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.

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.

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.

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.

A glide strip for a conveyor rail comprising an elongated monolithic elastic material having a constant cross-sectional shape throughout a majority of the material's length, wherein the cross-sectional shape comprises: a topmost section having a first width perpendicular to the material's length and a first height, a bottommost section having a second width perpendicular to the material's length and a second height, wherein the second width is less than the first width, and a middle section having a third width, wherein the middle section connects the topmost section to the bottommost section, wherein the first width is greater than the second width, and the second width is greater than the third width, and the bottommost section snaps on within slots of the conveyor rail.

A glide strip for a conveyor rail comprising an elongated monolithic elastic material having a constant cross-sectional shape throughout a majority of the material's length, wherein the cross-sectional shape comprises: a topmost section having a first width perpendicular to the material's length and a first height, a bottommost section having a second width perpendicular to the material's length and a second height, wherein the second width is less than the first width, and a middle section having a third width, wherein the middle section connects the topmost section to the bottommost section, wherein the first width is greater than the second width, and the second width is greater than the third width, and the bottommost section snaps on within slots of the conveyor rail.

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.