Centralizing conveyer assembly and method of centralizing a conveyed product

A centralizing conveyor assembly for at least one of establishing or maintaining a centered or aligned position of a product on the conveyor assembly, the centralized conveyor assembly comprising:

• a main conveyor comprising a laterally fixed intermediate roller and having a longitudinal centerline;
• a laterally adjustable infeed conveyor comprising a laterally adjustable roller positioned upstream from the laterally fixed intermediate roller, an infeed roller positioned upstream from the laterally adjustable roller, and a first plurality of parallel conveying bands disposed around the infeed roller and the laterally adjustable roller;
• a second plurality of parallel conveying bands disposed around the laterally adjustable roller and the laterally fixed intermediate roller;
• a pair of sensors mounted on opposite lateral sides of the laterally adjustable infeed conveyor that detect misalignment of the product at the laterally adjustable infeed conveyor with respect to the centerline of the main conveyor;
• a controller that receives signals from the sensors;
• and
• an actuator that laterally moves the laterally adjustable infeed conveyor in response to signals received from the controller, to align the product with respect to the centerline as the product is conveyed from the laterally adjustable infeed conveyor downstream to the main conveyor portion of the conveyor assembly.