Belt Drive

Most conventional drive arrangements (e.g. driven head pulley, or double drum drive on the bottom belt strand at the head end), are suitable. Do not drive the belt from the tail as this feeds slack belt through onto the top working strand causing creasing and always tracking problems. For PTFE belts it is recommended that the drive pulley is covered with a proprietary lagging (rubber, PVC, PU) of shore hardness 30-50, in order to increase drive friction. Use silicone rubber lagging if the belt after leaving the oven is still above 90°C at the drive. The lagging will enable drive at minimum tension, so enhancing belt life. So called 'pin drives' (the drive pulleys having pins or spokes which engage in the eyeleted edge of a belt) are unlikely to be successful on other than very small belts.