Conveyor belt wear can be a problem in many different applications and environments. Often this can be simply due to wear and tear, but sometimes the damage can be done by parts not doing what you want them to do while on the belt.
One such application can be with small thin products like paper, scrap paper or envelopes, where the thin product can often become trapped under the belt where it's not supposed to be.
Over time, this can produce a build up of paper that can ultimately prevent the belt from working properly and in some cases can cause a fire risk.
Another application is where swarf or sharp small metal parts can find themselves stick under the belt. These small sharp products can however cause much worse problem for the belt, much sooner.
Ripped belts and tracking problems can be caused by this product ingress. One way around this for us has been to fit side skirts to the conveyor belt system. http://www.asconveyorsystems.co.uk
These side skirts have a double purpose, they act as a side guide to keep the product on the belt, but they also actively prevent the parts from getting to the edge of the belt which is where they can become trapped under the belt and cause damage.
We've had many satisfied customers using this method on their conveyor belt systems and it does not cost the earth either.