A belt tracking system for controlling the lateral position of a movable belt entrained about a plurality of generally parallel rollers for moving in a trans-axial direction (X, Y) perpendicular to an axial direction (Z) in which the rollers extend parallel to each other, the system including: a roller shaft extending outward in the axial direction (Z) from an axial end of a steering roller of the plurality of generally parallel rollers ; a stationary member fixed in position adjacent to the roller shaft to define a first interfacial surface therealong; and a slidable member co-movably coupled with the roller shaft to define a second interfacial surface therealong inclined relative to the axial direction (Z), the slidable member being slidable against the stationary member along the interfacial surfaces to cause the roller shaft to move in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction (Z) as the belt moves laterally outward in the axial direction, a biasing mechanism for pressing the slidable member against the stationary member to maintain continuous contact between the first and second interfacial surfaces , wherein a positioning flange may be operatively connected to the axial end of the steering roller , which defines a contact surface therealong extending generally perpendicular to the axial direction (Z) to contact an adjoining edge of the belt , wherein the positioning flange comprises an annular flange supported on the roller shaft loosely, such that the flange is configured to freely rotate around the roller shaft as the belt moves in the trans-axial direction (X, Y) to cause frictional contact between the belt edge and the contact surface , characterised in that the roller shaft is configured to penetrate at least partially into the steering roller axially inward from the flange , and through the slidable member axially outward from the flange . a roller shaft extending outward in the axial direction (Z) from an axial end of a steering roller of the plurality of generally parallel rollers ; a stationary member fixed in position adjacent to the roller shaft to define a first interfacial surface therealong; and a slidable member co-movably coupled with the roller shaft to define a second interfacial surface therealong inclined relative to the axial direction (Z), the slidable member being slidable against the stationary member along the interfacial surfaces to cause the roller shaft to move in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction (Z) as the belt moves laterally outward in the axial direction, a biasing mechanism for pressing the slidable member against the stationary member to maintain continuous contact between the first and second interfacial surfaces , wherein a positioning flange may be operatively connected to the axial end of the steering roller , which defines a contact surface therealong extending generally perpendicular to the axial direction (Z) to contact an adjoining edge of the belt , wherein the positioning flange comprises an annular flange supported on the roller shaft loosely, such that the flange is configured to freely rotate around the roller shaft as the belt moves in the trans-axial direction (X, Y) to cause frictional contact between the belt edge and the contact surface , characterised in that the roller shaft is configured to penetrate at least partially into the steering roller axially inward from the flange , and through the slidable member axially outward from the flange . <EOS>