Used in the troughing idler type as well as the next type we are going to discuss is the TRAINING IDLER the purpose of training idler is to keep the belt running straight. This is termed “TRACKING”. If a conveyor belt is tracking properly it is staying in the correct track. If it doesn’t it will said that the belt is “WANDERING”, or “MISTRACKING”. The training* idler corrects this by being pivoted in the middle.
As the belt wanders off to one side the training idler will turn causing the belt to be forced back towards center. There are two rollers, one on each end of this type of idler; these are called GUIDLERS and are used to guide the belt as well. There are times when you will find these used by themselves, fixed solidly to the frame of the conveyor.