Conveyor Belt Accessories

A: Agriculture Cleated Conveyor Belts
Whether it’s potatoes, blueberries or any other types of crops, agriculture conveyors feature prominently in the farming process from the soil surface to up into the truck. Anyone in the industry knows that from harvesting to processing, life is much easier when machinery is involved.
Cleated conveyor belts are ideal for types of work like agriculture, where the terrain and the materials themselves could pose issues due to steep inclines or the need to separate into batches. Incorporating them at various points in the process can improve productivity – which only benefits the company in the long run, of course.
Similarly, leveraging a cleated conveyor belt with steep inclines can give processing plants that mechanical advantage they’ve been searching for. Companies can opt for more vertical designs, which saves valuable space on the floor and reduces the capital cost on the equipment.
Food Handling Cleated Conveyor Belts
There are a lot of different layers to the food and beverage industry, with few more important than the creation and preparation of food. Many of the products can be difficult to move efficiently at scale, even with state-of-the-art machinery.
Don’t forget that many foods are temperature sensitive and could lose their value under the wrong circumstances, like dried hops. An inability to manage temperatures effectively could have far-reaching financial effects. The worst case scenario is coming to fruition more often, with the industry now seeing food recalls rise 10 percent over the last five years, according to the Public Interest Research Group. Even one incident could devastate the bottom line and a company’s reputation.
Food Handling with Cleated Conveyor BeltsUsing a cleated conveyor belt that’s uniquely built for the type of food it’ll handle keeps operations running smoothly with foodstuff kept neatly in check and at the perfect temperature point during operation.
Mining and Excavation Cleated Conveyor Belts
Sand, gravel, limestone and other minerals are difficult to move through an excavation site or work site, given their often rugged layout. If walking through an area proves difficult, transporting sediment in or out of the area will only be more taxing.
By using a cleated conveyor belt, companies can significantly cut down on lost materials and better automate traditionally manual aspects of operation. Incorporating this technology can considerably improve worksite productivity, especially if it was non-existent beforehand.
At the end of the day, all materials respond differently to being handled by each design. Finding out whether a closed chevron or a U-shape design works better could make all the difference in improving the belt’s efficiency.
Logistics and Warehousing Cleated Conveyor Belts
The rise of eCommerce has helped logistics flourish on a massive scale, with warehouses fulfilling a key role in the success of the complex distribution that comes with an industry worth $1.6 trillion in 2018.
Automation is at the forefront of it all, with machinery playing a pivotal role in helping to achieve tight delivery deadlines. The equipment at the frontlines of moving materials and products is a critical investment, with roughly one in every 10 warehouses in the U.S. using machines that completely automate the process, according to Westernacher, a global consulting firm.
A single jam or lost parcel could bear significant costs for a company. Cleated conveyor belts ensure that items stay on track for correct distribution, maintaining peak efficiency and sustaining high productivity in light of increasing workloads.
Recycling Cleated Conveyor Belts
Sustainability has come to the forefront of consumers’ minds and nowhere is this being felt more than at recycling plants, with the US recycling rate up to 35 percent, according to the EPA. That’s roughly 87 million tons of material being recycled each year.
These operations deal with a massive amount of recyclables and attempting to process it all without the right equipment can lead to significant operational bottlenecks.
With a large volume of inconsistently sized materials that may have different weights, cleated conveyor belts help recycling plants keep materials in tow and operations humming along as scheduled. The custom-designed belts cleat are a boon to efficiency, ensuring a far greater amount of recyclable material gets to its intended destination without issue thanks to uniquely fitted designs
Retrofitting equipment with patterns that are targeted to transport specific materials can improve the efficiency of legacy machinery, helping companies stave off costly capital investments.

