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SMART Conveyor™ Troubleshooting
COMMON CAUSES
- The chute is too narrow.
- Material is collecting on a ledge inside the chute.
- Oversized have entered the material stream and are catching in the chute.
- Too much material is entering the chute at once.
- The chute is not steep enough.
SOLUTIONS
- Widen the chute. If possible, create relieving walls, where the base is wider than the top.
- Remove the ledges.
- Screen obstructions from the material.
- Meter the material stream.
- Increase the chute angle.
COMMON CAUSES
- No plug detector is installed.
- Automatic safety responses have not been programmed.
- Error in programming.
- Damaged plug sensor.
SOLUTIONS
- Install a plug detector and program the system to shut down the conveyor if it senses a plug.
- Program automatic responses.
- Consult an IT professional.
- Replace the plug detector.
COMMON CAUSES
- Paddles are too wide.
- The shaft or sprockets are misaligned.
SOLUTIONS
- Trim the paddles to fit.
- Align the shaft and sprockets.
COMMON CAUSES
Paddles are rubbing against bolts or rivets.
SOLUTIONS
Trim the overlong rivets or bolts.
COMMON CAUSES
Motor is wired incorrectly.
SOLUTIONS
Swap positive and negative wires.
COMMON CAUSES
O-ring hasn’t been removed.
SOLUTIONS
Remove O-ring.
COMMON CAUSES
- The chain is not properly tensioned.
- An obstruction has entered the material path and is blocking the normal operation of the conveyor.
SOLUTIONS
- Tension the chain to remove slack.
- Remove the obstruction and screen for future obstructions.
COMMON CAUSES
The conveyor lacks wear strips around the chute connection.
SOLUTIONS
Add wear strips around the chute.
COMMON CAUSES
- There is no oil in the gearbox.
- A bearing has no grease or is otherwise damaged.
- Paddle frames are rubbing against the sidewall.
SOLUTIONS
- Fill the gearbox with oil.
- Grease or replace the bearing.
- See Paddles rub against the sidewalls.
COMMON CAUSES
- Obstructions have formed in the conveyor.
- A plug has formed in the infeed or outfeed chute.
SOLUTIONS
- Screen out metals and oversized materials from the material stream.
- See Plugs are forming in the infeed or outfeed chute and A plug has formed, and the conveyor has not turned off.
See Paddle teeth are bent or broken.
COMMON CAUSES
- An obstruction has formed in the conveyor.
- A plug has formed in the infeed or outfeed chute.
- Conveyor is overloaded.
- Sprockets are misaligned.
- Chains are too tight and have accelerated the wear.
- The chain has corroded.
SOLUTIONS
- Screen out metals and oversized materials from the material stream.
- See Plugs are forming in the infeed or outfeed chute and A plug has formed, and the conveyor has not turned off.
- Meter the material entering the conveyor to comply with its rated capacity.
- Align the sprockets.
- Do not overtighten the chains.
- Reevaluate operating conditions and chain selection. A stainless steel chain may be required.
COMMON CAUSES
- An obstruction has formed in the conveyor.
- The conveyor has been overloaded.
SOLUTIONS
- Remove the obstruction. Screen material entering the conveyor.
- Meter material entering the conveyor.
COMMON CAUSES
Material has come to rest in the conveyor trough when the temperature dropped below 32°F/0°C and sufficient moisture was present.
SOLUTIONS
- Use anti-freeze agents to unstick material.
- Empty the conveyor before bringing it to a stop in freezing conditions.
SMART Conveyor™ Troubleshooting
COMMON CAUSES
- The chute is too narrow.
- Material is collecting on a ledge inside the chute.
- Oversized have entered the material stream and are catching in the chute.
- Too much material is entering the chute at once.
- The chute is not steep enough.
SOLUTIONS
- Widen the chute. If possible, create relieving walls, where the base is wider than the top.
- Remove the ledges.
- Screen obstructions from the material.
- Meter the material stream.
- Increase the chute angle.
COMMON CAUSES
- No plug detector is installed.
- Automatic safety responses have not been programmed.
- Error in programming.
- Damaged plug sensor.
SOLUTIONS
- Install a plug detector and program the system to shut down the conveyor if it senses a plug.
- Program automatic responses.
- Consult an IT professional.
- Replace the plug detector.
COMMON CAUSES
- Paddles are too wide.
- The shaft or sprockets are misaligned.
SOLUTIONS
- Trim the paddles to fit.
- Align the shaft and sprockets.
COMMON CAUSES
Paddles are rubbing against bolts or rivets.
SOLUTIONS
Trim the overlong rivets or bolts.
COMMON CAUSES
Motor is wired incorrectly.
SOLUTIONS
Swap positive and negative wires.
COMMON CAUSES
O-ring hasn’t been removed.
SOLUTIONS
Remove O-ring.
COMMON CAUSES
- The chain is not properly tensioned.
- An obstruction has entered the material path and is blocking the normal operation of the conveyor.
SOLUTIONS
- Tension the chain to remove slack.
- Remove the obstruction and screen for future obstructions.
COMMON CAUSES
The conveyor lacks wear strips around the chute connection.
SOLUTIONS
Add wear strips around the chute.
COMMON CAUSES
- There is no oil in the gearbox.
- A bearing has no grease or is otherwise damaged.
- Paddle frames are rubbing against the sidewall.
SOLUTIONS
- Fill the gearbox with oil.
- Grease or replace the bearing.
- See Paddles rub against the sidewalls.
COMMON CAUSES
- Obstructions have formed in the conveyor.
- A plug has formed in the infeed or outfeed chute.
SOLUTIONS
- Screen out metals and oversized materials from the material stream.
- See Plugs are forming in the infeed or outfeed chute and A plug has formed, and the conveyor has not turned off.
See Paddle teeth are bent or broken.
COMMON CAUSES
- An obstruction has formed in the conveyor.
- A plug has formed in the infeed or outfeed chute.
- Conveyor is overloaded.
- Sprockets are misaligned.
- Chains are too tight and have accelerated the wear.
- The chain has corroded.
SOLUTIONS
- Screen out metals and oversized materials from the material stream.
- See Plugs are forming in the infeed or outfeed chute and A plug has formed, and the conveyor has not turned off.
- Meter the material entering the conveyor to comply with its rated capacity.
- Align the sprockets.
- Do not overtighten the chains.
- Reevaluate operating conditions and chain selection. A stainless steel chain may be required.
COMMON CAUSES
- An obstruction has formed in the conveyor.
- The conveyor has been overloaded.
SOLUTIONS
- Remove the obstruction. Screen material entering the conveyor.
- Meter material entering the conveyor.
COMMON CAUSES
Material has come to rest in the conveyor trough when the temperature dropped below 32°F/0°C and sufficient moisture was present.
SOLUTIONS
- Use anti-freeze agents to unstick material.
- Empty the conveyor before bringing it to a stop in freezing conditions.
Important Notices
Technical Bulletins
Important Notices
Technical Bulletins
