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 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.

Disclosed is a conveyor system and method for advancing an item relative to a transport axis. The conveyor system includes a conveyor belt and a modular drive assembly having at least one drive module and at least one take-up module. Each drive module and each take-up module has a housing and a pulley assembly positioned within the housing. The respective positions of the housings of the at least one drive module and the at least one take-up module relative to the transport axis are selectively adjustable to modify the conveyor movement pathway. Moreover, the drive module can also include a drive pulley removal apparatus that is detachably secured within the housing for selective removal and replacement of a drive pulley.

A return roller assembly that is designed for use as part of a conveyor assembly to improve the ability to clean the conveyor assembly. The return roller assembly includes a roller shaft that extends between side walls of a conveyor frame. A plurality of support rollers are positioned along the length of the roller shaft to support a lower run of a continuous conveyor belt. A spacer is positioned between each of the support rollers to define the position of the rollers along the roller shaft. The spacer can be snapped onto the roller shaft and includes a series of standoffs that space the inner surface of the spacer from the roller shaft. A series of cleaning fins extend radially from the outer surface of the spacer and impart rotation to the spacer relative to the roller shaft during cleaning with a spray of water. The spacer can be formed from an extrusion cut to length.

A return roller assembly that is designed for use as part of a conveyor assembly to improve the ability to clean the conveyor assembly. The return roller assembly includes a roller shaft that extends between side walls of a conveyor frame. A plurality of support rollers are positioned along the length of the roller shaft to support a lower run of a continuous conveyor belt. A spacer is positioned between each of the support rollers to define the position of the rollers along the roller shaft. The spacer can be snapped onto the roller shaft and includes a series of standoffs that space the inner surface of the spacer from the roller shaft. A series of cleaning fins extend radially from the outer surface of the spacer and impart rotation to the spacer relative to the roller shaft during cleaning with a spray of water. The spacer can be formed from an extrusion cut to length.

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 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.

Disclosed is a conveyor system and method for advancing an item relative to a transport axis. The conveyor system includes a conveyor belt and a modular drive assembly having at least one drive module and at least one take-up module. Each drive module and each take-up module has a housing and a pulley assembly positioned within the housing. The respective positions of the housings of the at least one drive module and the at least one take-up module relative to the transport axis are selectively adjustable to modify the conveyor movement pathway. Moreover, the drive module can also include a drive pulley removal apparatus that is detachably secured within the housing for selective removal and replacement of a drive pulley.

Disclosed is a conveyor system and method for advancing an item relative to a transport axis. The conveyor system includes a conveyor belt and a modular drive assembly having at least one drive module and at least one take-up module. Each drive module and each take-up module has a housing and a pulley assembly positioned within the housing. The respective positions of the housings of the at least one drive module and the at least one take-up module relative to the transport axis are selectively adjustable to modify the conveyor movement pathway. Moreover, the drive module can also include a drive pulley removal apparatus that is detachably secured within the housing for selective removal and replacement of a drive pulley.

A continuous product-processing apparatus having a conveyor capable of repositioning product and cleaning itself of debris and a method for its operation. The apparatus includes a conveyor that transports products atop a conveyor belt along a carryway to a processing chamber. Upper and lower diverting rollers guide the belt along an S-shaped product-repositioning path segment of the carryway. The diverting rollers are rotated at a speed normally greater than the speed of the conveyor belt to cause the belt to slip on the roller's periphery, which effects a scraping action against the conveying side of the belt to dislodge debris from the belt and the rollers. One-way ratcheting drives or belt restricters positioned on the product-positioning path segment to limit belt excursion are used to prevent the belt from building up along the carryway and tightening in the lower return.