In embodiments, a conveyor apparatus can include a conveyor ribbon having a length, a width, a thickness less than the width, and a plurality of receiving apertures located along the length and extending through the thickness of the conveyor ribbon. The plurality of receiving apertures are dimensioned to receive and hold a plurality of glass articles. A conveyor drive and guidance system directs the conveyor ribbon along a predefined conveyor path. The predefined conveyor path can include an immersion section and a drain section. The immersion section can be oriented to direct the conveyor ribbon into and out of an immersion station and the conveyor ribbon is rotated about a horizontal axis in the drain section after being directed out of the immersion station.

In embodiments, a conveyor apparatus can include a conveyor ribbon having a length, a width, a thickness less than the width, and a plurality of receiving apertures located along the length and extending through the thickness of the conveyor ribbon. The plurality of receiving apertures are dimensioned to receive and hold a plurality of glass articles. A conveyor drive and guidance system directs the conveyor ribbon along a predefined conveyor path. The predefined conveyor path can include an immersion section and a drain section. The immersion section can be oriented to direct the conveyor ribbon into and out of an immersion station and the conveyor ribbon is rotated about a horizontal axis in the drain section after being directed out of the immersion station.

A net chain driving structure includes a conveying net chain. The conveying net chain includes a plurality of chain links successively inserted in a conveying direction, a plurality of lugs spaced apart from each other are arranged on two sides of the chain links, an end portion of the lug is an arcuate face, a meshing groove is disposed on the chain link, the meshing groove is spliced by an open slot provided on a back side of the chain link and the lugs on the adjacent chain links, a gear in transmission meshing with the meshing groove is disposed on each end of the conveying net chain, a tangent plane tangential to the arcuate face is disposed on the arcuate face of the lug, and transmission contact toothed surfaces of the tangent plane and the gear are attached to each other in parallel during meshing transmission.

A net chain driving structure includes a conveying net chain. The conveying net chain includes a plurality of chain links successively inserted in a conveying direction, a plurality of lugs spaced apart from each other are arranged on two sides of the chain links, an end portion of the lug is an arcuate face, a meshing groove is disposed on the chain link, the meshing groove is spliced by an open slot provided on a back side of the chain link and the lugs on the adjacent chain links, a gear in transmission meshing with the meshing groove is disposed on each end of the conveying net chain, a tangent plane tangential to the arcuate face is disposed on the arcuate face of the lug, and transmission contact toothed surfaces of the tangent plane and the gear are attached to each other in parallel during meshing transmission.

In embodiments, a conveyor apparatus can include a conveyor ribbon having a length, a width, a thickness less than the width, and a plurality of receiving apertures located along the length and extending through the thickness of the conveyor ribbon. The plurality of receiving apertures are dimensioned to receive and hold a plurality of glass articles. A conveyor drive and guidance system directs the conveyor ribbon along a predefined conveyor path. The predefined conveyor path can include an immersion section and a drain section. The immersion section can be oriented to direct the conveyor ribbon into and out of an immersion station and the conveyor ribbon is rotated about a horizontal axis in the drain section after being directed out of the immersion station.

In embodiments, a conveyor apparatus can include a conveyor ribbon having a length, a width, a thickness less than the width, and a plurality of receiving apertures located along the length and extending through the thickness of the conveyor ribbon. The plurality of receiving apertures are dimensioned to receive and hold a plurality of glass articles. A conveyor drive and guidance system directs the conveyor ribbon along a predefined conveyor path. The predefined conveyor path can include an immersion section and a drain section. The immersion section can be oriented to direct the conveyor ribbon into and out of an immersion station and the conveyor ribbon is rotated about a horizontal axis in the drain section after being directed out of the immersion station.

A lid transport conveyor including a frame, a first pulley and a second pulley that are carried by the frame, a device for driving the first pulley in rotation, an endless conveyor belt mounted between the first pulley and the second pulley, a slide profile carried by the frame, the slide profile including a suction groove whose open side directly faces a main face of the conveyor belt, a pump capable of drawing air through the suction groove, conveyor belt including a through-orifice positioned in line with the suction groove during movement of the conveyor belt; a lid being held by suction in contact with a face of the conveyor belt that is opposite to the main face, when the orifice is directly opposite the suction groove.

A lid transport conveyor including a frame, a first pulley and a second pulley that are carried by the frame, a device for driving the first pulley in rotation, an endless conveyor belt mounted between the first pulley and the second pulley, a slide profile carried by the frame, the slide profile including a suction groove whose open side directly faces a main face of the conveyor belt, a pump capable of drawing air through the suction groove, conveyor belt including a through-orifice positioned in line with the suction groove during movement of the conveyor belt; a lid being held by suction in contact with a face of the conveyor belt that is opposite to the main face, when the orifice is directly opposite the suction groove.

A conveyor belt system includes a conveyor belt and a sensor assembly integrated in the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt includes a plurality of wickets, and a plurality of interconnecting rods about which the wickets hinge. The sensor assembly includes a load-bearing member and a sensor fitted in the load-bearing member. The load-bearing member is coupled to two adjacent rods such that a belt tension is sustained between the adjacent rods. A method of using a conveyor belt system include pinging the sensor assembly using a reader with an antenna positioned on a conveyor frame, collecting a signal from the sensor assembly using the reader, and processing the collected data to determine a history of belt tension and to estimate overall belt elongation.

A method of reducing contamination in a silicon product includes: moving silicon pieces along a conveyance system, wherein the conveyance system comprises a liner having a polished surface finish with a surface roughness of less than or equal to 12 microinches; and moving the silicon pieces across the conveyance system, wherein the silicon pieces contain a reduced number of impurities as compared to silicon pieces in contact with a liner having an unpolished surface. A crushing tool includes: crushing tool elements configured to crush silicon into fragments, wherein the crushing tool elements comprise a surface comprising a polished surface finish with a surface roughness of less than or equal to 12 microinches. A conveyance system includes: a first conveyer discharged onto a second conveyer; wherein the first conveyer comprises a first liner and wherein the second conveyer comprises a second liner.