This URL looks like a good place to start, an engineering view of crown.

http://www.visusa.com/belt_tracking01.htm

I found it with a google search of "pulley crown", the 5th hit, so not
hard to find.

Richard


SBAER wrote:

I am an engineer, I do machine design on a contract basis mostly
automation equipment. I have to design a flat belt conveyor (something
the customer normally just purchases) about 10" wide and 24" long.
My question concerns the crown on the pulleys. Does the tail pulley
have to be crowned as well as the head pulley? I prefer to approximate
the crown by turning a slight angle on each end of the pulley so that
the machining can be done on a simple lathe. Does anybody have a
suggestion as to the angle and length of this chamfer?
My four year engineering education did not cover this (or anything else
that might be of use to a automation designer) and none of my handbooks
have do either.

Any help would be appreciated.

stan