Spiral freezer conveyor belt infeed collapsing system

摘要

A food processing system comprises a food processor, a food product conveyor belt associated and constructed of segments that are longitudinally displaceable relative to one another and linked together to form an endless conveyor belt that extends through the food processor. The conveyor belt is arranged to travel from a lineal course into and through an arcuate course. A conveyor drive drivingly engages with the conveyor belt. A controller is associated with the conveyor drive and a detector for detecting a condition of the conveyor belt at a predetermined location is provided, the controller being responsive to the detected condition for controlling the conveyor drive to displace conveyor belt segments into a collapsed condition so that conveyor belt segments enter the arcuate course from the lineal course in a collapsed condition with inner edges of the conveyor belt segments remaining collapsed as the belt segments enter the arcuate course and with outer edges of the conveyor belt segments expanding apart as the belt segments enter the arcuate course.