Flat-Flex^® XT^® Conveyor Belt

Joining Flat-Flex^® XT^® belts with clips:

If joining Flat-Flex^® XT^® belts with 1-space joining clips only, use a 1-space clip per every XT space across the width of your belt. We do however recommend the use of 1-space and 3-space joining clips when applicable (See chart below).

The use of 1-space and 3-space joining clips together will make a stronger belt joint and minimise the number of gaps in the belt versus using 1-space clips only.

Number of joining clips required - if using 1-space and 3-space clips together:

Important Notes:

• 1-space clips are inserted into the XT (smaller) spaces only.
• Each 3-space clip is composed of two XT spaces and one wide space.
• A gap should appear in a wide space between each clip. A clip should be positioned in every XT space of the belt in order to engage with the drive sprockets.
• Always avoid bending clips at the Z-bend. Bend at the center of the clip’s straight wire for optimal use.
• Clip sets can only be ordered with belt.

Before you begin joining with clips:

• Plan out the number, type, and placement of splice clips by laying them in position across the belt.
• Ties can be used to hold belt ends together if needed.
• Make certain that no two end loops on the splice clip hook around the same Z-bend.
• All splice clip end loops should point in the same direction of the belt end loops, away from the direction of travel.

Begin installation at the center of the belt:

• Insert one end loop up and through the belt to connect. Use needle nose pliers to grip and hook the opposite end loop around the Z-bend joint to complete the splice.

• First install the single space clip, if required, as per the instructions above.
• To install a 3 space clip bend one of the XT spaces in the centre, opposite to the direction of travel.
• Insert the opposite end XT space up and through the belt and use needle nose pliers to “lock” the space into place.
• Use needle nose pliers to grip and hook the bent XT space and weave through to complete splice.
• Straighten the wire with pliers or Wire Belt’s straightening tool.

Install remaining splice clips:

• Continue splicing the remaining clips. There should be the same number and type of splice clips on each side of the centre space.

4 XT (7-space belt) spliced with single space clips

4 XT (7-space belt) spliced with 3-space clips

5 XT (9-space belt) spliced with a combination of 1 and 3-space clips

Drive Component Setup:

With Flat-Flex® XT® conveyor belt, setting up your drive and idler shaft is fast and simple.

To setup the drive shaft, install one drive sprocket per XT space along the full width of the drive shaft (figure above).  Ensure all sprocket teeth are fully aligned.


In setting up the idler shaft, install one drive sprocket per outside XT space of your belt (figure above). Then, install one blank on each of the inside XT spaces across the width of the belt. Additional sprockets, interspaced across the width, maybe required for wider belts.  Contact Wire Belt technical sales for more information.

Make sure to fully secure each component along the shafts and align all sprocket teeth.
 

Sprocket Placement

With Flat-Flex® XT® conveyor belts, sprocket setup is simple. One sprocket is used in each of the XT (small) spaces only across the entire width of the belt. Sprockets should have an even amount of clearance on both sides between each Z-bend.

The correct clearance must be present between every sprocket and its adjacent Z-bend. This cannot be emphasised too often. Belt life will be severely reduced if the Z-bends come in contact with any component of the conveyor.

General Best Practice: Wire Belt recommends that only genuine Wire Belt sprockets and blanks be used. Commercially available sprockets can cause the belt to surge, jump teeth, and may cause premature failure.

Flat-Flex® XT® sprocket placement