A spiral conveyor system including a conveyor belt formed of a plurality of links joined by a plurality of connecting rods forming a plurality of belt segments; and a drum formed generally as a cylinder having a central longitudinal axis coaxial, the drum defining a helical path for the conveyor belt and an outer boundary, wherein the drum is configured to rotate around the central longitudinal axis and to releasably interact with each of the plurality of belt segments at the outer boundary. The belt moves along the helical path in response to the sequential interaction between the drum outer boundary and the belt segments as the drum rotates; and the drum includes a plurality of tapered transition elements configured to facilitate engagement of the belt with the drum.