US Patent 7347316 Spiral conveyor belt drive system

An improved spiral conveyor self-stacking drive system designed to increase the life of a multiple link conveyor belt by reducing the stresses exerted on the belt when disposed in a spiral configuration. The drive system includes a conical guide ring upon which the belt is wound when disposed in a spiral configuration. During use, the belt is tightly wrapped around the guide ring. The slope of the conical guide ring's sidewall is sufficient so that the upper tiers are stacked slightly inward and offset over the lower tiers over the entire length of the guide ring, thus gradually reducing the lateral forces exerted on the unsupported upper tiers.