{"id":4454,"date":"2021-01-07T18:48:57","date_gmt":"2021-01-07T18:48:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test-key-technology.pantheonsite.io\/en\/?post_type=service_advisor&#038;p=4454"},"modified":"2023-04-07T18:50:04","modified_gmt":"2023-04-07T18:50:04","slug":"preventative-maintenance-for-conveyors-plus-special-parts-savings-on-strongarm-spring-arms","status":"publish","type":"service_advisor","link":"https:\/\/www.key.net\/en\/parts-service\/service-advisor\/preventative-maintenance-for-conveyors-plus-special-parts-savings-on-strongarm-spring-arms\/","title":{"rendered":"Preventative Maintenance for Conveyors PLUS Special Parts Savings on StrongArm Spring Arms"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Conveyors are an integral part of any food processing operation and are often referred to as the \u201cworkhorses\u201d of the plant. Robust, reliable and the ultimate multi-taskers, Key Technology\u2019s conveyors can be used in numerous applications, such as collection, distribution, feeding, dewatering, grading, separating and more.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Preventative Maintenance for Conveyors<\/h3>\r\n<p>Vibratory conveyors from Key Technology are highly reliable, but do require proper use and regular maintenance to prevent problems. Three of the most common causes of shaker failure are cracked beds, cracked frames, and broken arm springs. These are all preventable and are caused by improper maintenance and\/or running the shaker out of tune.<\/p>\r\n<p>Always refer to your <strong><a id=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.keytechnicalmanuals.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">technical manual<\/a><\/strong> for detailed procedures on replacing arms and tuning your shaker, but here are a few tips to keep in mind when performing routine maintenance activities.<\/p>\r\n<div>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Check that bed and frame are free from cracks and damage<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Inspect spring arms and shims for condition, cracks and loose hardware<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Inspect drives for proper operation<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Ensure your shaker is operating at correct speed and stroke<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div><strong>Tuning Your Vibratory Conveyor<\/strong><br \/>\r\nKeeping a shaker \u2018in tune\u2019 \u2013 with perfect synchronization between the drives \u2013 is essential for reliable operation, whether the shaker is distributing, grading, aligning, scalping, feeding, or collecting. An out of tune shaker will disrupt the product flow and put excess stress on the shaker arms, bed and frame.<\/div>\r\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/www.key.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Shaker-Tune.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4550\" src=\"https:\/\/www.key.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Shaker-Tune.jpg\" alt=\"Shaker Tuning Analysis\" width=\"550\" height=\"228\" \/><\/a><\/div>\r\n<div>Here are some common reasons out-of-balance motors become out of tune:<\/div>\r\n<div>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>The weight covers are dented<\/strong> \u2013 This causes the weights to rub on the cover and slow the drives, making them fall out of sync. If this is the case, the weight covers need to be repaired or replaced.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>The two drives are rotating in the same direction<\/strong> \u2013 This causes the shaker to become unstable. When replacing a drive, verify both drives are rotating in the correct directions.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>One of the drives is not spinning<\/strong> \u2013 This causes the shaker to become unstable but with less amplitude than if the drives are rotating in the same direction. Inspect the faulty drive to determine whether a repair or a replacement is needed.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Product buildup on the shaker bed has added excess weight<\/strong> \u2013 This causes product flow issues and over stroking. To avoid this, ensure the shaker bed remains clear of product buildup.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div><strong>Inspecting Your Conveyor&#8217;s Arm Springs<\/strong><br \/>\r\nOne of the easiest and most important ways to keep your shaker in tip-top shape is to replace the arm springs at earliest sign of damage and on a regular basis. Check the spring arms, which will show damage in several stages:<\/div>\r\n<div>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>Stage 1<\/strong> \u2013 damage appears around the holes<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Stage 2<\/strong> \u2013 damage is evident by parallel lines running through the length of the fiber near the backing plate<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Stage 3<\/strong> \u2013 appears as delamination of the layers, indicated by areas of lighter color<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Stage 4<\/strong> \u2013 appears as cracking or fractures in the fiber near the backing plate<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div>We recommend replacing all spring arms at the same time, even if only one is showing signs of damage, to ensure the life of your spring arms and operational efficiency of the conveyor.<\/div>\r\n<div>\r\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.key.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Shaker_Arm_Assembly.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-4551\" src=\"https:\/\/www.key.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Shaker_Arm_Assembly.jpg\" alt=\"Shaker Arm Assembly\" width=\"250\" height=\"360\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>Replacing Your Conveyor\u2019s Arm Springs<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div>The arm assembly consists of the StrongArm spring arm, two phenolic shims and a backing plate. Be sure to place one shim on each side of the StrongArm between the arm and the bed bracket, frame clip and backing plate.<\/div>\r\n<div>Because it is normal for the weight of the bed to allow a \u201csag\u201d in the arms, \u201cSet-Up\u201d arms must be in place. Without the \u201cSet-Up\u201d arms in place, the bed may not align correctly.<\/div>\r\n<div>Arms that are not properly aligned will cause extra stress on the bolts, arms, brackets and on the bed itself. If you experience frequently broken bolts or arms, misalignment of the arms is most likely the cause.<\/div>\r\n<div>\r\n<h3>Stock Up &amp; Save in February<\/h3>\r\n<strong>During the month of February, save up to 10% on StrongArm<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> spring arms and phenolic shims for your Key Technology shaker:<\/strong><\/div>\r\n<div>\r\n<div><strong>5%<\/strong> off of orders totaling $2,000-$5,000<\/div>\r\n<div><strong>8%\u00a0<\/strong>off of orders totaling $5,000 to $10,000<\/div>\r\n<div><strong>10%<\/strong> off of orders totaling more than $10,000<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div>\r\n<p><strong>Don\u2019t wait until you run out to restock these critical conveyor parts. <\/strong>Mark your calendar to<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.key.net\/en\/contact\/parts-inquiry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">place an order<\/a><\/strong> in February and take advantage of these limited-time* savings!<\/p>\r\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this edition of the Service Advisor we will be shining the spotlight on our Smart Shaker\u00ae family of conveyors, providing tips on tuning and preventative maintenance. Also, read on for can\u2019t-miss information on our upcoming special on StrongArm\u00ae spring arms and phenolic shims!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-4454","service_advisor","type-service_advisor","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.key.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/service_advisor\/4454"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.key.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/service_advisor"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.key.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/service_advisor"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.key.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4454"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}