Idlers are typically positioned such that they are near enough to one another to sustain a fully loaded belt and prevent the belt from sagging unduly between them. The load will move as it is carried up and over each idler and down into the valley if the belt is allowed to sag too much. This movement of the belt results in increased power consumption and belt wear. The sag also makes it more likely for stuff to leak. HDPE Conveyor idler has issued tables of suggested idler spacing for applications outside the loading zone.
Because these idlers do not support any other load and sag-related spillage is not an issue on this side of the conveyor, the weight of the belt controls the spacing between return idlers. The typical distance between returns is three metres (10 ft).
Those Who Do Nothing in the Skirted Area
Increasing the number of idlers along a conveyor is the most fundamental and time-tested method for enhancing belt support and, as a result, reducing belt sag beneath a loading zone or anyplace else along the conveyor. It is possible to lessen the risk of belt sagging by increasing the number of idlers packed into a given area and, as a result, reducing the distance between each idler. The rollers of Carrying idler may often be positioned such that they are no more than 25 millimetres (1 inch) apart from one another.
This approach does not come without some downsides. Maintaining the idlers will be more challenging if more of them are crammed together. When doing routine maintenance on an idler set, it is common to practise turning the framework on its side so that the rollers may be greased or replaced. If the idlers are tightly spaced, there will not be enough area to lay the idler set on its side to maintain it. This will prevent the maintenance from being performed.
