A curved conveyor includes an outer circumferential frame supported by L-shaped legs. An inner circumferential frame is supported in a cantilevered manner from the outer circumferential frame by means of horizontally extending beams connected between the inner circumferential frame and the outer circumferential frame. A drive-side tapered roller is rotatably supported at one end of the inner and outer circumferential frames and a lift-up section carrying a driven side tapered roller is pivotally supported at the opposite end of the inner and outer circumferential frames.

A belt assembly for a belt turn conveyor includes a belt with a plurality of longitudinal fibers generally aligned or oriented along the curved longitudinal axis of the belt. The belt may comprise a plurality of belt segments which are interconnected to form an endless belt, with each belt segment preferably including a plurality of longitudinal fibers aligned along the longitudinal axis of each respective belt segment. When interconnected, the longitudinal fibers of each belt segment generally align along the curved longitudinal axis of the belt. Alternately, the belt may be woven such that the longitudinal fibers are substantially aligned along the curved longitudinal axis of the curved belt. Thus, a belt assembly for a belt turn conveyor is provided that exhibits a more uniform stiffness along its length, which results in the belt assembly exhibiting reduced forces across its length thus increasing the belt's capacity and longevity.

A taper sleeve for a conveyor roller used in a curved conveyor section has a taper wall with internal radial ribs which mate with the surface of a cylindrical roller core. The inner edges of the ribs preferably have an interference fit with the core surface.

A curved belt conveyor includes at least two zones, each of which may be defined by a motorized roller and at least one idler roller which are positioned along and between opposite sidewalls of the conveyor, and a continuous belt reeved around the rollers. The conveyor includes a tracking means for tracking the belt on the rollers. The tracking means is substantially contained between the sidewalls of the conveyor and laterally inward of the outer and inner ends of the rollers. The tracking means may comprise a tracking roller positioned along a lower surface of one of the rollers and may engage the lower run of the belt with an upper surface of the tracking roller to maintain the belt in a proper position around the rollers.

A curved belt conveyor includes at least two zones, each of which may be defined by a motorized roller and at least one idler roller which are positioned along and between opposite sidewalls of the conveyor, and a continuous belt reeved around the rollers. The conveyor includes a tracking means for tracking the belt on the rollers. The tracking means is substantially contained between the sidewalls of the conveyor and laterally inward of the outer and inner ends of the rollers. The tracking means may comprise a tracking roller positioned along a lower surface of one of the rollers and may engage the lower run of the belt with an upper surface of the tracking roller to maintain the belt in a proper position around the rollers.