Belt conveyor and conveyor belt therefor

A belt conveyor comprising an endless conveyor belt (4) of the type surrounding the material conveyed and having a planar central part (5) which is flexurally rigid in the transverse direction of the belt, and two planar edge parts (6, 7) which are hingedly connected to the central part and are flexurally rigid in the transverse direction of the belt, as well as a frame (1) having support rollers (2, 3) for carrying the belt along at least part of its path, characterised in that the one planar edge part (6) is divided into two portions closest to its free longitudinal edge so as to form a longitudinal flat pocket (11) which is open towards the free longitudinal edge and whose depth is substantially larger than its width, that the free edge portion (13) of the other planar edge part (7) is received in the pocket so as to be substantially unable to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the belt owing to its thickness being substantially the same as the width of the pocket and owing to the total width of the two planar edge parts being substantially larger than the width of the central part, and that a rotary disc (15;

• 16) is mounted in the frame (1) for engaging and widening the pocket (11) to permit introducing of the free edge portion (13) of said other edge part (7) therein at a belt sealing location along the belt path.