CONVEYOR BELT TRAINING IDLER ROLLER AND INSTALLATIONS INCLUDING SAME

摘要

A training idler roller of the type in which the entire outer surface of the roller rotates as a single unit along its length and wherein the idler roller is rotatably supported by a support assembly (7, 8, 9, 11) that enables the roller to slew about an axis (5) that is operatively transverse to a conveyor belt supported by the idler roller. The idler roller has, in its outer surface (12) a central circumferentially extending band (13) that ehibits a lower coefficient of friction with a cooperating conveyor belt than the coefficient of friction between the belt and the balance of the outer surface of the idler roller. The central band may be a recessed band (13) so that there is no contact between the belt and band in that area in use thereby creating a zero friction situation, or it may be defined by a material different from the material defining the balance of the outer surface of the roller. The low friction exhibited on the central band of a conveyor belt enables the friction of the roller surface to each side of the band to effect a steering action on the roller. An installation including such a training idler roller is also described.