Systems and methods for belt alignment

A method of aligning a belt, comprising:

• providing an input linkage and a steering roller, each extending generally transverse relative to a primary longitudinal direction of travel of a belt;
• pivotally connecting each of the input linkage and the steering roller between a first step arm and a second step arm, thereby defining an input linkage distance and a steering roller distance, respectively, the input linkage distance being less than the steering roller distance, spatially restraining the first step arm to selectively rotate about a first vertical axis, and spatially restraining the second step arm to selectively rotate about a second vertical axis, 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 vertical axis and the second vertical axis in a first offset direction and the pivotal connections of the steering roller are longitudinally offset from each of the first vertical axis and the second vertical axis in a second offset direction generally opposite the first offset direction;
• changing a lateral position of a lateral side of the belt;
• receiving lateral movement of the belt as an input;
• translating the lateral movement of the belt into a change in position of the steering roller;
• and
• employing the steering roller to move the belt in a lateral direction opposite to the direction of lateral movement received as the input.

An oven, comprising:

• a belt configured for rotation in a longitudinal direction;
• and
• an alignment system, an angular movement of a steering roller relative to the transverse direction, the 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 the 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 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.