Why do conveyor idlers easily jam?

Why do conveyor idlers easily jam?

There are four core reasons why conveyor idlers are particularly prone to jamming,all of which are common in the industry:

1.Dust,coal slurry,and sand get into the bearings(the main reason)The harsh environments of mining,sand,coal,and grain industries mean that if the seals at both ends of the idlers are weak,dust,mud,and fine materials will seep in.

Over time,the bearings become clogged,the balls stop rotating,and eventually,the rollers seize up.

2.Poor sealing and weak waterproof and dustproof capabilities Many cheap idlers use only a simple single-layer seal without a labyrinth structure.When exposed to water spray,washing,or rain,water and mud directly enter the bearings.

The grease fails,and the bearings quickly rust and seize.

3.Poor bearing quality+insufficient lubrication/dry friction Over time,the grease on the idlers decreases,deteriorates,and is lost,leading to dry friction.

Combined with ordinary bearings,which are not wear-resistant or heat-resistant,they quickly overheat and seize.

4.Cloth strips,woven bags,and wire wrapped around the shaft.This is the most common problem on conveyor lines:plastic bags,cloth strips,wire,and hemp rope are wrapped around the roller shaft.The tighter they are wrapped,the more they wear down the seal,and the roller is"pressed"so tightly that it stops turning.

GB/T 7714：

VasićM,StojanovićB,BlagojevićM.Failure analysis of idler roller bearings in belt conveyors[J].Engineering Failure Analysis,2020,117:104898.DOI:10.1016/j.engfailanal.2020.104898.

APA：

Vasić,M.,Stojanović,B.,&Blagojević,M.(2020).Failure analysis of idler roller bearings in belt conveyors.Engineering Failure Analysis,117,104898.

MLA：

Vasić,Milan,et al.“Failure Analysis of Idler Roller Bearings in Belt Conveyors.”Engineering Failure Analysis,vol.117,2020,p.104898,doi:10.1016/j.engfailanal.2020.104898.