A: Damaged and broken cleats result from a variety of circumstances. Sometimes cleats suffer abuse on the conveyor's return side, banging into the framework and return idlers. In the case of vulcanized or bonded cleats, bonds can simply deteriorate over time. Severe operating environments, such as extreme or wildly fluctuating temperatures or added drag forces brought on by the conveyor passing through water, can cause cleats to weaken at the base or lead to vertical cracking. The conveyed products themselves — especially those made of abrasive, jagged, and heavy materials or those dropped from hoppers — also can lead to cleat failure.
Maintaining cleated belting is important because a nearly direct ratio can be drawn between the number of broken cleats and the loss of conveyor efficiency. A 10-cleat conveyor loses 10 percent of its potential productivity for each broken cleat. Furthermore, one missing cleat overloads the one immediately behind it, creating a domino effect. Damaged cleats usually become more costly and disruptive the longer they go unrepaired.
Be careful which action you take. Often when cleats break, conveyor users improvise with a piece of wood, angle-iron, or whatever else is handy crudely attached to the belt where the broken cleat sat. Although such improvised cleats might move product with varying degrees of success, their inflexibility can initiate new problems. In addition to potentially harming conveyed products, a makeshift cleat may damage the conveyor system as well. A piece of angle-iron, for instance, will not yield if it catches on framing or return idlers; more likely it will rip out the belt. Angle-iron or wood will not flex going around a pulley but instead will stress the belt and eventually shear the belt fabric.
Likewise, improper fasteners such as nails, wire, standard bolts, or screws can tear and weaken the belt's carcass, contributing to early belt failure and perhaps damaging pulleys or lagging. Although some belt productivity may be temporarily saved, this type of improvisation can easily do more harm than good.

A: Molded cleats are formed as integral features of the belt cover at the time of manufacture. This produces a reliable cleat with no attachment seams to present potential points of separation or cargo infiltration. Some distributors may stock a selection of molded belt with standard cleat types and patterns and may even offer custom molding of unique or proprietary designs to suit specialized cleat requirements. Because of its expense, molded-cleat belting is best suited for plants with a large number of cleated-belt conveyors and/or extremely long cleated belts or for conveyorized-equipment OEMs that buy belt in production quantities. Buying directly from belt manufacturers usually is the best way to get large quantities of belt with the same cleat style and pattern. Smaller users, however, will probably find molded-belt prices and long lead times impractical. Users of molded belts must be committed to stocking spare belts to avoid lengthy downtime in case of belt damage or failure.
Mechanically attached cleats offer an economical solution with more versatility and convenience than fabricating methods. Fastened to belts with specially engineered screws or bolts, these attachable cleats allow easy on-site installation by in-house maintenance personnel. Unlike bonding methods, mechanical attachment is not affected by belt material, age, or condition. For example, a mechanical rubber cleat can be attached to a PVC belt — even to a chain or plastic link belt. Nor is installation sensitive to ambient temperature, moisture, or dust. Some attachable cleat designs feature "pressure-cup" concave bases that enable the cleat to be drawn into a tight seal against the belt surface. This prevents materials from being trapped between the belt and cleat, which would not affect cleat attachment but may be important where cleanliness, contamination, or spoilage is of concern.
Another advantage is that some companies need to experiment with or periodically reconfigure belt cleat patterns, perhaps even change belt locations and functions. Mechanical attachment lets cleats be rearranged into different patterns or removed and used again later without requiring replacement of the conveyor belt.
Mechanically attached cleats can even help correct minor belt tracking problems. When installed as center guides on the underside of the belt and used with grooved pulleys and idlers or as edge guides that overlap the ends of standard pulleys, small V-Guides can counteract side-thrust forces that otherwise would draw the belt off-track.

A: Cleats, or ribs, can be seen as walls or shelves installed perpendicular to the lines formed by the belt edges. Chevrons are in a V-shaped arrangement. Lugs are individual “islands” or pillars in the belt’s surface. All are available in a variety of patterns and styles, with heights determined by the application. They can be molded integrally into the surface during the belt’s original manufacture, or they can be bolted or vulcanized to the surface of the belting.
Bear in mind that the taller the cleats, ribs, chevrons, or lugs are, the more vulnerable they are to damage and the harder the belt is to clean and seal.
One way to increase traction between the belt and the conveyed material is to use a top cover that features inverted chevrons. Instead of extending above the belt cover, inverted chevrons are recessed into the top cover, like the tread on a tire. The grooves are cut into the belt cover with a router; the grooves can be at a chevron angle or straight across the belt 90 degrees to the edge. This design allows greater success in cleaning and sealing the belt with traditional systems, although it is possible to fill the recessed cleats with material.

