RepairXpert Industrial Automation

Incline/Decline Conveyor — Product Slide-Back

CONV-INCLINE1

Products are sliding backward on an incline conveyor when the conveyor stops. Anti-rollback or holdback device may be faulty, or belt surface grip is insufficient.

high conveyor
conveyor incline slide-back holdback backstop friction

Probable Causes (ranked)

Fix Steps

  1. 1 Check backstop/holdback clutch — should prevent reverse rotation of drive shaft when motor is off
  2. 2 Test holdback by trying to turn the drive shaft backward by hand — it should lock
  3. 3 If belt surface is worn smooth, install rough-top belt or add cleats
  4. 4 Increase VFD deceleration ramp time to slow the conveyor more gradually
  5. 5 If holdback is failed, replace immediately — products sliding back can be a safety hazard to workers at the bottom
  6. 6 Consider adding a product hold-down belt or overhead belt to keep products in place on steep inclines

Field Trick

When replacing a holdback clutch on an incline conveyor, ALWAYS verify rotation direction before installing. A holdback installed backward will let the conveyor run in reverse at full speed when the motor stops — product avalanche. Paint a rotation arrow on the gearbox and the holdback during installation.

Suggested Replacement Parts

Parts matched to fault category: Conveyor Belt

Intralox Series 400 Flat Top Belt (per ft) P/N: S400-FT-12 12 inch wide, acetal flat top, food-grade option available

Prices are estimates. Verify part numbers match your equipment before ordering.

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