Conveyor Noise Issues - A Thing of the Past by Paul Timmerman

Conveyor Noise Issues - A Thing of the Past by Paul Timmerman

[Feb 02, 2011] Sound is a very interesting topic. There are some sounds that we love. It might be the chirping of birds in the morning, the ring of a school bell signaling classes are over, or the music of the ice cream truck coming down your block. Sounds are what make up the music of life and there are so many to be enjoyed that our senses are often overwhelmed. One problem with sound is it has the ability to turn into noise. Although everyone's definitions of sweet sounds and unbearable noise vary, our ears are not as discerning as our minds.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has determined that workers exposed to a time-weighted average level of 85 dBA (a decibel level/filter that relates to the inverse of the 40 dB (at 1 kHz) equal-loudness curve) for an eight-hour period are within cautionary noise zones. Even though some might enjoy the sounds of heavy machines, loud factories or bustling work environments it does not mean there is not potential for hearing damage to occur. The conveyor industry is one such business where noise levels must be taken very seriously.

Conveyors are usually large complex motorized objects that have little regard for being quiet. As workers toil around the conveyor, other machines work in the background, products and materials flow through the systems, and noise levels can become even louder then expected. When it comes to people's health and safety, conveyor sound should not be taken lightly. Let's take a look at what types of conveyor sections make the most noise and some of the ways to reduce the sound issues that conveyors pose.

If there are at all conveyors that do not make noise, there are very few of them. The intolerable noise created by these conveyors is because of their parts that are involved in the process. These parts are the conveyor rolls, roller bearings and roller shafts. To determine how much sound is produced by conveyors, their rolling speed has to be checked. Moreover, the frames of these conveyors which are most of the times made of large gauge steel also contribute further to the noise.

Another part of the conveyor that largely contributes to the sound is the drives. Subparts of the drives include the electronic motors, power trains, gear boxes, bearings, belts, chains, sprockets, mounts and guards, causing towering pitched whines and disturbing vibrations to the people around. Also, hearing problems can be caused by the usage of pneumatic devices. Useless static can also be brought about by drained ports and air compression modules in a pneumatically manipulated conveyor. More so, belt based systems cannot tolerate noise as well.

The design, condition and orientation of the belt surface and joints within the belt can make a huge difference in decibel levels as well as how the belt runs across the slider bed or roller bed. Finally the surrounding walls and workspaces can play a major role in noise dampening. Having an appropriate building or place to house a conveyor is as much a key to sound reduction as having the conveyor tuned and built accordingly. Now that we have identified some of the ways conveyors can make noise it is essential to review some of the ways in which these dilemmas can be solved.

Companies always aim for the best both for them and for their employees. They wouldn't want their employees to be harmed because of the noise problems that their conveyors pose. Since conveyors' noise is inevitable, one way to protect the employees is to eliminate the conveyors. This can be done either by totally removing the conveyor or by upgrading them. Defective conveyors can also be replaced. Furthermore, conveyors have o be checked from time to time to ensure that their condition does not at all harm the people around.

Making sure all conveyor parts are lubricated properly, moving rationally and are not worn out is an almost sure fire way to keep conveyor noise levels in check. Some of the more complex conveyor noise reduction techniques include vibration isolation and dampening as well as acoustic energy absorption. This can be accomplished through creative shielding or encasing. Those fortunate enough to be starting their journey from scratch should make every attempt in their original designs to eliminate potential noise issues at their source. Conveyors may not be able to hear but they do listen when controlled and maneuvered properly.

Humans are sensitive to sound while conveyors are not. Since companies really need conveyors in running their businesses, it is a must that they follow the rules set by OSHA. The employees should be sent on auditory diagnoses regularly. They have to wear audio protectors when they are exposed to 90 dBA level for as long as eight hours. This has been a growing issue-solved only if we do our roles by reducing the noise created by conveyors.