Quick answer: A bottomless side belt transfer conveyor is virtually maintenance free. The motors and bearings are permanently lubricated at the factory, so your routine is: a thorough weekly cleaning with a mild detergent, a check that all feet touch the ground and the belts stay parallel, periodic lubrication of the large adjustment screws beneath the conveyor belts (food grade if needed), and a look at the belts for damage. Keep spare belts on hand, and lock out power before any service.
This is one of the easier machines on a packaging line to keep running. Here's the whole routine, plus the two procedures you'll eventually need: tensioning a belt and changing one.
Weekly routine
- Lock out power before you start.
- Clean thoroughly with a mild detergent. Product residue and dust on the gripper belts changes how they hold containers.
- Check the feet. All of them should touch the ground with no rocking. A machine that shifts goes out of alignment.
- Check parallelism. The belts should stay parallel to the machine frame and to each other.
- Inspect the belts for damage, wear, cuts or glazing.
Periodic lubrication
The motors and bearings are permanently lubricated from the factory, so there's no grease schedule for them. The one item to lubricate is the set of large adjustment screws beneath the conveyor belts. Lubricate them periodically, and use a food grade lubricant if your product or plant requires it.
Belt tensioning procedure
It may be necessary to occasionally adjust the belt tension on the gripper belts.
- Using a wrench, loosen the sprocket. It's a carriage bolt, so you won't need to back the screw up with another wrench.
- On the inside of the rail, carefully place a flat head screwdriver between the sprocket and the delrin rail.
- Carefully pry the sprocket away from the rail, then tighten the screw.
- Don't over tighten. The belt has teeth to drive it, so it doesn't need extra tension, and over tightening can shorten belt life.
Belt changing procedure
- Using a wrench, remove the screw from the sprocket completely.
- With an Allen wrench, remove the 6 screws on top of the motor plate.
- Lift the motor plate slightly, which gives you access to the belt so you can remove it safely from the unit.
- Place the new belt aligned with the sprockets.
- With the Allen wrench, replace the 6 screws on the top motor plate, then screw the sprocket completely with the wrench.
After a belt change, re-check belt parallelism with a straight edge and reset the grip with the crank handle before you run production.
Safety rules for service
- Disconnect and lock out all power sources before any service or maintenance.
- Never operate the machine without all safety guards and covers in their proper positions.
- Keep hands and foreign objects away from moving parts and pinch points. Moving parts can crush and cut.
- Wear OSHA approved eye and ear protection.
- Never operate with long hair, jewelry or loose clothing.
- Don't move the machine without additional personnel or mechanical assistance.
- Refer servicing to qualified service personnel, and don't modify the machine's design, controls or logic.
What to keep on the shelf
- Spare gripper belts. The manual specifically says to keep spares on hand.
- Food grade lubricant for the adjustment screws, if your plant requires it.
- The right wrenches and an Allen wrench set, so a belt change doesn't wait on a tool.
Need a replacement belt or a part for your CE-TRA-37 or CE-TRA-12FM C-frame gap transfer conveyor? Call 866-888-6327 with your model and we'll get you the right one.
Frequently asked questions
How much maintenance does a bottomless conveyor need?
Very little. The bottomless conveyor system is virtually maintenance free. The motors and bearings are permanently lubricated at the factory, so maintenance comes down to keeping the machine clean and adjusted.
How do I clean a side belt transfer conveyor?
Cleveland Equipment recommends a thorough weekly cleaning with a mild detergent. While you're at it, check that all the feet touch the ground, that the conveyors stay parallel to the machine frame and to each other, and check the belts for damage. Lock out power before cleaning.
Do I need to lubricate anything?
Yes, one thing. There are large adjustment screws beneath the conveyor belts, and we recommend lubricating them periodically, using food grade lubricant if your application requires it. The motors and bearings are already permanently lubricated from the factory.
How do I tension a gripper belt?
Loosen the sprocket with a wrench. It's a carriage bolt, so you don't need to back the screw up with a second wrench. On the inside of the rail, carefully place a flat head screwdriver between the sprocket and the delrin rail, carefully pry the sprocket away from the rail, then tighten the screw. The belt has teeth to drive it, so don't over tighten it, which can shorten belt life.
How do I change a gripper belt?
Remove the sprocket screw completely with a wrench. With an Allen wrench, remove the 6 screws on top of the motor plate. Lift the motor plate slightly and you'll have access to the belt to remove it safely from the unit. Place the new belt aligned with the sprockets, replace the 6 screws on the top motor plate with the Allen wrench, and screw the sprocket completely with the wrench.
Should I keep spare belts on hand?
Yes. The manual says to check the belts for damage and keep spares on hand. A spare set turns a belt failure into a short changeover instead of a day of downtime.
What safety steps should I take before servicing the conveyor?
Disconnect and lock out all power sources before any service or maintenance work. Never operate the machine without safety guards and covers in place, keep hands and objects away from moving parts and pinch points, wear OSHA approved eye and ear protection, and never operate the machine with long hair, jewelry or loose clothing. Refer servicing to qualified service personnel.
Talk to us about your line
Tell us your container size and shape, your line speed and what you need to code or inspect, and we'll tell you which transfer conveyor fits. Call 866-888-6327 (Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm CST), email sales@clevelandequipment.com, or see the CE-TRA-37 bottomless side belt transfer conveyor.