A tray conveyor in which plastic trays with rows of embedded translators are driven by stators in multiple conveyor sections. Washing stations in cleaning zones in each conveyor section are provided to automatically clean empty trays in the conveyor's return path. Indicia on each tray identify the tray as belonging to a specific family of trays. Each of the conveyor sections conveys only conveyor trays that belong to a predetermined family assigned to that conveyor section.

The present invention relates to conveyor lubricant compositions including an emulsion of a lipophilic compound and also including an emulsifier and/or an anionic surfactant. The present invention also relates to methods employing such lubricant compositions. In an embodiment, the method includes applying the present lubricant composition to a conveyor with a non-energized nozzle.

The present invention relates to conveyor lubricant compositions including an emulsion of a lipophilic compound and also including an emulsifier and/or an anionic surfactant. The present invention also relates to methods employing such lubricant compositions. In an embodiment, the method includes applying the present lubricant composition to a conveyor with a non-energized nozzle.

A slat conveyor belt includes connected drive modules that can be easily disassembled and assembled. Each drive module comprises a slat portion connected to a drive portion forming a drive chain. A conveyor frame for the conveyor belt includes a dust cover for the drive chain and a separator for selectively separating a slat portion from an associated drive portion. A magazine automatically removes and stores separated slats.

A printing system is described, which comprises: a conveyor belt; a first substrate supply mechanism to supply a cleaning substrate to said conveyor belt; wherein said conveyor belt is to advance a supplied cleaning substrate, and said first substrate supply mechanism is controllable to adjust motion of said substrate relative to said conveyor belt such that when said conveyor belt is activated said supplied cleaning substrate slides relative to the conveyor belt; and said printing system further comprising a friction adjustment mechanism to adjust an amount of friction between said conveyor belt and said supplied substrate.

A printing system is described, which comprises: a conveyor belt; a first substrate supply mechanism to supply a cleaning substrate to said conveyor belt; wherein said conveyor belt is to advance a supplied cleaning substrate, and said first substrate supply mechanism is controllable to adjust motion of said substrate relative to said conveyor belt such that when said conveyor belt is activated said supplied cleaning substrate slides relative to the conveyor belt; and said printing system further comprising a friction adjustment mechanism to adjust an amount of friction between said conveyor belt and said supplied substrate.

A monitoring device can include one or more sensors, and a processor, operably connected to the one or more sensors, configured to execute computer-readable instructions that cause the processor to perform operations including detecting sensor data from the one or more sensors. The sensor data can be collected as the monitoring device is in transit in a transport system for delivery items. The operations can also include detecting a malfunctioning component in the transport system based on the sensor data, and transmitting a maintenance indicator to a control system of the transport system, wherein the maintenance indicator identifies the malfunctioning component.

A monitoring device can include one or more sensors, and a processor, operably connected to the one or more sensors, configured to execute computer-readable instructions that cause the processor to perform operations including detecting sensor data from the one or more sensors. The sensor data can be collected as the monitoring device is in transit in a transport system for delivery items. The operations can also include detecting a malfunctioning component in the transport system based on the sensor data, and transmitting a maintenance indicator to a control system of the transport system, wherein the maintenance indicator identifies the malfunctioning component.

A secondary belt cleaner system for cleaning the surface of the return side of an endless conveyor belt. The system includes a plurality of blade devices that are rotatably biased against the return side surface using a respective torsion spring therein. Each blade device includes a head portion formed by a blade support and a replaceable blade tip that is releasably secured to the blade support. The head portion is connected to one end of a blade arm and the other end of the blade arm is coupled to a rotatable shaft inside a housing that is fixedly secured to a support shaft having mounting brackets at each end for mounting the system transversely to the conveyor belt frame. Adjacent blade devices have different blade arm lengths in order to have the blade coverage overlap with no gaps in between. Because these blade arm lengths are different and to maintain each blade tip in contact with the return side surface, the respective torsion springs in adjacent blade devices are pretensioned to different angular amounts.

A paddle conveyor system for efficiently removing tare, dirt, small particles, and other debris from large bulky products such as sugar beets. The paddle conveyor generally includes a first pulley including a first side and a second side and a second pulley including a first side and a second side. A first linkage is connected between the first side of the first pulley and the first side of the second pulley and a second linkage is connected between the second side of the first pulley and the second side of the second pulley. A plurality of paddles is each connected between the first linkage and the second linkage such that the plurality of paddles forms a loop for conveying a material towards the second pulley. Each of the paddles includes one or more slots through which debris from the material may fall.