August 14, 2017 - A new powered conveyor belt tracker from Martin Engineering delivers immediate and continuous precision adjustment of hard-to-track reversing conveyors, helping operators reduce spillage and extend the life of belts and other system components.  Able to effectively center the belt regardless of the travel direction, the robust unit has demonstrated greater durability and longer service life than previous designs, translating to a reduced cost of ownership.  Versatile enough to run on 110V / 220V power or a plant’s existing compressed air, the Martin® Tracker™ Reversing can even be specified with the company’s unique Roll Gen™ System, which uses the kinetic energy of the moving belt to produce a supply of electricity sufficient to power sensors, scales, lights and other devices when no power is readily available.  

“Most reversing belt trackers use a paddle wheel or roller of some kind to move the actuator,” explained Martin Engineering Product Development Engineer Andrew Timmerman.  “Like anything mechanical, the more moving parts there are, the more opportunity for something to wear out.  In comparison, this unit reduces the number of parts in a rugged design, using either an air or electric actuator to reverse the working direction.”  Engineered for reliability and longevity, the unit gives conveyor operators a new option for powering the tracker, allowing them to best suit their individual circumstances.

“We wanted to offer both types of actuator to meet the needs of virtually any location,” Timmerman continued.  “The sensors communicate the pulley direction, sending a signal either to an electrical relay or a pneumatic solenoid to extend or retract the cylinder as needed, depending on which version is specified,” he explained.  

For locations where no electricity or plant air is available, Martin Engineering designed the Roll Generator to serve as a self-contained mini power station.  In those cases, the tracker uses an electric actuator to move the rolls and correct the belt’s position.  The electric actuator is also used when 110/220V power is available from the plant.  The Martin® Tracker™ Reversing is available in Lower Units for installation on the return side of the belt and Upper Units for use on the conveyor’s carrying side.

Martin Engineering is a global innovator in the bulk material handling industry, developing new solutions to common problems and participating in industry organizations to improve safety and productivity.  The company’s series of Foundations books is an internationally-recognized resource for safety, maintenance and operations training, and employees take an active part in ASME, SME, VDI, CMA and CEMA.  The firm also played a pivotal role in writing and producing the 7th edition of the CEMA reference book, Belt Conveyors for Bulk Materials.  Martin Engineering products, sales, service and training are available from factory-owned business units in Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Russia, Spain, South Africa, Turkey and the UK.   For more information, contact us at info@martin-eng.com or visit www.martin-eng.com, or call (800) 544-2947. 

A direction sensor determines which side of the unit should be actively tracking the belt.  

For locations without electricity or plant air, the Roll Generator creates its own mini-power station.