Mining Conveyor Belt Brush

A mining conveyor belt brush is a cylindrical rotary cleaning tool mounted on a shaft and positioned against the return side of a conveyor belt, usually just after the head pulley. It uses densely packed synthetic filaments to mechanically scrape and flick off material that sticks to the belt surface as the belt travels. Unlike scraper blades, which use a fixed edge, the brush contacts the belt with thousands of flexible filament tips, providing a compliant cleaning action that follows belt irregularities and splices without gouging the belt cover.

The brush can be free-running, rotating due to belt contact, or motor-driven for higher cleaning force on slow or heavily loaded belts. The shaft is supported by pillow block bearings on a frame that allows for precise radial adjustment relative to the belt surface. In mining applications, the brush is typically installed in an inverted position under the return belt or at the head pulley discharge point where carryback is highest.

The brush is not designed to remove large, thick layers of compacted material or large rocks stuck to the belt. For heavy deposits, a primary scraper should be used first, with the brush as a secondary or finishing cleaner. It excels at removing fine particles, dust, and thin sticky films that cause buildup over time.

• Head pulley cleaning on belt conveyors in coal mines, iron ore mines, copper concentrators, and aggregate operations, where sticky fines adhere to the belt after discharge.
• Return strand cleaning on overland and in-plant conveyors to stop carryback from accumulating on return idlers and causing belt wander.
• Transfer point dust suppression by removing residual fines before the belt re-enters the loading zone.
• Wet process conveyors in mineral processing plants, where polypropylene fill withstands moisture, weak acids, and slurry contact.
• Reclaim tunnels, stockyard conveyors, and ship-loading belts handling materials like bauxite, phosphate, and potash.

Start with belt width and speed. Measure the belt width first. The brush working width should cover the belt surface plus a 5–15 mm overlap on each side to prevent edge buildup. Belt speed determines whether a free-running brush will provide sufficient agitation; for speeds below 2 m/s or for heavy carryback, a motor-driven brush is recommended.

Next, evaluate the material being removed. What is sticking to the belt? Light dust and dry fines respond well to standard nylon. Hard, abrasive, or compacted carryback needs silicon carbide abrasive nylon. Wet, sticky mud or clay benefits from polypropylene because it sheds moisture and resists chemical attack. The table below summarizes material selection.

Check the mounting space. You need enough clearance between the belt and surrounding structure to fit the brush diameter and the adjustment frame. The brush should be positioned where the belt is stable, usually on the return side just past the head pulley or before the first return idler. A larger diameter gives longer filament life and more contact arc, but requires more space.

Decide on rotation and drive. A free-running brush uses belt friction and requires less infrastructure, but cleaning effectiveness depends on belt speed and contact pressure. A motor-driven brush rotates opposite to the belt travel to fling material away and works well on slow or heavily loaded belts. Specify the drive option based on your conveyor’s operating duty.

Consider when not to use a brush. If the carryback is thick, hard, or includes large lumps, install a primary scraper blade before the brush. The brush then acts as a secondary cleaner. For very fine dust where water is acceptable, a spray bar may be more effective, but in dry mining environments the brush avoids adding moisture to the process.

Yes. Every mining conveyor is different, and we build the brush to match your belt and operating conditions. Provide the belt width, belt speed, material characteristics, available mounting dimensions, and photos or drawings of the installation point. We will then specify the appropriate working width, diameter, fill material, and drive configuration.

• Working width and brush diameter: matched to belt width, speed, and available space.
• Core and shaft: diameter, material (steel, stainless, aluminum), shaft end machining (keyways, flats, threads), and length.
• Fill material and geometry: silicon carbide abrasive nylon, polypropylene, or nylon; filament diameter from 0.3 to 1.5 mm; fill density; trim length.
• Mounting and frame: pillow block bearings, adjustable slide base, fixed end plates, or custom brackets to fit existing structure.
• Drive options: free-running, belt-driven pulley, chain sprocket, or direct-coupled gearmotor. Rotation direction specified.
• Color and marking: custom colors, filament color coding for different fill types, laser marking or stamped identification on core or end plates.
• Packaging: bulk crating, palletized, individually wrapped, or project-specific labeling.

If your project requires material certifications, inspection reports, third-party testing, or documentation support, our engineering team can assist with those requirements during the customization process.