A: QBF provides cleats for conveyor belt along with buckets and sidewalls in PVC, Rubber and Urethane to help convey your product. Many of these profiles are especially helpful on incline belts, for carrying product up inclines and for product separation. Conveyor belt cleats including tee cleats, lug and scoop cleats can be added to most conveyor belts. Molded Chevron, crescent and other patterns can come molded into your belts for superior service. Elevator Buckets can be added to many belts with a variety of hole and bucket configurations to transfer and discharge your product or aggregate. To help keep material on your belt, we offer Conveyor Belt Sidewalls to maximize effectiveness of your belting system. Belt cleats and sidewalls can be added to our complete line of replacement conveyor belts.

A: Conveyor belt sidewalls are raised edges or walls that are attached to the sides of a conveyor belt. They provide additional containment and support for materials being transported on the belt, preventing spillage or product loss. The sidewalls can be made from various materials such as rubber, PVC, or urethane, and are typically designed to withstand the specific requirements of the application. By increasing the height of the belt edges, conveyor belt sidewalls improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the belting system by ensuring that materials stay on the belt during transportation.

A: What type of product are you conveying? The belts we offer to a client conveying breakfast cereal will be very different from those conveying gravel. Your product’s size, shape, and weight will determine the cleats’ size and how far apart they are spaced. Cleats can have applications in many industries such as agriculture, food handling, mining and excavation, warehousing, and recycling.
We will also consider the angle at which you’re conveying. Depending on your product, choosing a compound with a lot of grip for a low incline belt may be just as effective as using cleats.
These considerations will help us design cleats with the best performance characteristics for your application. At a glance, we offer rubber, nitrile, and butyl cleats. They can be configured horizontally or longitudinally for a one-of-a-kind solution. QBF can also adjust the shape of the cleat to match its purpose. For example, suppose you convey a product with fragile plastic packaging that could be easily punctured or torn. In that case, we can customize your cleated conveyor belt to have rounded edges for the safe transfer of product.

A: Cleats guide loose products, preventing them from falling off the conveyor belt. Cleats are indispensable components of conveyor belts in various industries, for example in the agricultural sector. However, a conveyor belt with flights also finds numerous applications in both light and heavy industries.
Cleats are components attached to conveyor belts that serve the purpose of guiding products onto the belt. They prevent products from falling off the conveyor belt, thus minimizing production losses.
Cleats come in different types, including transverse, longitudinal, or corrugated edges. Generally, the material of the cleat matches the conveyor belt, such as rubber attachments on rubber conveyor belts, plastic attachments on plastic conveyor belts, and so on. Combinations of attachments are also possible, such as using both longitudinal and transverse attachments on the same conveyor belt.
Cleats can be attached to conveyor belts using various methods. In the case of rubber conveyor belts, hot vulcanization involves heating the applied rubber under high pressure to integrate it seamlessly with the rest of the belt. This ensures maximum safety and stability through 100% adhesion, making it impossible for the attachments to come loose.

A: Conveyor belts are used to carry the whole belt conveyor system, which consists of two or more pulleys with an endless loop that rotates, one of the best example of a conveyor belt is the one that you see in the airport where we get our baggage. Conveyor belts are mostly used by several companies to move heavy materials as well as equipment. One of the most important thing to consider is choosing the best conveyor type for your product, and this is the most common missed consideration. You will need to think about the size and the width of your product, what it is made of, the way the product will be loaded to the conveyor, the speed, whether do you need an incline or decline conveyor, and the environment in which the conveyor will operate.
With these considerations in mind, you will be able to pinpoint the right type of conveyor for your company. One of the most used conveyor belt is what we call the Cleated Conveyor Belt. Cleat or cleated has been defined as a strip of wood or iron used to support the surface to which it is attached. Cleated conveyor belts are widely used to carry coal and powdery such as sand, grain materials, and fine coal up steep inclines. When cleats are used in a conveyor belt, faster speeds, greater inclines and less floor space is acquired. Below are the several shapes of Cleated Conveyor Belts:
Inverted Capital T
This type of cleated conveyor belt is best for lightweight materials such as packaged items, food products and small material parts. The cleats are shaped as an inverted letter T which stand perpendicularly on the belt and this will provide support and anti-shock for delicate materials.
Lugs and Pegs
These are special kinds of cleats that are installed in the conveyor belts in the form of individual lugs and pegs. This is commonly used to transport wet products or materials, such as wet fruits or vegetables. This type of conveyor belt offers a cost-cutting alternative for cargo companies.

