February 2021

Sorter Belt Maintenance Checklist

Proper maintenance is integral to ensuring longer intervals between belt replacement. Following the recommended inspection intervals located in your technical manual will decrease downtime, as well as ensure top belt performance for your sorter. Some of the recommended areas to inspect are:

Tracking Sensors
For VERYX sorters, it is recommended to check belt tracking performance daily to confirm proper function. Tracking sensors should be cleaned if tracking sensor noise is too high, or if product is visible on tracking sensors.

For belts without tracking sensors, such as some acceleration belts, adjust the turnbuckles on the right and left sides, carefully noting that the belt is stable and centered. Consult your product’s technical manual for specific instructions for your Key sorter.

Shutdown Sensors
Shutdown Sensors are used on Key sorters to ensure the belt stops or the operator is audibly and visually warned if the belt tracks too far off center to either the left or right. This warning and/or stoppage ensures the belt won’t tear apart and place belt material into the accept stream. Following your sorters recommended sensor inspection interval will ensure the shutdown sensors are operating correctly.

Tension
Proper tension is very important to extending the life of the belt. Tension check procedures and intervals vary by sorter and information specific to your model can be found in your technical manual. For example, VERYX tension checks are recommended on a monthly basis, whereas we recommend performing tension checks weekly on Manta sorters.

Cleaning and Sanitation
Some types of belt materials are especially sensitive to high and low temperatures and certain types of cleaning chemicals. It is vital that the sanitizing solution not sit longer than recommended by the belt manufacturer. Consult your belt manufacturer for specific chemicals that may be used on your belt. It is also vital not to use high pressure water when cleaning or sanitizing your sorters belt.

Belt Speed
Belt speed is crucial for an optical sorters performance, providing a specific amount of product to the optical equipment in a given timeframe. Verifying belt speed can be accomplished by using a tachometer and following the steps in your sorter’s technical manual. On the VERYX sorter, these speeds are set by our Applications Engineers and are based on the type of product, as well as throughput. On the Optyx 6000, belt speed is set at 600 ft/min (389 rpm).

Product guides
Check daily for clearance between product guides and belts. Product guides should be low enough to block product, but not make contact with the belt. Some sorters, such as the Optyx require an exact measurement, be sure to pay close attention to the guidelines laid out in your technical manual to ensure sort performance and equipment reliability.