Steel belt
Steels belts are used in many industries such as food, chemical, wood processing, and transportation.
Description
They are generally made from carbon steel or stainless steel. Stainless steel belts are corrosion resistant and provide excellent surface quality. Stainless steel belts are used primarily in the chemical, food, rubber, plastic, wood, and laminate industries. Carbon steel belts are energy efficient and ideal for applications necessitating radiant heating of products or in high-temperature applications that might exceed the annealing temperatures of stainless steel belts also carbon steel belts can more evenly distributed heat since most stainless steel alloys are comparatively poor heat conductors. Carbon steel belts are used primarily in food processing, transport, and bake ovens. Textured Steel is also a commonly found belt material. The main purpose of using textured steel material is for its non-stick capabilities. This works well in the laminate industry.
Single Belt and Double Belt Systems
There are two main systems with steel belts the single belt system and the double belt system. The single steel conveyor belt systems tend to be designed for products in the form of pastilles, flakes, strips, or sheets. [1] Single sided products. The Double Belt System offer simultaneous processing of top and bottoms of products. Many applications can benefit from a double belt conveyor system, including chemical, rubber, laminate, or composite material processing operations.
Types
Ground
Normally, ground stainless steel belts delivered with surface roughness from Ra 0,4 μm down to 0,1 μm and with well-rounded edges. Ground steel belts are leveled and straightened to obtain optimal flatness and straightness and can be supplied in open lengths, with the ends prepared for welding on site, or in endless condition with a welded joint.
Perforated
Perforated steel belts enabling the drying media, for example hot air, to be transferred 'through' the steel belt, so that the air is in contact with all parts of the product on the belt. Normally, all manufacturer are offers perforated belts with five standard perforation patterns which cover ring most requirements. A broad range of other patterns, with a minimum hole diameter of 0.8 mm (0.03 in.) and different spacing, can be provided to suit specific applications.
Polished
Super-mirror-polished stainless steel belts for the production of different types of thin film and ceramic sheets. The belts are available in thickness from 0.60 to 2.00 mm (0.02362 to 0.0787 in.) with thickness variation less than or equal to 80 μm. Polished steel belts are delivered endless or as open-length belts.
Seamless
Seamless steel belts suitable for the production of high-quality plastic foils and films such as optical film and packaging film. Its normally with thickness ranging from 0.03 to 0.60 mm (0.012 to 0.23 inch). Seamless steel belts are suitable for machines with narrow drum diameters using wide belts.
Solid
Solid stainless steel belts are, as standard, delivered in cold-rolled condition with a mill finish of Ra < 0,4 μm and have well-rounded edges. Carbon steel belts are, as standard, delivered in a hardened and tempered condition with a mill finish of Ra < 0,4 μm and have well-rounded edges. Solid steel belts are leveled and straightened to obtain optimal flatness and straightness and it will be supplied in open lengths, with the ends prepared for welding on site, or in endless condition with a welded joint.
Material
In both cases the material is a special grade for carbon or stainless steel specifically designed for use as a steel belt, with the material specially alloyed or treated to have improved properties such ductility, strength, thermal conductivity etc. depending on the application.
Sizes
Steel belts are available in a range of sizes ranging typically from 400 mm wide x 0.6 mm thick to around 3,000 mm wide x 3.0 mm thick. There are special applications that may use belts of narrower and thinner or wider and thicker size, but these are not common. The length of the belts are typically in the range 10 m to 100 m long, however it is theoretically possible to produce a belt of unlimited length by joining of shorter belts sections. [2]
Usage
Food industry
Usually steel belts used in food industry are hygienic, easy to clean, reliable and versatile in use. They are used for various application include cooking, steaming and drying of meat and vegetables, freeze drying of instant coffee, casting of caramel and candy, forming of chocolate droplets, and many more.
Chemical industry
In this sector, continuous stainless steel belts are an integral part of continuous production processes. Unlike conveyor belts used purely for transportation purposes, steel belts used in this industry serve as media for transferring heat and/or pressure. Applications for steel belts in the chemical industry include casting, polymerizing of resins, waxes, para fins and many other substances.
Transportation
Steel belts helps to move the finished product or raw material. Steel Belt also help in parcel sorting systems, transporting of bottles, bulk loads, bricks, machinery parts and the like. Straight tracking, high abrasion resistance, and dynamic fatigue strength are crucial when transporting bulky material or unit load. Extremely high operating speeds cause a high number of load cycles and create severe operating conditions. Steel belts are made to match these extreme requirements.
Wood processing
Steel belts play an essential role in modern, continuous production processes for wood based panels (WBP) such as particle boards, OSB- and MDF boards, where they serve as heat and pressure transfer media at the same time. As the steel belt surface has a direct influence on the final panel surface quality, this application imposes high demands on steel belts regarding thickness uniformity and surface finish.
Advantages and disadvantages
Cost
Compared to other materials like a plastic belt, the steel belt is more expensive. However, the steel belt has an advantage overall because the Steel Belt is not a petroleum based material. The Steel Belt production prices per linear foot is less expensive compared to a plastic belt. Furthermore, the Steel Belt has a low cost of process compared to the plastic belt.
Durability
Steel belts can withstand sustained exposure to extremes of temperature, hostile environments, and vacuum. Many are engineered to withstand permanent stresses such as bending, and the heating and cooling process. A variety of alloys may be used, each with its own resistance to chemicals, humidity, and corrosion. Engineers generally select a belt material based on physical properties, availability, and cost.
Maintenance
Usually, the Steel Belt's maintenance on Steel Belt conveyor system. The steel belt conveyor system including the resolving of belt tracking problems, changing of spares and consumables.
Ease of repair
Normally, a steel belt will deform over time. The steel belt's curvature can be flattened by using various methods. Most familiar and superior solution for the Steel Belt's Cross Curvature is shot peening, which can offer a quick, onsite, cost-effective method of flattening out deformed steel belts without interrupting production.