Conveyor system

A conveyor system for conveying food items from a point of entry to a point of discharge, comprising:

• at least one conveyor extending from a first food product entry end to a second food product discharge end;
• at least one drive roller;
• a motor drive for driving said at least one drive roller;
• and
• at least one sensor operatively associated with said first food product entry end of said at least one conveyor for detecting the presence of a food product upon said first food product entry end of said at least one conveyor, and for generating a signal to said motor drive in response to detecting the presence of the food product upon said first food item entry end of said at least one conveyor so as to activate said motor drive and thereby commence the drive of said at least one conveyor whereby said at least one conveyor can convey the food product from said first food product entry end of said at least one conveyor to said second food product discharge end of said at least one conveyor, wherein said motor drive is deactivated after a predetermined period of time if no further food items are detected upon said first food product entry end of said at least one conveyor,
• whereby such intermittent, non-continuous operation of said at least one conveyor will reduce wear and tear of said at least one conveyor and improve the service life of said at least one conveyor.