Drives and controls in various versions
MTF Technik offers powerful drives that optimally combine strength, performance and economy. Each drive is individually tailored to the respective conveyor belt and specific requirements to ensure maximum efficiency and reliability. Thanks to their robust construction and solid design, the drive systems used have proven themselves in a wide variety of applications and ensure a smooth material flow.
The drive solutions from MTF Technik impress with their high serviceability and versatile control options. Depending on requirements, the belt speeds can be operated at a constant speed, continuously variable, clocked or in a combination of both control types. This enables precise adaptation to the respective conveying process, optimising production processes and minimising downtimes.
MTF Technik relies on innovative drive concepts that can be flexibly integrated into a variety of conveyor belt systems. While internal drives and drum motors are equipped with planetary gearboxes as standard, external drives offer the option of using worm or spur gearboxes. This selection guarantees optimum adaptation to the specific operating conditions.
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Why should you choose MTF Technik?
Customised product manufacturing
Special solutions
Comprehensive service
Expertise for over 50 years
Patented technologies
Advantages of MTF Technik Drive types
Efficient and high-torque three-phase motors
Large selection of different drive units depending on customer requirements
Low maintenance requirements and high availability
Drum motors and internal drives for optimum use of space
Wide range of standard belt speeds and performance classes
High-quality materials
The drives in detail
A wide range of drive solutions for every conveyor belt application
A wide range of drive solutions for every conveyor belt application
Most of MTF Technik's drive units are based on a three-phase gear motor. For decades, we have relied on our proven German suppliers for worm gear motors, helical gear motors, drum motors and planetary gear motors. The motors can be controlled in different ways depending on the task at hand. For devices that are designed as incomplete machines within the meaning of the Machinery Directive, the motor terminal box is the interface to the customer's application. This means that the customer is responsible for all wiring. This is the case, for example, in many OEM applications where conveyor belts are permanently installed in customer machines such as paper cutting machines, packaging machines, robot cells, etc. In this case, motor protection or speed control is usually provided by a customer-supplied control system.
The simplest and most cost-effective complete control system is a motor protection switch. This monitors the current consumption of the motor and protects it against overload. The motor protection switch is supplied as standard in a housing with an emergency stop push button. On request – and depending on the application – the emergency stop button can also be omitted. This allows the devices to be switched on and off and operated at a constant speed. This drive unit is designed for 3~ 400V/50Hz including a 16A CEE plug as standard. For special applications, the motor can also be operated in a single-phase stonemason circuit with a suitable capacitor. In this case, the unit is equipped with a Schuko plug.
Another form of control is a frequency converter. As standard, MTF Technik uses 1~ 230V, 50Hz in combination with a Schuko plug for the power supply. The frequency converter can be used to switch the device on and off and also to control its speed. The maximum frequency can be set from approx. 10Hz to 85Hz, i.e. a control range of 1 : 8.5. However, depending on the application, the control range is reduced to 20Hz to 75Hz, i.e. a control range of approx. 1 : 3.75. The frequency converters can be parameterised depending on the version so that special start-up ramps ensure a smooth start. In addition, the devices have external interfaces for controlling the speed via an external voltage or for starting, stopping or changing the direction of rotation via potential-free signals, etc. Drive units with frequency converters are mainly used in separating drums, where the rotational speed is important for optimum separation results. They are used on conveyor belts to ensure precise transfer speeds from existing production machines, e.g. extruders. In addition, the soft start ensures gentle operation with heavy loads or unstable conveyed goods, which would fall over if the start-up were too jerky.
Digital cycle control devices are another standard control for MTF Technik devices. They are designed for 3~ 400V/50Hz including 16A CEE plugs and ensure that the conveyor belt can be operated in cycles. This can be done either via freely adjustable run and pause times on the clock control device or via a so-called trigger operation, in which the device runs at a constant speed for an adjustable time after a potential-free contact and then stops until the next trigger signal. Clock control devices are used in applications where, for example, a conveyor belt is to run at a very slow speed. This can be the case in cooling processes. Very low average speeds can be achieved with appropriately short running times and long pause times. Another typical application is conveyor belts that are integrated into robot cells. Here, a customer-specific control system sends a potential-free signal to the timing switch after each deposit process to move the conveyor belt forward a little.
A combination device consisting of a timing switch and a frequency converter links the two aforementioned controls. This allows, for example, a soft start to be integrated into the clock operation in order to transport heavy loads on a conveyor belt. This protects the drives.
In addition, MTF Technik offers special frequency converters with a reversing function for separation drums as standard. These enable time-adjustable operation in two directions, which is important for knock-off drums.
Special applications such as ATEX guidelines or country-specific requirements such as UL versions, special plugs, special manufacturer specifications, clean room versions, food-grade lubricating greases, etc. can be taken into account if required. We would be happy to provide you with personal advice for your individual requirements.
Questions and answers about Drive types
Are there drives with adjustable speed?
Most devices from MTF Technik are equipped with three-phase motors. These can be controlled using a frequency converter if required. This allows the speed to be regulated within a range of approx. 10Hz to approx. 85Hz.
