In one aspect, a gap blocker having a body configured to be supported in a gap of a roller conveyor by upstream and downstream rollers. The body has an upper blocking portion with upper contact portions for slidingly contacting the upstream and downstream rollers above a narrowest portion of the gap. The body further includes a plurality of laterally spaced upstream leg portions connected to the upper blocking portion and a plurality of laterally spaced downstream leg portions connected to the upper blocking portion longitudinally spaced from the upstream leg portions. The upstream leg portions have upstream distal end portions to be positioned below the narrowest portion of the gap for keeping the body in the gap. The downstream leg portions likewise have downstream end portions to be positioned below the narrowest portion of the gap for keeping the body in the gap.

A disinfection apparatus disclosed herein includes a chamber and a conveyor belt adapted to convey an object through the chamber, in various aspects. A nozzle array comprising at least one nozzle is positioned beneath the conveyor belt to spray a disinfectant through apertures formed in the conveyor belt onto a surface of the object oriented toward the conveyor belt, the spray communicated upward through apertures formed in the conveyor belt, in various aspects. A blower array comprising at least one blower nozzle is positioned beneath the conveyor belt to blow an air jet through apertures formed in the conveyor belt onto the surface of the object to dry the disinfectant from the object, the air jet communicated upward through apertures formed in the conveyor belt. Related methods of disinfecting objects are also disclosed herein.

A disinfection apparatus disclosed herein includes a chamber and a conveyor belt adapted to convey an object through the chamber, in various aspects. A nozzle array comprising at least one nozzle is positioned beneath the conveyor belt to spray a disinfectant through apertures formed in the conveyor belt onto a surface of the object oriented toward the conveyor belt, the spray communicated upward through apertures formed in the conveyor belt, in various aspects. A blower array comprising at least one blower nozzle is positioned beneath the conveyor belt to blow an air jet through apertures formed in the conveyor belt onto the surface of the object to dry the disinfectant from the object, the air jet communicated upward through apertures formed in the conveyor belt. Related methods of disinfecting objects are also disclosed herein.

A roller gap filler system for a conveyor having rollers. The system including a first mounting bracket, second mounting bracket, and first filler bar. The first mounting bracket is configured to mount adjacent a first end of the rollers, and the second mounting bracket is configured to mount adjacent a second end of the rollers, where the second end is opposite the first end. The first filler bar is configured to extend between the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket and be positioned between a first roller and a second roller of the plurality of rollers. A plunger is associated with the first filler bar, the plunger being moveable between a coupling position to couple the first filler bar to the second mounting bracket and a release position to uncouple the first filler bar from the second mounting bracket, where the plunger is biased to the coupling position.

A roller gap filler system for a conveyor having rollers. The system including a first mounting bracket, second mounting bracket, and first filler bar. The first mounting bracket is configured to mount adjacent a first end of the rollers, and the second mounting bracket is configured to mount adjacent a second end of the rollers, where the second end is opposite the first end. The first filler bar is configured to extend between the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket and be positioned between a first roller and a second roller of the plurality of rollers. A plunger is associated with the first filler bar, the plunger being moveable between a coupling position to couple the first filler bar to the second mounting bracket and a release position to uncouple the first filler bar from the second mounting bracket, where the plunger is biased to the coupling position.

A transport conveyor includes an upstream conveyor section, a downstream conveyor section, and a relay conveyor section having an orientation changeable between a connecting orientation, in which the relay conveyor section in a gap region to connect the upstream conveyor section to the downstream conveyor section, and an open orientation, in which the relay conveyor section is in a non-overlapping region that does not overlap a movement path to open the gap region. A support axis is above a drive axis, and a link mechanism is configured such that when the relay conveyor section is in the connecting orientation, a first pivot axis is below a reference virtual plane connecting the drive axis to a second pivot axis.

A conveyor system, comprising a first conveyor assembly having: an input end; an output end; and a conveyor belt arranged to convey an object from the input end toward the output end in a direction of travel. The conveyor system comprises a fluid projection mechanism, the fluid projection mechanism being arranged to provide a fluid suitable for providing a lifting force to a conveyed object as the conveyed object passes over the fluid projection mechanism.

A conveyor system, comprising a first conveyor assembly having: an input end; an output end; and a conveyor belt arranged to convey an object from the input end toward the output end in a direction of travel. The conveyor system comprises a fluid projection mechanism, the fluid projection mechanism being arranged to provide a fluid suitable for providing a lifting force to a conveyed object as the conveyed object passes over the fluid projection mechanism.

A belt and a belt conveyor are provided for transporting particulate material and especially oilseeds up the belt conveyor. The belt conveyor can include an intake end having a hopper, a discharge end, a body extending between the intake end and the discharge end and a belt. The belt travels along a travel path in the belt conveyor; the belt traveling through the hopper, up an upper run in the body to the discharge end, down a return run in the body, and back through the hopper. The belt can have a top surface having pairs of adjacent ridges provided on the top surface, each ridge having a pair of arms extending from a point, in a travel direction of the belt, wherein each pair of adjacent ridges define a v-channel on the top surface of the belt.

A contact protection structure can be positioned on a belt body to prevent a pinching gap, where the belt body presents a conveyor belt deflected by a roller, and where a roller holder supporting the roller and attachable to the belt body also supports the contact protection structure.