A Simple Method for Estimating the Driving Resistance of Rubber Conveyer Belts by Using a Self-Traveling Roller

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to provide a simple method for estimating the driving resistance of rubber conveyer belts. The driving resistance of a rubber belt running on the carrier roller was estimated by a resistance force acting on a roller moving on the rubber conveyer belt while the belt was fixed on an aluminum channel. Four types of conveyor belts were tested to confirm the present technique is useful for grading rubber conveyer belts from a viewpoint of energy dissipation on the carrier rollers of the conveyer system. The effects of normal force acting on the roller and driving speed of the roller on the resistance force were investigated. Four belts were fabricated with different rubber types of rubber, respectively. It was confirmed from the experiments that the estimated resistance force varied with respect to the rubber characteristics, which was consistent to the experience from the existing belt conveyer systems for energy consumption. The resistance force of the carrier roller increases with an increase of roller speed. It also decreases when a lower damping rubber is used while the belt rigidity does not affect the resistance force when low resistance rubber is used. The proposed method is applicable to estimate the total energy loss of rubber conveyer belts on the carrier rollers.