Apparatus and method for tracking conveyor belts

A tracking apparatus for urging a mistracking conveyor belt back toward a correct travel path, the tracking apparatus comprising:

• at least one idler roller having opposite end portions and being operable to rotate about its longitudinal axis for supporting the conveyor belt and having a neutral position when the conveyor belt is traveling along the correct travel path;
• and
• a frame assembly configured to operatively mount the idler roller to conveyor structure to allow the idler roller to shift by pivoting, translating, and tilting in response to the mistracking conveyor belt for directing the belt back toward the correct travel path;
• wherein the idler roller is allowed to pivot about a central pivot axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the idler roller so that one of the end portions of the idler roller is further downstream from the neutral position thereof and further downstream than the other end portion of the idler roller in response to a force applied to the idler roller by the mistracking conveyor belt;
• wherein in response to the force applied to the pivoted idler roller by the mistracking belt, the pivoted idler roller is allowed to translate toward a lateral side of the mistracking belt that is in contact with the downstream end portion of the idler roller and also to tilt so that the downstream end portion of the idler roller is raised upwardly relative to a lower position thereof with the idler roller in the neutral position for urging the belt back toward the correct travel path, whereby translation of the idler roller and tilting and raising up of the idler roller one end portion only occurs as a result of the shifting of the idler roller one end portion further downstream, but does not occur with the idler roller in the neutral position.