"Conveyor Belt Ripper" - Rubber Belt Mart

Client: Rubber Belt Mart
Product: Conveyor Belt Ripper for separation of layers of conveyor belt rubber

Rubber Belt Mart approached Equifab with a concept requiring development of a machine capable of separating layers of a rubber conveyor belt. The client sourced a hydraulic motor and a control unit. In consultation with Rubber Belt Mart, Equifab designed, drafted and fabricated structural frames capable of incorporating the hydraulic motors.

Part of the technical complexity of the project centred on the requirement for the drive coupling to quickly engage and for the structures to be strong enough to absorb the torque generated on operation.

The drive shaft needed to be completely removable and suit existing bosses. The drive shafts bearing had to be able to split in half to remove the drive shaft and to remove the roll of split rubber. Further, the drive shaft had to be able to manage rolls of rubber up to 2.4 m wide and weighing up to 8 tonne.

Result: Installation and commissioning went exceptionally well.

The machine takes half the time previously taken. In the past it would take a minimum of 12 hours to split a belt. It now takes a maximum of 6 hours to complete the same job. In addition, the bulk of the operation can now be carried out indoors and with far less risk to employees.