Patent ID: 8474604

Claim:
A belt alignment system, comprising: a first step arm spatially configured to selectively rotate about a substantially vertical first axis; a second step arm generally laterally offset from the first step arm and spatially configured to selectively rotate about a substantially vertical second axis; an input linkage extending an input linkage length between pivotal connections to each of the first step arm and the second step arm, the input linkage extending generally laterally relative to a longitudinal primary direction of travel of a belt; a first element connected to the input linkage, the first element being movable in response to mechanical interference between the first element and a lateral side of the belt; and a steering roller extending a steering roller length between pivotal connections to each of the first step arm and the second step arm, the steering roller extending generally laterally relative to the longitudinal primary direction of travel of the belt and configured to change position in response to the mechanical interference; wherein when the input linkage is substantially parallel to the steering roller, the pivotal connections of the input linkage are longitudinally offset from each of the first axis and the second axis in a first offset direction, the pivotal connections of the steering roller are longitudinally offset from each of the first axis and the second axis in a second offset direction generally opposite the first offset direction, and wherein the input linkage length is less than the steering roller length.