Martin Engineering addressed the problem of installing conveyor belt cleaning technology in areas where space is limited with the development of its new design SQC2STM RM (Reduced Mini) cleaner.
The SQC2STM RM is a compact secondary belt cleaner built with a narrow profile that resists material build-up.
Patented rubber buffers maintain cleaning pressure on the new design, engineered to deflect and allow splices to pass without damage to the belt or cleaner, even on reversing belts. The construction incorporates individually-cushioned stainless steel blades with tungsten carbide tips for effective cleaning with negligible risk to belt, splice or blade, and it can withstand even punishing operating conditions, including corrosive environments, high-speed belts and high-tonnage loads, according to the company.
The SQC2S RM requires just 134 mm (5.27 in) of space from the tip of the blade to the bottom of the mainframe, the company says.
Dave Mueller, Conveyor Products Manager at Martin Engineering, said it is not just the size of the cleaner that is a major selling point.
The blades of the cleaner conform to the belt profile and adjust individually to deliver continuous contact across the belt, he said.
“In a perfect world, bulk materials would load uniformly, wearing the blade evenly, but that rarely happens. By having multiple segments attached to a single rigid assembly, the tension can be maintained and adjusted accurately, quickly and safely,” he said.
Like the other designs in the SQC2 product line, blade removal and replacement is carried out by removing the lock pin from the main support assembly and sliding out the cartridge.
“The lock pins are a key component to Martin Engineering’s ‘no-reach design’, which allows workers to conduct their lockout/tag-out procedure more safely,” Martin Engineering said, adding that the unit is one of its Safety First™ family of products, helping customers achieve OSHA compliance.
The cleaner is suitable for belt widths from 450-1,829 mm (18-72 inches) and operating speeds up to 3.81 m/s (750 ft/min). It can be used in applications involving operating temperatures between -34°C and 149°C (-30°F and 300°F) and the design features all-steel powder coated construction (except for the rubber buffer).
Additionally, a dust-tight door to cover the opening for the mainframe has been designed to fit the reduced component size, for a clean, efficient installation, Martin Engineering says.
Similar to the original design, when the blade wears out, the removable cartridge allows easy replacement, so the end user can have a spare cartridge on the shelf and the service can be carried out in a “matter of minutes”, the company says.
Martin Engineering expects the SQC2S RM to be in demand in applications where installation space is at a premium, including biomass, recycling, waste-to-energy, trash sorting, foundries and steel production.