Patent ID: 8028822

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a conveyor timing belt assembly including one or more bearing assemblies, the conveyor timing belt assembly including a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is substantially smooth and the second surface is opposite the first surface and includes a plurality of conveyor timing belt engagement teeth or slots designed to provide reliable engagement with the respective drive or alignment pulleys, wherein each of the one or more bearing assemblies are mounted fixedly and permanently to the first surface of the conveyor timing belt and opposite to the second surface of the conveyor timing belt, wherein the one or more bearing assemblies are aligned substantially along a longitudinal center of the first surface of the conveyor timing belt, wherein the one or more bearing assemblies do not extend beyond the width of the conveyor timing belt and do not extend through the second surface of the conveyor timing belt, wherein each of the one or more bearing assemblies include a cavity configured to allow a shaft of an item carrier to be inserted, the conveyor timing belt guided by at least two pulleys assemblies designed to match the timing belt engagement teeth or slots to ensure reliable engagement between the teeth or slots of the second surface of the conveyor timing belt and the pulley assemblies; wherein the at least one conveyor timing belt assembly is supported by at least two pulley assemblies will advance and maintain carriers in generally upright position at all times; wherein an inner enclosure is configured to contain the conveyor timing belt including the one or more bearing assemblies, the at least two pulleys assemblies, and each of the item carriers; and wherein an outer enclosure is configured to allow the inner enclosure to be slideably inserted into the outer enclosure.