The function of conveyor idlers

The idler is one of the important components of a belt conveyor, often ranking second in importance within the conveyor system. The idler assembly is also the component that moves the most within the conveyor. The selection and performance of the idler assembly directly impact the operation of the belt conveyor. This article introduces the role, types, and how to select the appropriate spacing of idlers.
Roller function
The roller is one of the important components that determine the operational effectiveness of the belt conveyor, especially its service life. The structure of the roller assembly largely determines the size and performance of the belt and rollers. The bearing has characteristics such as good lubrication, light weight, low rotational resistance coefficient, low manufacturing cost, and the roller surface must be smooth.
The function of the support rollers is to support the conveyor belt and the material on the belt, reduce sagging, ensure smooth operation of the belt, form a trough-shaped partial load to increase transportation capacity, and prevent material leakage on both sides. The conveyor has a large number of rollers, and the quality of the rollers has a significant impact on the operating resistance of the conveyor, the service life of the conveyor belt, energy consumption and maintenance, as well as operating costs.
The functions and types of belt conveyor drums, as well as how to select the appropriate drum spacing
Idler type
Idlers can be divided into grooved idlers, parallel idlers, buffer idlers, and self-aligning idlers.
Grooved roller
Slot shape
Idlers are used to separate loose materials from belt conveyors, allowing the conveyor belt to be grooved, increasing conveying capacity, and preventing leakage on both sides of the material. The trough-shaped three-roller idlers consist of the groove angle of the idler, with Series II angles of 35° and 45°. Increasing the groove angle can increase the cross-sectional area of the cargo. The service life of the belt should not be too long. To reduce the additional stress on the edge of the belt, a set of transition idlers with angles of 10°, 20°, and 30° can be used between the drive roller and the first set of grooved rollers, allowing the belt to gradually form grooves.
The functions and types of belt conveyor drums, as well as how to select the appropriate drum spacing
Parallel roller
The parallel roller consists of a straight roller that conveys parts. Its structure is as follows:
The functions and types of belt conveyor drums, as well as how to choose the appropriate drum spacing
Buffer roller
The buffer roller of the belt conveyor is used to reduce the impact of materials on the conveyor belt. There are rubber ring type and spring plate type.
The functions and types of belt conveyor drums, as well as how to choose the appropriate drum spacing
Self-aligning roller
There are many forms of self-aligning rollers. The simplest method for transporting loose materials is to use grooved forward-tilting rollers, as shown in Figure 5. The two side rollers are tilted forward at a certain angle (typically about)
conveyor belt
The running direction features a resettable misaligned conveyor belt. This method is simple, but it increases resistance by approximately 10%. Additionally, there are self-aligning idlers in conical, V-shaped, inverted V-shaped, and other designs, which can be selected according to needs.
The functions and types of belt conveyor drums, as well as how to choose the appropriate drum spacing
The diameter of the roller is related to the belt width, material bulk density, and belt speed. The most commonly used loaded branch of a belt conveyor consists of a trough roller composed of three rigid fixed-axis rollers. The trough angle of a belt conveyor is generally 30°. Under the same belt width conditions, increasing the trough angle from 20° to 30° increases the cross-sectional area of the material by 20% and the transport volume by 13%. Parallel drums are usually used for non-negative branches. Due to the impact of material on the roller at the loading point of the belt conveyor, it is easy to cause damage to the roller bearings. Buffer idle groups are often used.