A sensing system (110) positioned relative to the conveyor belt (34) to sense the physical configuration of the belt side links (44) and (46) as well as the inclination or tilt of the side links.

Provided is a conveyor belt including at least two parallel chains each including a plurality of consecutive links; and a plurality of rods extending between the at least two parallel chains for linking the consecutive links. Each rod extends with each end through the corresponding chain linking two consecutive links to each other. One of the two consecutive links is at least axially locked to the rod to avoid movement of the link relative to the rod. The other of the two consecutive links is rotatably arranged around the respective rod. Also provided is at least one device for providing the lock between a rod and a respective link of the conveyor belt. The device includes a body; an insertion hole in which an end of the rod is inserted along an insertion axis, which insertion hole is arranged in the body and a protrusion arranged to the body and extending from the body parallel to and at a distance of the insertion axis; fixing means for fixing the end of the rod in the hole in at least axial direction and preferably also in rotational direction. The respective link is provided with a locking opening through which the protrusion extends.

A rail and track cartridge for building straight or radial belt conveyors comprises two or more rails connected to each other, wherein the two or more rails each has a first and second free end; and a track connected to each rail, wherein each track is supported by tabs protruding from the rail, wherein the track is offset to the side from the rail, and an upper track surface is above a top surface of the rail. An adjustable cartridge has bent free ends of the two or more rails attached to the same tier arm to adjust the length of the rails to fit within the tier arms.

A rail and track cartridge for building straight or radial belt conveyors comprises two or more rails connected to each other, wherein the two or more rails each has a first and second free end; and a track connected to each rail, wherein each track is supported by tabs protruding from the rail, wherein the track is offset to the side from the rail, and an upper track surface is above a top surface of the rail. An adjustable cartridge has bent free ends of the two or more rails attached to the same tier arm to adjust the length of the rails to fit within the tier arms.

A sprocket wheel for driving an edge driven helical belt conveyor in a food handling facility, such as a freezing facility, comprising at least one integral body with a curved wheel rim part, said curved wheel rim part comprising at least two parallel rows of teeth; and a hub for carrying the integral body and for providing for attachment to a shaft.

A sprocket wheel for driving an edge driven helical belt conveyor in a food handling facility, such as a freezing facility, comprising at least one integral body with a curved wheel rim part, said curved wheel rim part comprising at least two parallel rows of teeth; and a hub for carrying the integral body and for providing for attachment to a shaft.

A system for automatic organization, hanging and driving of slaughtered animals installed at the outlet of a slaughtered animals processing station such as a chiller. The system comprises a receiving and aligning means of slaughtered animals in longitudinal position, which is previously disposed to an accumulator device of slaughtered animals positioned longitudinally. The system further comprises a suspension and movement assembly of each slaughtered animal from the axial alignment assembly to a driving guide of each slaughtered animal to a hanging transfer device of each animal slaughtered in the hanging line.

An active drive spiral conveyor belt system includes a drum configured to rotate about a drum axis, a plurality of modules, a plurality of cross-rods joining together the plurality of modules, and an infeed system. The drum can include a plurality of drive bars, each with a drive member extending therefrom, and spaced an arc length. At least some of the plurality of cross-rods or modules can include a drive end configured to engage with the drive members. The plurality of modules can be configured to be collapsible relative to each other and the plurality of cross-rods. The infeed system can be configured to collapse the spacing between adjacent drive ends prior to transiting into engagement with a cooperating drive member.

An active drive spiral conveyor belt system includes a drum configured to rotate about a drum axis, a plurality of modules, a plurality of cross-rods joining together the plurality of modules, and an infeed system. The drum can include a plurality of drive bars, each with a drive member extending therefrom, and spaced an arc length. At least some of the plurality of cross-rods or modules can include a drive end configured to engage with the drive members. The plurality of modules can be configured to be collapsible relative to each other and the plurality of cross-rods. The infeed system can be configured to collapse the spacing between adjacent drive ends prior to transiting into engagement with a cooperating drive member.

An accumulating conveyor comprises a conveyor belt successively follows a first helical track from a lower end thereof in upward direction to a location below an upper end thereof, a first bridge to a location at a second helical track below an upper end thereof, the second helical track in downward direction to a lower end thereof, a first set of auxiliary guides to the upper end of the second helical track, the second helical track in downward direction, a second bridge to the first helical track, the first helical track in upward direction to the upper end thereof, and the second set of auxiliary guides to the lower end of the first helical track. The bridges are synchronously movable along the first and second helical tracks for varying the effective lengths of the conveyor belt.