaning idlers have a welded steel frame with interchangeable mounting slots and are machined with a shouldered shaft to help ensure proper bearing alignment and a smooth operating surface — as well as to eliminate the potential for premature bearing failure.

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Conveyor Components Co.
Safety switch for quick shutoff

The Model RS cable-operated safety top switch for conveyors from Conveyor Components Co. offers a broken cable option, which ensures actuation even if the cable is broken or cut. The safety switch, actuated by a cable that is pulled by endangered personnel, provides a quick shutoff in dangerous situations. The output contacts can control up to two separate circuits — one for machinery shutdown and one for the alarm.

Once the safety switch has been actuated, it cannot be accidentally reset — which could restart equipment.

The safety stop switch has a cable extending in both directions from the actuating handle with one electrical connection inside, an arrangement that eliminates the double electrical connections from employing a separate micro switch for the cable in each direction. The unit is designed with a maximum use of 100 feet of cable on each side and is housed in corrosion-resistant aluminum with stainless steel hardware and a red powder coated actuation handle. The actuation shaft is made of stainless steel, and a power-coated cast-iron construction is available, if necessary. Epoxy coating of either casting also is available if required.

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Grasan
Efficiently removes steel mesh

Grasan’s self-cleaning magnetic separator is mounted high on the side discharge conveyor where it can pick up metals from the crushed material and deposit them in a truck or dumpster. The magnetic separator is said to provide efficient removal of steel mesh, reinforcing rods, dowel pins, and other ferrous metals from demolition debris, according to Grasan. It also incorporates an electromagnet and electric motor-driven belt with stainless steel cleats to protect it from damage. The head pulley and splitter chute also are stainless steel, which cannot become magnetized.