Beginners Guide

Basics of Troughed Conveyor Idlers

This section deals exclusively with idlers for troughed belt conveyors.

Idlers became a critical component of conveyors as soon as belting was used as a means to support and transport the load.

The fact that idlers come into direct contact with a conveyors' belting extremely frequently, combined with the fact that belting is usually the highest cost item on a conveyor, means that idlers should cause the least possible wear or damage to the belting as possible.

The design of idlers and any improvements made to these designs since their original inception, has therefore usually been driven by the need to reduce the stresses induced into the belting while at the same time, forming and supporting the belt in such a way that the maximum possible load can be transported with the most cost-effective belt width and thickness.

As a result of the above, designers today have a range of idler types, widths, roll diameters and configurations to choose from when deciding on the best idlers for a particular conveyor.

The purpose of this Handbook is to introduce the learner to some of the fundamental considerations which prevail in all troughed belt conveyor applications including an explanation of the terminology of idlers, issues which determine the selection of a particular set of idlers and the industry standards applicable to troughed belt conveyor idlers.