Tracking assembly adapted to be mounted to a support frame of a conveyor belt installation in order to keep the conveyor belt centrally aligned

摘要

A tracking assembly for mounting to a support frame of a conveyor belt installation in order to keep the conveyor belt which travels thereon centrally aligned includes a sub-frame adapted to be mounted to a support frame of a conveyor belt installation. A plurality of independently rotatable idlers are mounted for rotation on the sub-frame to support the conveyor belt of the installation in position. The idlers are aligned generally parallel to each other spaced apart from each other across the width of the belt, with the sub-frame and idlers being mounted to the support frame generally transverse to the length of the belt. Each of the idlers include a support shaft, an outer drum rotatably supported on the shaft, and a pivot assembly located within the drum defining a pivot axis about which the drum is pivotable relative to the shaft, the pivot axis being perpendicular to the belt which in use travels on the idler. Adjacent idlers are linked together so as to transmit pivotal movement from one idler to the idler adjacent thereto in such a manner that as one idler pivots through a particular angle the idler adjacent thereto will be caused to pivot through substantially the same angle. Contact means cause the idlers to pivot through a selected angle when the belt supported by the assembly moves off its central path of travel.