However, depending on the device type and load, the lower frequency should be increased to approx. 20Hz, as the torque of the motor may not be sufficient to start the device safely at too low frequencies. This would damage the drive.
What are the advantages of a frequency converter?
A frequency converter can be used to adjust the speed of the device. This allows flexible response to different conveyor belt speeds, for example.
In addition, the frequency converter offers the advantage that the start-up and stop processes can be made smooth by means of adjustable frequency ramps (soft start). This is particularly advantageous when heavy loads have to be transported and accelerated and stopped. In this case, the drive components are significantly protected by the soft start.
It may also be necessary to use a frequency converter for functional reasons, for example, if parts are stacked on top of each other on a robot conveyor belt or if parts that are unstable overall need to be transported. The soft start prevents jerky acceleration and thus enables safe transport.
What is a drum motor and what are its advantages?
Drum motors are electric drives in which the motor and gearbox are integrated into the drive roller. The electric motor inside drives the drive roller tube via the gearbox, which in turn drives the belt.
This compact design is particularly advantageous in confined spaces, as there are virtually no protruding components apart from the cable outlet. This also protects the drive from damage.
The motor is cooled directly by the belt, which absorbs the heat with each rotation and dissipates it along the conveyor. Accordingly, there are no cooling fins or air turbulence caused by an external fan. These properties are particularly desirable for use in clean rooms (easy cleaning – no air turbulence).
In addition, the drum motors are equipped with highly efficient planetary gearboxes. These have a very good efficiency rating and allow the use of low-power motors. This saves energy in the long term.
However, high efficiency also has its pitfalls. Since the gearboxes are not usually self-locking, drum motors cannot be used on inclined conveyor belts that are subjected to high loads. In this case, the conveyor belt would otherwise run backwards uncontrollably when the power is switched off. In these cases, gear motors with appropriate self-locking or motors with brakes should be used.
What is special about the internal motors?
MTF Technik offers a speciality in conveyor belt construction with its internal drives. An efficient three-phase planetary gear motor, including the associated control components (motor protection switch, frequency converter, cycle timer), is completely integrated into the frame of the conveyor belt.
The motor and control system are protected from external influences by a sturdy cast aluminium cover. For maintenance purposes, the drive unit can be easily removed from the belt body without dismantling the entire conveyor belt.
Compared to a drum motor, this system offers the advantage that the gear motor can be equipped with sprockets of different sizes. This makes it easy to change the belt speed without having to replace the gearbox or the entire gear motor.
When should a mid-drive be used?
Conveyor belts usually have a drive roller and at least one deflection roller. In a head or tail drive, the drive roller is usually fixed in the frame, while the deflection roller is movable so that the belt tension can be applied there. The deflection roller must therefore be movable in the conveyor belt axis. However, this can cause problems with several conveyor belts running in succession if the size of the gaps between the belts changes as a result. A centre drive can be the solution here, as in this case the belt tension is applied by the drive roller.
This type of design also allows conveyor belts to be equipped with knife edges on both sides while maintaining a constant centre distance.
What drive power does a conveyor belt require?
The required drive power depends on various factors. In addition to the mass to be transported, consisting of the actual conveyor goods and the support structure (e.g. conveyor belt, hinged chain belt, wire mesh belt, magnetic carrier, etc.), the most important factors are the conveyor speed and the height difference to be bridged. Friction values also play a role. Here, it makes a difference whether a conveyor belt is pulled over a sheet metal plate or over rollers, for example. Internal friction in the form of belt material stiffness, belt design (e.g. multiple deflections), the type and reduction ratio of the gearbox or even the operating mode (e.g. bulk operation) also play a major role.
All these factors are considered together in mathematical formulas and then precisely designed for special cases.
However, the vast majority of conveyor belts from MTF Technik are equipped with drive powers between 90W and 370W. This is sufficient for most applications with conveying weights up to 100kg and a belt speed of approx. 15m/min.
What are the advantages of a pulse switch and where is it used?
A digital clock control device enables different operating modes on a conveyor belt:
- Continuous operation
- Cyclical operation with adjustable running and pause times
- Trigger operation via an external start signal
In continuous operation, the conveyor belt runs at a constant speed as long as the device is switched on.
In cycle mode with adjustable run and pause times, the times can be freely selected from 0.1 to 9999 seconds on the display of the cycle timer. This operating mode can be useful, for example, if components on a conveyor belt need to cool down and a very slow belt speed is required. By combining a short run time and a long pause time, very low average speeds can be achieved that would not be possible with a frequency converter.
Trigger mode requires an external start signal in the form of a potential-free contact. This is particularly advantageous where a production machine with longer cycle times delivers products to the conveyor belt. Here, a potential-free contact can be transferred to the cycle timer with each production cycle. This pulse causes the conveyor belt to run for a time that can be freely set on the cycle timer. The conveyor belt then remains stationary until the next trigger pulse is received.
If the production machine malfunctions and stops running, the conveyor belt also stops accordingly. This reduces energy consumption and wear.
