Guide system for tensioning a belt and a method of regulating belt tension

A method of continuously regulating belt tension of a belt [12] extending between adjacent guides [14,16] of a guide system [10], the method comprising the steps of providing an endless belt [12];

• providing at least two guides [14,16] for guiding the belt [12];
• providing tensioning means [18] that is movable between a tensioned and a substantially non-tensioned position, the arrangement being such that in the tensioned position it is biased to the non-tensioned position to compensate for a loss in belt [12] tension;
• providing self-adjusting regulating means operatively associated with the tensioning means [18] and being adapted for moving the tensioning means [18] towards its tensioned position;
• and electronically effecting self-adjusting of the tensioning means [18] upon occurrence of belt slacking so as to effect substantially immediate and continuous tensioning of the belt [12] while the belt [12] is running.

A method of regulating belt tension of a belt [12] extending between adjacent guides [14,16] of a guide system [10], the method comprising the steps of providing an endless belt [12];

• providing at least two guides [14,16] for guiding the belt [12];
• providing tensioning means [18] for tensioning the belt [12] between the guides [14,16];
• calculating at least one preferred operating set-point for the system, wherein the set-point is a function of at least one operating parameter of the system;
• providing sensing means [22] for continuously sensing the operating parameter of the guide system [10];
• and tensioning the belt [12] proportionally to a change between the sensed operating parameter and the calculated set-point.