Patent ID: 7025196

Claim:
A precision drive system for a conveyor for conveying work products past at least one processing station, the conveyor having a longitudinal frame and an endless belt, the precision drive system comprising: (a) friction drive pulley about which the endless belt is trained, the endless belt being driven by the belt drive pulley through frictional engagement with the belt drive pulley; (b) a tensioning roller located intermediate the ends of the frame for applying a tension load on the endless belt; (c) a pivot assembly for pivotally supporting the tensioning roller relative to the endless belt, the pivot assembly being mounted to the frame to allow the tensioning roller to move in a direction to apply a tension load on the endless belt, the pivot assembly generating a tensioning force acting on the tensioning roller in a direction substantially lateral to the adjacent run of the endless belt; and (d) a dampener acting on the pivot assembly to resist movement of the pivot assembly in a direction to dampen the tension load imposed on the endless belt.