Efficient Conveyor Maintenance: Enhancing Accessibility with Track-Mounted Idlers
Track-mounted idlers that slide into position offer a solution to the challenges of servicing closely-spaced idlers on conveyors. These idlers are affixed to a steel beam forming a track, enabling individual rollers to be easily installed or removed with a slide-in/slide-out motion perpendicular to the conveyor path. Idlers used in track-mounted setups can be either steel rollers or impact-style rubber ring rollers.
With track-mounted idlers, each roller or set can be serviced without the need to lay the conveyor frame on its side or lift the belt. The track on which the idlers (and potentially other belt-support components) slide serves as an extension of the conveyor structure. This track can be integrated into the conveyor design as a structural element.
Incorporating a slide-in-place system during the conveyor’s initial design phase allows for the use of modular belt support structures, idlers, cradles, or combined units, streamlining component installation. This approach is particularly advantageous for wide belts, where the installation of large components might otherwise necessitate cranes or other heavy equipment.