A tensioning system (20, 120) for a conveying system with an endless traction element that travels around an adjustably mounted pulley or sprocket, the tensioning system (20, 120) including a tensioner spring (44, 144) and a spring housing (22, 122) having first and second housing ends (24, 26; 124, 126) opposite one another, characterized by: the first housing end (24, 124) acts as a tensioner spring support; a lead screw/drive shaft assembly (33, 133) including a threaded lead screw (34,134) connected with a drive shaft (48, 138) located in the spring housing (22, 122), the lead screw/drive shaft assembly (33, 133) having a pushing face (36, 136) that extends out of one of the housing ends (24, 26; 124, 126); a spring compression plate (38,138) located in the spring housing (22, 122) and threadingly engaged with the lead screw (34, 134), the spring compression plate (38, 138) including an indicator (42, 142) and an anti-rotation element (43, 139); the tensioner spring (44, 144) being located between the tensioner spring support (24, 124) and the spring compression plate (38, 138); a sensor (46a, 46b; 146) located on the spring housing (22, 122) that is configured to detect a position of the indicator (42, 142); a driven wheel (60, 160) that is rotationally engaged with the drive shaft (48, 148) and axially slideable thereon; a motor (62, 162) that drives the driven wheel (60, 160); and a controller configured to receive position data from the position sensor (46a, 46b; 146) and to actuate the motor (62, 162) to drive the driven wheel (60, 160) in a first or second rotational direction to rotate the lead screw/drive shaft assembly (33, 133) and advance or retract the lead screw (34, 134) in the spring compression plate (38, 138) to maintain or move the pushing face (36, 136) to a desired position and to adjust a tensioning force of the tensioner spring (44, 144). the first housing end (24, 124) acts as a tensioner spring support; a lead screw/drive shaft assembly (33, 133) including a threaded lead screw (34,134) connected with a drive shaft (48, 138) located in the spring housing (22, 122), the lead screw/drive shaft assembly (33, 133) having a pushing face (36, 136) that extends out of one of the housing ends (24, 26; 124, 126); a spring compression plate (38,138) located in the spring housing (22, 122) and threadingly engaged with the lead screw (34, 134), the spring compression plate (38, 138) including an indicator (42, 142) and an anti-rotation element (43, 139); the tensioner spring (44, 144) being located between the tensioner spring support (24, 124) and the spring compression plate (38, 138); a sensor (46a, 46b; 146) located on the spring housing (22, 122) that is configured to detect a position of the indicator (42, 142); a driven wheel (60, 160) that is rotationally engaged with the drive shaft (48, 148) and axially slideable thereon; a motor (62, 162) that drives the driven wheel (60, 160); and a controller configured to receive position data from the position sensor (46a, 46b; 146) and to actuate the motor (62, 162) to drive the driven wheel (60, 160) in a first or second rotational direction to rotate the lead screw/drive shaft assembly (33, 133) and advance or retract the lead screw (34, 134) in the spring compression plate (38, 138) to maintain or move the pushing face (36, 136) to a desired position and to adjust a tensioning force of the tensioner spring (44, 144).