Belt Trippers vs.

Plows
feeco.com/belt-trippers-vs-plows/

10-09-2015

This article was co-authored by:

Tim Matzke
Material Handling Expert

Greg Makos
Technical Writer

Whether its stacking material in a warehouse, or removing

rejected material from a process system, a tripper or a plow
may be just the piece of equipment you are looking for. Belt
trippers and plows function as add-ons to troughed belt
conveyors in order to increase the flexibility of a handling
system. Both pieces of equipment work as auxiliary material
discharge systems, allowing material to be released before
the head pulley. This similarity in objective has caused some
confusion regarding which piece of equipment will best suit a
given application. And while trippers and plows can generally
be placed in the same classification, a more in-depth
explanation reveals that they perform very differently. In order to know if either piece of equipment will be beneficial
for your process system, you first need to understand the basic function of each.

Belt Trippers
A traveling belt tripper, when integrated into a standard troughed belt conveyor, creates a more dynamic material
handling system; a system that has the ability to discharge material along the entire length of the conveyor, as well
as at the head pulley. Belt trippers work by redirecting the conveyor belting through several sets of pulleys to
recreate a standard conveyor discharge function, or a trip point, that diverts the material to the desired location.
Material can be discharged either continuously, or at pre-designated locations, which allows for layer stacking, or
multiple silo/bunker filling. Additionally, a diverter system can be added to the belt trippers discharge chute. This
system increases the belt trippers versatility, as it allows for material to be released on either side of the conveyor,
or directly back onto the belt. The material diverted back onto the belt can then be released at the head pulley of the
conveyor.

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Working in unison with a diverter, the belt tripper can remove any unwanted or contaminated material from the
process without any downtime. Since this system can be computer or operator controlled, almost any material
rejection process can be used. It can be as simple as removing/redirecting oversized, poor quality products, or, with
additional equipment, detecting and removing material that may have unwanted metals or other contaminants.

As shown in the diagram below, the loaded conveyor belt is transferred up a slight incline where it is emptied into a
discharge system; this can include: double chute (shown), single chute, screw conveyor, or other discharge
methods. After the material has been emptied off of the belt, the belt tripper re-aligns the belting on the stationary
idlers and continues to operate as a standard trough conveyor.

Belt trippers are designed with multiple pulleys in order to eliminate any premature wear on the conveyor belting due
to the use of flattening or scraping systems. FEECO belt trippers can be set to travel automatically, or be controlled
remotely by an operator.

Belt Plows
A belt plow is a simplified way to create fixed discharge points in a troughed belt conveyor system. While belt plows
work as an auxiliary material discharge system much like a belt tripper, there are several drawbacks to plows when
compared to trippers.

First, the use of a belt plow offers reduced mobility of the discharge locations; the locations are locked in place and
changing them would require equipment modifications. Secondly, the plows require a flat surface to be effective at
removing material from the conveyor; this not only puts increased wear on the belt, but also eliminates the
advantages of the troughed sidewalls. Lastly, because the plows simply push material off the belt, any large
aggregates or abrasive material being handled may cause premature wear on the conveyor belting and plow blade.

Even though belt plows make for a less versatile auxiliary discharge component, they are still useful in some
situations. For example, with free flowing materials, belt plows function well as part of a material redirection or
rejection system. They can also be utilized for filling multiple storage hoppers, while, much like a belt tripper, still
allowing for the ability to function as a standard troughed belt conveyor. The conveyor depicted below shows two
belt plows that divert material into two separate storage silos (this same scenario can be used to transfer material to
another belt conveyor that may be a part of a different processing system). The conveyor belting travels through a
flattening structure, transforming the belt from its troughed U-shape to a flat surface, so the plow blades can
effectively clear the material. Due to this relatively complex flattening process, all conveyors with a belt plow system
are custom designed and built to the customers requirements. They are then assembled and tested at FEECO to
ensure there are no interferences that could cause damage or unnecessary wear. A new belt plow may not integrate
well into existing equipment as a single component. In this case, a new section of conveyor, with the belt plow
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system (plow(s) and flattening rails) would need to be designed and built. This again allows for pre-assembling and
testing. Once there is certainty that all components are functioning properly, the new section can be integrated into
the existing belt conveyor.

Both belt trippers and belt plows add function and versatility to a standard troughed belt conveyor, with each piece of
equipment offering unique benefits. Whether your process requires material stacking, storing, or removing,
FEECOs custom designed conveyor equipment can provide an innovative solution. Understanding that this
additional conveyor equipment is not universal for every process, FEECO can design and fabricate custom solutions
that fit your unique handling requirements.

FEECO International, Inc. Toll Free: (800) 373.9347 Phone: (920) 468.1000 Email: sales@feeco.com

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