A Comprehensive Analysis of Common Conveyor Belt Joint Methods

In industrial production, common conveyor belts are widely used, and the quality of conveyor belt joints is directly related to their operational stability and service life. The following is a detailed introduction to several common joint methods for common conveyor belts.

---

The mechanical clamp connection is relatively simple to operate. The appropriate mechanical clamp is selected according to the thickness of the conveyor belt. In some scenarios of short conveyor belts or situations where urgent maintenance time is required, the mechanical clamp connection method has obvious advantages. However, this method has a significant drawback, that is, the strength of the conveyor belt will decrease due to the reduction of the joint strength after connection. For solid-woven plastic belts, the impact of this strength reduction is particularly obvious. Therefore, its application scenarios are relatively limited, mainly suitable for short-distance conveying situations where the overall strength requirement of the conveyor belt is not high.

The vulcanization method is a traditional and widely used joint method. During operation, the rubber belt needs to be cut into a stepped shape first, with each layer of canvas corresponding to one step, and the step width is generally set at 150mm. During the cutting and peeling process, it is necessary to ensure that the surface is flat, and the canvas layer must not be damaged. Subsequently, roughen the cut and peeled surface and evenly apply raw rubber paste for lap joint. At the joint of the upper and lower cover rubbers, stick raw rubber sheets, and then carry out vulcanization by heating and pressurizing. During the vulcanization process, the temperature needs to be precisely controlled at around 140°C, and the heating rate should be slow to ensure that the temperature at each point of the vulcanization plate is uniform. The heat preservation time is calculated from the moment when the temperature reaches 140°C. After the canvas layer reaches the corresponding heat preservation time, stop heating and let the conveyor belt cool naturally to room temperature. At this time, the belt conveyor can be put into normal use. The joint strength of the vulcanization method is relatively high, which can well meet the use requirements of most conventional conveyor belts.

The operation steps of the cold bonding method are relatively meticulous. First, the conveyor belt should be cut and peeled into a stepped shape as required, and the surface should be roughened. Then, clean the surface with acetone to ensure that there are no impurities left. After that, fully mix the two-component special adhesive for the conveyor belt according to the mixing ratio specified in the instruction manual, and evenly apply it to the cut and peeled layers. This operation should be carried out on both sides of the conveyor belt. After the first application of the adhesive, it needs to be left for 5 - 10 minutes. When touching the adhesive layer with your hand and it no longer forms a continuous strip, apply the adhesive for the second time. After the second application, leave it for another 10 - 15 minutes until the adhesive layer no longer appears thin when touched by hand. At this time, accurately align the two layers of the conveyor belt according to the stepped joint and press them firmly with a flat-head hammer to ensure a tight joint. Finally, apply the adhesive evenly at the joint, apply pressure, and keep it for 24 hours. Then, the conveyor belt joint can be cured and put into use. The cold bonding method does not require heating equipment and is relatively flexible in operation, making it suitable for some on-site conditions where heating vulcanization is not possible.

For solid-woven plastic conveyor belts, the plasticization method is a commonly used joint method. When determining the lap length, if the width of the conveyor belt is conventional, the lap length is taken as 300mm; when the belt width is 650mm or 500mm, the lap length is taken as 500mm. Before plasticization, the upper cover surface of one end of the plastic belt and the lower cover surface of the other end need to be peeled off, and then place a 1mm-thick polyvinyl chloride plastic sheet between the two ends. After preparation, carry out heating and pressurizing for plasticization. During the plasticization process, the heating should also be carried out slowly, rising from room temperature to around 170°C in about 30 minutes. After reaching this temperature, apply pressure again, and then cool it to room temperature and release the pressure to take it out. For multi-layer plastic conveyor belts, they can be cut and peeled into a stepped shape according to the size requirements of multi-layer rubber belts for plasticization operation. It should be noted that during the processes of vulcanization, plasticization, and cold bonding, temperature, pressure, and time are the key elements. They will vary with conditions such as the formula of the rubber compound, ambient temperature, and ventilation, and these three elements are interrelated and influence each other. The values given in this article are only for reference. In actual operation, especially when the type of conveyor belt changes, it is necessary to conduct tests first, obtain accurate actual parameters, and then carry out the formal joint operation.

Guangdong Boshun Belting Co., Ltd., as a leading enterprise in the industry, has profound technical accumulation and rich practical experience in the field of conveyor belts. The company not only has four production bases located in Huizhou, Guangdong, Wuxi, Jiangsu, Wuhu, Anhui, etc., but also is equipped with twenty-two advanced production lines. The annual output of its products reaches up to 20 million square meters, and the products are exported to many countries and regions around the world. In terms of the application and research of conveyor belt joint methods, Boshun Belting has always been at the forefront. Regardless of which of the above joint methods is used, the company's professional technical team can accurately grasp the key points of operation and strictly control the quality of each link to ensure that the conveyor belt joints are firm and reliable, providing customers with conveyor belt products with excellent performance, stability, and durability, and helping the efficient operation of production in various industries. Choosing Boshun Belting means choosing the guarantee of professionalism and quality.