Conveyor belt blower

A conveyor belt blower for a conveyor belt having a length and a width, the conveyor belt blower comprising:

• a pressure distribution assembly located along the conveyor belt length, comprising:
• a plenum body having first and second ends, the plenum body extending across at least a portion of the width of the conveyor belt;
• and
• a nozzle assembly having at least one opening extending along a length of the plenum body that is configured to direct air onto the conveyor belt;
• an air movement device in communication with the first end of the plenum body for flowing air into the plenum body;
• a collection bin located below the pressure distribution assembly that is configured to receive at least one of frost and ice blown off the conveyor belt;
• and
• a defrost assembly associated with the collection bin.

A processing machine, comprising:

• a housing that substantially encloses a work area for processing a workpiece;
• a conveyor belt having an infeed portion for moving the workpiece through the housing for processing and having a return portion having a width;
• and
• a conveyor belt blower located inside the housing, comprising:
• a pressure distribution assembly located between the infeed portion and the return portion to direct the air onto the conveyor belt;
• and
• an air movement device in communication with the pressure distribution assembly for flowing air into the pressure distribution assembly, the air movement device located on a side of the conveyor belt.

A method of drying a conveyor belt inside a processing machine, the method comprising:

• positioning a plenum body beneath an infeed portion and above a return portion of the conveyor belt at a location within the processing machine, the plenum body having a length extending between first and second ends;
• flowing air into the plenum body;
• and
• directing high-pressure air out of the plenum body downwardly onto the return portion of the conveyor belt.

A method of drying a conveyor belt inside a processing machine, the method comprising:

• positioning a plenum body between an infeed portion and a return portion of the conveyor belt within the processing machine, the plenum body having a length extending between first and second ends;
• flowing air into the plenum body;
• directing high-pressure air out of the plenum body onto the return portion of the conveyor belt;
• and
• positioning the plenum body such that an elongated opening of the plenum body is substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the return portion and the elongated opening extends across a width of the return portion.