A conveyor including a conveyor belt and a first cleat. The conveyor belt has a first side edge that is opposite a second side edge. The conveyor belt also has a first belt end and a second belt end that is opposite the first belt end. The first cleat is attached to the conveyor belt. The first cleat includes a main cleat portion and a first tail cleat portion. The main cleat portion has a main cleat first end and a main cleat second end. The main cleat first end is closer to the first side edge than the main cleat second end. The main cleat portion is oriented at an angle of less than about 90 degrees with respect to the first side edge so that the main cleat first end is closer to the first belt end than the main cleat second end. The first tail cleat portion includes a tail cleat first end and a tail cleat second end. The tail cleat first end is closer to the first belt end than the tail cleat second end. The tail cleat second end is proximate the main cleat second end.

A telescopic conveyor includes a conveyor boom having two or more conveyor sections adapted to be extended and retracted with respect to one another in telescopic fashion to adjust the length of the boom, wherein the two or more conveyor sections are each curved about a common axis of curvature.

A tax stamping machine includes an input system that transfers incoming cartons of cigarettes into a conveyor. The input station positions the upper surfaces of the cartons at a predefined height, and the conveyor retains the cartons at the predefined height as the cartons pass through the stamp applicating device. The stamp applicating device includes an opening station, a stamping station, and a closing station. The conveyor includes resilient pulleys that hold the cartons at a predefined height as the cartons move through the opening station, the stamping station, and the closing station such that the upper surfaces of the individual packs of cigarettes are always at the same predefined height regardless of the size of the cartons entering the machine.

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 conveyor belt fastening system for an endless belt formed by joining a first and a second end of a conveyor belt together, the system comprising: a lace connected to the first and second ends of the conveyor belt, the endless belt having an exterior and an interior surface; at least one drive sprocket and at least one return roller about which the interior surface of the endless belt is peripherally wrapped, the at least one drive sprocket configured to translate the endless belt; wherein the lace has a symmetric configuration about a longitudinal axis of symmetry, the longitudinal axis aligned longitudinally and parallel to the endless belt, between the exterior and interior surfaces of the endless belt.

A conveyor including a conveyor belt and a first cleat. The conveyor belt has a first side edge that is opposite a second side edge. The conveyor belt also has a first belt end and a second belt end that is opposite the first belt end. The first cleat is attached to the conveyor belt. The first cleat includes a main cleat portion and a first tail cleat portion. The main cleat portion has a main cleat first end and a main cleat second end. The main cleat first end is closer to the first side edge than the main cleat second end. The main cleat portion is oriented at an angle of less than about 90 degrees with respect to the first side edge so that the main cleat first end is closer to the first belt end than the main cleat second end. The first tail cleat portion includes a tail cleat first end and a tail cleat second end. The tail cleat first end is closer to the first belt end than the tail cleat second end. The tail cleat second end is proximate the main cleat second end.

A diverter system includes a conveyor belt with a horizontal belt surface, a diverter arm comprising a diverter belt with a vertical diverting belt surface, the diverter arm being operated by an actuator assembly, a sensing device for monitoring a speed of the vertical diverting belt surface, and a control unit operably coupled to the sensing device, wherein the control unit adjusts the speed of the vertical diverting belt surface according to a predefined ratio of speed between the horizontal belt surface and the vertical diverting belt surface.

Apparatus for transporting material in a manufacturing process are disclosed. A disclosed vacuum conveyer system may comprise a vacuum box extending between a first box end and a second box end, the vacuum box comprising a vacuum box vacuum chamber, a nose roll disposed adjacent to the first box end, the nose roll comprising a nose roll vacuum chamber, and a foraminous member disposed about both of the nose roll and the vacuum box. The vacuum system may further comprise a first airflow conduit connecting the vacuum box vacuum chamber to a vacuum source and a second airflow conduit connecting the nose roll vacuum chamber to the vacuum source.

A transport system for conveying goods in a conveying direction along a conveyor belt plane of a conveyor belt is provided. On a bearing, oriented along the conveyor belt plane, for bearing the goods and, on a guiding side of the conveyor belt, at least one guide surface, oriented along the conveyor belt plane, for guiding the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt includes a plurality of notches in the guide surface. The notches include a plurality of guide notches to engage at least one guide ridge for guiding the conveyor belt along the conveying direction, wherein a longitudinal axis of each of the guide notches is oriented along the conveying direction, and a number of drive notches for engaging at least one drive ridge for driving the conveyor belt along the conveying direction.

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.