Overview
ISO 23586:2022 - "Conveyor belts - Indentation rolling resistance related to belt width - Requirements and testing" defines a full‑scale, reproducible method to determine the width‑related indentation rolling resistance of finished conveyor belts. The standard is intended for use with steel‑cord and fabric conveyor belts and provides a test and reporting framework suitable for comparing belt constructions and for designing belt conveyors. It is not applicable to light conveyor belts covered by ISO 21183‑1.
Key topics and requirements
- Purpose: Measure indentation rolling resistance caused by belt deformation at idlers and express it per unit belt width for design and comparison.
- Test rig:
- Drive and tension pulleys: minimum diameter 800 mm.
- Minimum axis‑to‑axis distance: 3 500 mm.
- Measuring idler: minimum diameter 400 mm; opposing support idler diameter must be ≥ 1.5 × measuring idler diameter.
- Idler shell length: at least 10% longer than belt width.
- Complete rig placed in an isolated climate chamber for controlled ambient temperature.
- Adjustable belt speed and force application to simulate real conveyor loads.
- Test samples and setup:
- Test belt width: minimum 350 mm.
- Endless belt configuration with minimized splice length; steel‑cord belts require defined rubber edge width per the standard.
- Vertical loads and temperatures chosen to reflect real operating conditions.
- Measurement procedure:
- Measure horizontal forces acting on left and right sides of the idler for belt running in both directions to cancel drift.
- Account for and subtract idler rolling resistance (measured simultaneously or separately).
- Derive width‑related indentation rolling resistance from the absolute difference of measured horizontal forces normalized by belt width.
- Reporting requirements:
- Detailed belt construction data (manufacturer, type, nominal breaking force, width, cord/ply data, cover thicknesses).
- Test conditions (idler diameters, width‑related vertical force, belt speed, ambient temperature).
- Test results presented as width‑related indentation rolling resistance (N/mm), ideally as a function of width‑related vertical force and temperature.
Applications and users
- Who uses it: belt manufacturers, independent test laboratories, conveyor OEMs, mining and bulk‑material handling engineers, specifiers and procurement teams.
- Practical uses:
- Compare indentation rolling resistance across belt constructions.
- Provide input data for conveyor design calculations (idler station forces, power consumption estimates).
- Support product development and quality control for steel‑cord and fabric belts.
- Design note: Annex A provides guidance to convert measured values to a 3‑part idler station for steel‑cord belts (conversion for fabric belts is not established).
Related standards
- ISO 21183‑1 - light conveyor belts (ISO 23586:2022 is not applicable to these belts)
- ISO 15236‑3 - referenced in test report notes for additional belt information
Keywords: ISO 23586:2022, conveyor belts, indentation rolling resistance, belt width, test rig, steel‑cord belts, fabric conveyor belts, idler station, belt testing.