Martin Engineering Announces Conveyor Belt Tracker
The pioneer in belt conveyor accessories has launched the next generation of tracking technology for a global marketplace. Martin Engineering designed the highly responsive Martin® Tracker™ HD (heavy-duty) belt conveyor alignment system with widely available plate steel to increase availability and affordability across all 6 continents it serves. The Martin Tracker HD upper and lower units provide immediate, continuous, and precise adjustment of the mistracking belt. The result is greater productivity with less unscheduled downtime from both equipment replacement and spillage cleanup for a lower cost of operation.
The Martin Tracker HD’s unrivaled precision comes from sensing rollers that ride either side of the belt edge and are attached to the end of an arm assembly. As the rollers detect slight variations in the belt path, the force of the wandering belt causes the arms to automatically position a pivoting idler in the opposite direction of the misalignment. The lever action requires less force to initiate the correction and only slight adjustments mean the consistent contact between the belt and idlers reduces the energy needed to bring the belt back into alignment.
Easy to install and designed to withstand the stress associated with wider, thicker belts moving at higher speeds and carrying heavier loads, the Martin Tracker HD is suitable for a belt thickness up to 1.125 in. (28.5 mm) and speeds up to 800 fpm (4 m/s). Both the upper and lower units accommodate belt widths of 36-72 in. (915-1828 mm) with an effective tracking distance of 150 ft. (45.72 m).
Available in 20-, 35-, and 45-degree trough angles, there are options for the addition of a Martin® Trac-Mount™ Idler, which allows the entire troughed idler unit to be slid away from the mainframe and safely serviced from outside of the system by a single worker. This important safety element can considerably reduce the amount of labor and maintenance time for the replacement of broken or frozen idlers. Also available are rubber-lagged rollers on the lower tracker and a grease kit for both the upper and lower assemblies. The unit is not suitable for reversing conveyors, belts with substantial rollback, or paddle or chevron belts.
It is recommended operators install Martin Tracker HDs after the load zone on belts wider than 24 in. (610 mm) with additional units placed down the system to keep the belt centered and tracking. By placing an upper unit before the discharge, operators ensure the belt is centered on the head pulley allowing for optimal belt cleaning with maximum cargo discharge.
The lower tracker has been redesigned to include an extra safety feature not found in competitor units. Regardless of the conveyor, return rollers have been known to detach and drop, creating a serious safety issue, so the Martin Tracker HD has been equipped with safety guarding on the steering roll to prevent the roller from coming off or putting workers in harm’s way. On the return, it is recommended to place a tracker after the discharge zone or take-up pulley, as well as periodically down the system depending on length. To ensure centered loading, the belt must enter the loading zone aligned, so installing a lower unit approximately five times the belt’s width in distance from the tail pulley will support an efficient loading process.
For more information, visit https://www.martin-eng.com.
