Flat belts are used in pulley systems and as conveyor belts. They can be made from materials such as leather, nylon, rubber, and metal. They are easy to replace and come in standard sizes. They carry a rating for recommended use and need to be inspected for signs of stress.
A flat belt is a belt with a flat surface, usually evenly structured on both sides, used in a pulley system. Historically, flat belts were often used for power transmission from flywheels to other parts of machinery and today they are commonly used as conveyor belts or parts of belt arrays, where the flat surface makes it easier to move products along the top of the belt . A number of companies design machines to work with such belts and sell replacement belts and belt sections made from a variety of materials.
Leather was one of the original materials used in the construction of belts. Today, nylon and other strong synthetics are commonly used because they hold up longer. Rubber, metal, and other materials may be involved in the construction of a flat belt, and some are reinforced with particularly strong materials to address structural integrity concerns. When a flat belt is used as part of a drive, sometimes the belt is twisted to create a Mobius strip so that it wears evenly during use, lengthening the time between replacements.
In conveyor belt construction, flat belt can be used as a single wide belt on an assembly line or as part of a series of belt conveyors. Since the belts are driven by pulleys, anything resting on the belts is pulled along, moving it to a new location. Belts can be used to support various components during manufacturing and assembly, as seen in web presses, where belts hold paper as it dries, and to move products along the line.
Such belts are usually easy to replace, although the line must be turned off while the old belt is removed and the new one is installed. Breaks for tape inspections are also usually recommended to reduce the risk of injury to the inspector and to allow people to review the entire tape in detail without worrying about missing sections. Standard sizes are common, allowing people to use interchangeable products for repair and replacement.
Each flat belt carries a rating that provides insight into recommended uses. Generally, belts cannot be used with heavier weights than they are rated for, as they may fail. On a high-speed assembly line, a breakdown could damage equipment or cause serious injury to line workers. The belts also need to be inspected for cracks, frays and other signs of stress so they can be replaced in a timely manner.
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