Variable-capacity store for cylindrical articles of the tobacco processing industry; the store comprises a conveying assembly comprising a first conveyor having a substantially helical shape; a second conveyor having a substantially helical shape and arranged above the first conveyor; and a linear transfer conveyor, which is adapted to convey the articles from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, having a variable length and, by extending and shortening, changes the area of the first conveyor from which it picks up the articles and the area of the second conveyor to which it feeds the articles, thus varying the capacity of the store.

A spiral conveyor system may include a drum and a conveyor belt traveling helically about the drum from an entrance end to an exit end of the drum, and a rib associated with the drum, wherein the rib extends radially from a surface of the drum. A length of the rib extends along the length of the drum from a first end of the rib to a terminus of the rib proximate the entrance end of the drum. In addition, a height of the rib above of the surface of the drum varies along the length of the rib. Further, the rib includes at least one drive face, wherein the conveyor belt includes at least one belt surface configured to engage the at least one drive face, and wherein the drum includes a smooth ribless portion between the terminus of the rib and the entrance end of the drum.

Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to systems and methods for emptying and/or cleaning a tray within an assembly line grow pod. In one embodiment, a sanitizer component for cleaning a tray coupled to a cart in an assembly line grow pod is disclosed. The sanitizer component is coupled to a track such that the cart and the tray are received in the sanitizer component via the track. The sanitizer component comprises a first actuator arm positioned underneath the track and extendable through an opening in the track and an aperture at a bottom end of the cart to contact the tray such that the tray rotates in a first direction. The sanitizer component further includes an actuator motor coupled to the first actuator arm for extending the first actuator arm and a controller. The controller is communicatively connected to the actuator motor in the sanitizer component.

A direct drive spiral conveyor belt system that includes a drum configured to rotate about a drum axis and define a drive member, a belt configured to engage the drum and define a belt drive feature, and an engagement control ramp configured to rotate with the drum and selectively engage the belt. The engagement control ramp includes a first portion defining a first radial distance from the drum axis and a second portion defining a second radial distance from the drum axis, with the first radial distance being greater than the second radial distance. The second portion of the engagement control ramp is configured to selectively engage the belt and allow the belt drive feature to transition into engagement with the drive member as the drum rotates about the drum axis and the belt moves along the drum.

The invention relates to a spiral conveyor construction comprising an endless conveyor belt assembled from a plurality of substantially identical modular belt links, where the endless conveyor belt is guided on a conveying path, where at least a part of the conveying path is surrounding a drive tower, where the drive tower can rotate around a vertical axis, such that the drive tower engages a side surface of the endless conveyor belt thereby propelling the endless conveyor along the conveying path characterized in that spaced along the periphery of the drive tower are arranged vertical engagement members, where at least some of these engagement members has a vertically arranged rib projecting radially away from the drive tower, and where on a lower section of the drive tower adjacent at least some of the engagement members with projecting ribs, blocks are provided, said blocks near the bottom of the drive tower radially project further from the drive tower that the engagement members, and where the blocks are provided with a radially extending secondary rib which secondary ribs extend from the block and increases their extend upwards from zero extend to an extend corresponding to the radially extend of the rib on the adjacent engagement member near the upper end of the block, and where the secondary ribs and/or the ribs on the engagement members engages and propels the endless conveyor belt along the conveying path.

A spiral conveyor system including a tank for containing a liquid at a predetermined temperature therein. A conveyor conveys items through the liquid. A guiding structure is disposed in the tank for guiding the conveyor in a spiral-type fashion. The spiral conveyor system further comprises means for securing the items while being conveyed through the liquid.

A spiral conveyor system may include a drum associated with a motor, wherein the drum extends from a drum bottom to a drum top. In addition, the system may include a conveyor belt traveling helically about the drum from an entrance end of the drum to an exit end of the drum. Further, the system may include a rib associated with the drum, wherein the rib extends radially from a surface of the drum, and at least one drive face positioned on the rib. The conveyor belt may include at least one belt surface configured to engage the at least one drive face. The length of the rib extends along the length of the drum from a first end of the rib to a terminus of the rib proximate the entrance end of the drum. In addition, the drum includes a ring that extends between the terminus of the rib and the entrance end of the drum.

A conveyor belt includes a repeating interconnected arrangement of: rods spaced apart in a longitudinal direction and each extending in a lateral direction and connecting links arranged on both ends of the rods. Each link includes a nose section extending in lateral direction and two legs arranged on either side of the nose section, the legs extending in longitudinal direction. The nose section and the two legs provide a U-shaped structure. Laterally aligned first openings are arranged in each of the legs adjacent to the nose section for reception of a rod. Laterally aligned second openings are arranged in each of the legs adjacent the free ends of the legs. The first openings of a first link are aligned with the second openings of a second link for reception of a rod thereinto.

A linear fixed shaft drive assembly for use in a self-stacking industrial/commercial-grade spiral/gyro oven or freezer that includes a fixed, non-rotatable shaft having a cylindrical mounting portion, a bearing cup supported by the mounting portion, and a hub and shaft base that includes a shaft portion and flange portion. The flange portion is configured to couple to a first side of a flange extending from the bearing cup. A sprocket is mounted to an opposite second side of the flange extending from the bearing cup. The sprocket includes teeth configured to engage with a ball chain assembly of the oven or freezer. The bearing cup includes at least two permanently lubricated bearings. Rotation of the shaft portion of the hub and shaft base causes the bearing cup and sprocket to rotate on the mounting portion of the fixed, non-rotatable shaft. Also a method for retrofitting an oven or freezer having an existing shaft assembly mounted within a thermal chamber of the oven or freezer, and a method for servicing an oven or freezer having an existing linear fixed shaft drive assembly.

The invention relates to a driving end module of a modular conveyor belt, the driving end module having an elongate body with an arrangement of interspaced fingers on opposed sides along the length of the body. Each interspaced finger includes a transverse aperture which defines a link path through the transverse apertures into which a rigid rod can be inserted through an installation aperture to link two adjacent conveyor belt rows to each other and provide a conveyor belt section. The driving head also includes a socket located between the installation aperture and the link path which is shaped to receive a plug to prevent the rigid rod from sliding through the installation aperture. The driving end module further includes a terminal driving head having a positive drive protrusion which in use engages a vertically extending ridge of a rotating drive tower.