A modular spiral belt constructed of a series of hingedly interconnected belt modules arranged in a helical stack. The modular spiral belt includes outer side plates, inner side plates and intermediate attachment members. The intermediate attachment members provide support for the conveyor belt to prevent sagging in an intermediate region.

A spiral conveyor system with a positive drive system includes a rotating drum with at least one rib that is attached to drum. The rib includes a drive face for engaging a conveyor belt. The height of the rib above of the surface of the drum varies along a length of the drive element. The rib may be directly attached to the drum or may be a part of a drive element attached to the drum. The conveyor belt includes at least one belt surface configured to engage the at least one drive face, such as a protruding tab with a flat surface.

An apparatus for conveying an object in a conveying direction includes a conveyor comprised of a plurality of modular links adapted for interconnecting to form a chain. At least one of the links comprises a rounded upper portion forming an apical region for contacting and supporting the article for conveyance along at least a forward run in the conveying direction. The at least one link further including a forwardly projecting portion associated with a first transverse connector forming a part of the upper portion and a rearwardly projecting portion associated with a second transverse connector forming part of the upper portion. The first and second connectors may be staggered in the conveying direction and a direction transverse to the conveying direction. Further aspects pertain to a link with an apical engaging structure, and a sprocket with a removable tooth.

A commercial-scale sous-vide system (10) includes a conveyor (20) for carrying food products (PP) vacuum sealed in plastic food-grade pouch or container (222) through a chamber (40) heated with saturated steam. The conveyor is in the form of first and second spiral stacks (26) and (28). A control system controls the steam supply and the movement of the conveyor.

Conveyor belt modules and a modular conveyor belt constructed of those modules. The belt modules comprise a plurality of thin metal links attached to a crossbar at spaced locations. The metal links extend along lines oblique to the length of the crossbar from a first loop to a second loop. Belt rows include one or more of the belt modules sandwiched between tension links. Hinge rods connect adjacent belt rows together through aligned first and second loops and first and second rod holes in the tension links of adjacent belt rows to form the conveyor belt. The links can be formed of bent wire or stamped and bent sheet metal. Intermediate portions of the links can be planar or curved.

A conveyor belt link including central eye parts extending perpendicularly from said main body in forward and rearward directions, each said central eye part having said first thickness defining a belt thickness. The link includes an outermost end structure on a first end, said outermost end structure comprising: a first end eye part being of said first thickness, extending from said main body in a first direction along the conveying path, providing an engagement surface for engaging a driving rib of a drive element, and defining an outer side surface of the link, and a second end eye part extending from said main body in a second direction opposite the first direction and including a rib blocking structure having a second thickness that is less than said first thickness, said rib blocking structure being configured to prevent lateral engagement of the driving rib between the link and an adjacent link.

A system for monitoring at least one of the damaged physical condition, orientation and location of the upright side links of a spiral, self-stacking conveyor belt, the side links disposed along the side margins of the conveyor belt and the side links on one tier configured to stack on top of the side links of an underlying tier. The monitoring system includes a sensor for acquiring data pertaining to at least one of the damaged physical condition, orientation and location of the conveyor belt side links. The monitoring system also including a processing system for receiving and analyzing the data from the sensor to determine at least one of the damaged physical condition and orientation of the side links and the locations of the side links, and to determine if maintenance of or remedial action to the conveyor belt is necessary.

An accumulating portal conveyor comprises a conveyor belt, a frame for supporting and guiding the belt, which frame includes a first helical path and a second helical path spaced from the first helical path, a bridging path and a return path. Under operating conditions the belt successively follows the first helical path upwardly, the bridging path, the second helical path downwardly and the return path, and such that in transverse direction of an upright plane through central centerlines of the first and second helical paths. The bridging path includes a static part having a fixed position with respect to the helical paths and a dynamic portion displaceable in transverse direction of the upright plane to change the path length of the belt. At least a portion of the return path is displaceable for compensating the change of the path length of the belt at the bridging path.

A sensor assembly for a conveyor belt includes a load cell attachable to a link of a modular conveyor belt and configured to measure tension in the belt and a housing. The housing may include a first cavity configured to receive at least a portion of the load cell, and a second cavity configured to receive one or more electronic components.

A modular radius conveyor belt having magnetic material in adjacent belt rows, including magnets in selected rows of belt modules. Magnets in one belt row attract magnets or paramagnetic material in adjacent rows to prevent vibration between rows that could shake a conveyed article out of its preferred position or orientation on the conveyor belt.