A: Cleats usually suffer from different issues and will be damaged and broken, most of the time there is an abuse on the conveyor’s return side, and some banging into the framework. Some conveyors also use vulcanized cleats, and it will also wear and tear over time. Another factor that deteriorate the cleats are the severe changes in temperature. So to avoid damaging the cleated conveyor belts, there are some tips on how to maintain it.
When there are damaged cleats, learn to avoid using improvise materials, such as wood, iron, or anything that you think can fit. These improvised materials can make the conveyor work, but in the end it will cause more damage.
Avoid using improper fasteners, like nails, wires, bolts, or screws as this can weaken and tear down the carcass of the conveyor belt.

A: Increase Productivity, Improve Versatility, Create Solutions Utilizing mechanical cleats and guides provides many benefits and solves specific problems. For example, mechanical cleats can allow you to increase the incline of your conveyor, prevent material rollback, increase running speed, or provide a special sorting solution. And unlike chemical and heat welded cleats, mechanical cleats can be installed directly on the conveyor using simple hand tools (screw driver, belt punch). In addition, expensive equipment is not needed and there are no ‘shelf life’ concerns with chemicals. Simple and Versatile Problem Solvers In addition to being easy to install, mechanical cleats and guides offer other benefits, such as: Missing, worn, or broken cleats can easily · Low Maintenance: cleated belts, helping to eliminate costly be replaced on existing conveyor downtime. Versatile: Modify existing belts by changing spacing or placement of cleats to meet your specific requirements. Apply to any type of belt (PVC, rubber, urethane, even chain or plastic link belts) for improved operating efficiency. Unique: Mechanical cleats come in a variety of styles to fit your specific conveyor needs. For example, pegs and lugs provide a unique solution when a full belt width cleat is not required, such as if the material being conveyed has liquid that needs to run off or if specialized sorting is desired.

A: Allows You To Operate in Limited Space
Agricultural cleated belt conveyors play an important role in the farming process. Anyone in the business understands that using machines makes everything easier, from harvesting to manufacturing.
Cleated conveyor belts are useful for tasks such as agriculture, where the terrain and materials may cause challenges owing to steep inclines or the requirement to split things into batches. Incorporating them at various stages of the process may boost productivity.
Similarly, using a cleated conveyor belt with steep inclines might provide the mechanical edge that processing industries have been looking for. Companies can choose more vertical designs, which saves important floor space and lowers the capital cost of the equipment.

A: Automation plays a critical role in warehousing practices such as shipping and receiving. Transporting materials can be easier when machines are working to your benefit. Cleated conveyors keep products on track for proper distribution while maintaining peak efficiency and high production for growing workloads.
Limits the Loss of Materials
Because of their frequently uneven layout, gravel, sand, and other mineral deposits are tough to move through a jobsite. Companies may dramatically reduce wasted materials and effectively automate previously manual areas of operation by adopting a cleated conveyor belt. Incorporating this technology can significantly bolster a job’s efficiency because there is a reduced chance of losing track or damaging valuable material.
Improves Recycling Efforts
Sustainability has risen to the top of consumer concerns, and nowhere is this more evident than at recycling operations. These businesses handle a large volume of recyclables, and attempting to process it all without the proper equipment might result in substantial failures.
With a huge number of inconsistently sized materials of varying weights, cleated conveyor belts assist recycling companies in keeping commodities in tow and operations running as planned. The custom-designed belts guarantee that a far higher volume of recyclable material arrives at its designated destination without trouble due to uniquely fitting designs.
The advantages of using a cleated belt conveyor prove their worth in a multitude of industries.