Cloth Tracking

Cloth tracking is the controlled alignment of a moving filter belt to keep it centred on rollers and guides. Poor tracking causes edge fray, wrinkles, seam stress, local blinding and product loss from edge leakage. Root causes include insufficient tension, asymmetric loading, misaligned rollers, worn crowns, uneven drainage resistance and thermal expansion. Tracking systems use crowned or tilting steering rollers, edge sensors and automated actuators to correct deviations; mechanical design minimises disturbances with parallel roller sets and adequate stiffness. Operationally, keeping feed distribution uniform and avoiding build‑up at the return run preserves alignment. Commissioning sets the nominal tension and offset, verifies seam straightness and records drift. Routine checks of edge wear, seam region and ∆p maps prevent unplanned stops, extend cloth life and stabilise filtrate quality.