Martin Engineering developed the Safe to Service (STS) blades to secure both primary and secondary cleaners rigidly to the conveyor mainframe, while offering more versatility and easier access. Initially available on the Martin QC1 Cleaner HD, Martin QC1 Cleaner XHD and Martin SQC2S Secondary Cleaner, external servicing reduces confined space entry and eliminates reach-in maintenance, while facilitating faster blade replacement. The result is greater safety and efficiency, with less downtime.
Daniel Marshall, product engineer for Martin Engineering, said: “Routine maintenance and replacement of blades that require reach-in or chute entry is an unpleasant and potentially dangerous task for workers. We developed the STS system so operators could work on the product safely from outside the chute wall, without breaking the plane of entry.”
The system was originally developed for an international client that needed a safer method for workers to replace cleaner blades on the company’s large conveyor system. After field-testing, operators found that the STS design lowered the chance of injury and required fewer workers to perform maintenance, contributing to greater overall process efficiency.
Made of rigid steel, the STS manifold is a circular mandrel fitted with a square shaft on which the blade cartridge is attached. Dual tensioners separately adjust either end of the patented Constant Angle Radial Pressure (CARP) blade on the primary cleaner and the cushioned reversible blade on the secondary cleaner, for a tight, consistent seal on the belt.
Designed for conveyor speeds up to 6.1m/s and belt widths from 457-3,048mm, the STS system is well suited to heavy-duty applications faced by industries such as mining, scrap and coal handling. The rugged QC1 Cleaner XHD primary cleaning blade removes the bulk of the carryback, equipped with a polyurethane formulation to match the application. Primary cleaner urethane blades come color-coded to suit specific applications and are set in a multi-hole cartridge, allowing the sliding blade rack to be lined up with the material path for effective cleaning. The SQC2S Secondary Cleaner uses a tungsten-tipped blade on a rigid polyurethane base or rubber buffers, which allow the system to handle belt reversals and rollback with no damage to the belt or splice.
Marshall explained: “Part of innovation is not only better mechanical performance, but also improved workplace operations. We’ve found that, in our pursuit to engineer a safer component, efficiency naturally follows.”
The STS design eliminates many of the factors that expose workers to potential injury. To remove the blade cartridge, operators bring the conveyor to a full stop and make sure that no loose material is near the header. Once the area is deemed safe, using appropriate lockout/tagout procedures, they simply disengage the blade cartridge from the tensioner and pull it out far enough to remove the quick release pin. The blade is replaced, pin reset, rack pushed back into position and the tensioner re-engaged. A single experienced maintenance technician can typically perform the replacement, resulting in a total reduction in the man-hours invested.
Many existing systems on the market require workers to enter the chute to perform maintenance and blade replacement. The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) calls for employees entering the chute to carry a confined space entry permit, but chute entry can involve up to three people: the entrant, the attendant and a supervisor. By eliminating the need for required permits, valuable labour can be reallocated elsewhere.
Marshall revealed: “Though the STS is currently geared toward heavy-duty conveyor systems, we’re working on expanding the technology to accommodate more of our product line. Our ultimate goal is to reduce and eventually eliminate reach-in and chute entry injuries related to blade cleaning and maintenance.”
