Steel belt: Difference between revisions
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'''Steel belts''' are a type of [[conveyor belt]] used in many industries such as food, chemical, [[wood processing]], and transportation.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bakingbusiness.com/articles/57392-avoid-those-sticky-situations-when-freezing-baked-goods | title=Avoid those sticky situations when freezing baked goods | Baking Business }}</ref> |
'''Steel belts''' are a type of [[conveyor belt]] used in many industries such as food, chemical, [[wood processing]], and transportation.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bakingbusiness.com/articles/57392-avoid-those-sticky-situations-when-freezing-baked-goods | title=Avoid those sticky situations when freezing baked goods | Baking Business }}</ref> |
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[[File:ERGO30inox.jpg|thumb|The ERGO30inox conveyor belt with its |
[[File:ERGO30inox.jpg|thumb|The ERGO30inox conveyor belt with its hardre showing]] |
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== Description == |
== Description == |
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Steel Belts are generally made from [[carbon steel]] or [[stainless steel]]. Stainless steel belts are corrosion-resistant, an important 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 less heat-resistant stainless steel belts. Carbon steel belts provide the added advantage of even more heat distribution than provided by most stainless steel alloys, hampered by less efficient heat conductors. Carbon steel belts are used primarily in food processing, transport, and bake ovens. Textured steel is also commonly used when a non-stick surface is required, as in the laminate industry.{{clarify|what kind of laminate?|date=January 2022}} |
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== Single and double belt systems == |
== Single and double belt systems == |
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The two main systems using steel belts are single-belt and double-belt systems. Single-belt systems are appropriate for manufacturing single-sided products such as [[pastille]]s, flakes, strips, and sheets.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.berndorfband-group.com/en/products/belt-systems/steel-belt-cooler/| title = Steel belt cooler}}</ref> The double-belt system offers simultaneous processing{{clarify|what kind of processing?|date=January 2022}} of both the top and bottom of a product, such as chemical, [[Synthetic rubber|rubber]], [[Lamination|laminate]], and composite material processing operations.{{clarify|how or why do they benefit?|date=January 2022}} |
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==Types == |
==Types == |
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===Ground === |
===Ground === |
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Normally, ground stainless steel belts delivered with surface roughness from Ra 0 |
Normally, ground stainless steel belts are delivered with surface roughness ranging from Ra 0.4μm{{clarify|meaning of Ra|date=January 2022}} down to 0.1μm, with well-rounded edges, and optimized for level and straight contour. Such belts are supplied in open lengths, with the ends prepared for welding on site, or in endless condition with a welded joint. |
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===Perforated=== |
===Perforated=== |
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Revision as of 02:49, 23 December 2022
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Steel belts are a type of conveyor belt used in many industries such as food, chemical, wood processing, and transportation.[1]
Description
Steel Belts are generally made from carbon steel or stainless steel. Stainless steel belts are corrosion-resistant, an important 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 less heat-resistant stainless steel belts. Carbon steel belts provide the added advantage of even more heat distribution than provided by most stainless steel alloys, hampered by less efficient heat conductors. Carbon steel belts are used primarily in food processing, transport, and bake ovens. Textured steel is also commonly used when a non-stick surface is required, as in the laminate industry.[clarification needed]
Single and double belt systems
The two main systems using steel belts are single-belt and double-belt systems. Single-belt systems are appropriate for manufacturing single-sided products such as pastilles, flakes, strips, and sheets.[2] The double-belt system offers simultaneous processing[clarification needed] of both the top and bottom of a product, such as chemical, rubber, laminate, and composite material processing operations.[clarification needed]
Types
Ground
Normally, ground stainless steel belts are delivered with surface roughness ranging from Ra 0.4μm[clarification needed] down to 0.1μm, with well-rounded edges, and optimized for level and straight contour. Such belts are supplied in open lengths, with the ends prepared for welding on site, or in endless condition with a welded joint.
Perforated
Perforated steel belts enable 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, manufacturers offer perforated belts with five standard perforation patterns[clarification needed] which cover 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.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
Seamless
Seamless steel belts are suitable for the production of high-quality plastic foils and films such as optical film and packaging film. Thickness normally ranges 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.[citation needed]
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 are supplied in open lengths, with the ends prepared for welding on site, or in endless condition with a welded joint.[citation needed]
Material
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.[citation needed]
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.[3]
Usage
Food industry
Steel belts used in food industry are hygienic, easy to clean, reliable and versatile in use. They are used during cooking, steaming and drying of perishables, freeze drying of instant coffee, casting caramel and candy, and forming of chocolate droplets.
Chemical industry
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, paraffins and many other substances.
Transportation
Steel belts may be used to move the finished product or raw material or 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 can be made to suit 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 price per linear foot is less expensive compared to a plastic belt.[4] Furthermore, the Steel Belt has a low cost of process compared to the plastic belt.[clarification needed]
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 and changing of spares and consumables.[clarification needed]
Ease of repair
Normally, a steel belt will deform over time.[clarification needed] The steel belt's curvature can be flattened by various methods. Most familiar and superior solution for the steel belt's cross curvature[clarification needed] is shot peening, which can offer a quick, onsite, cost-effective method of flattening out deformed steel belts without interrupting production.
References
- ^ "Avoid those sticky situations when freezing baked goods | Baking Business".
- ^ "Steel belt cooler".
- ^ "Reel dimensions".
- ^ "Metal vs Plastic Belts". I.J. White Systems. Retrieved 2022-07-20.