Washer/dryer for conveyor belt

A conveyor belt washer/dryer for cleaning and drying a moving conveyor belt, the belt having opposing first and second planar surfaces, the conveyor belt washer/dryer comprising:

• a housing defining a substantially enclosed interior and an exterior and comprising first and second ends, opposing sides, a top wall, a bottom wall and a substantially horizontal passage having a first end and a second end corresponding to and extending between the first and second ends of the housing, and wherein the passage is sized and configured to allow the conveyor belt to movably pass through the housing;
• a washing station in the interior of the housing and in communication with the exterior via the first end of the passage, the washing station comprising one or more rotatable washing heads, a splash plate and a reservoir, wherein the one or more washing heads are located above and/or below the passage and discharge a wash liquid into the passage in a first direction, wherein the splash plate is located below the passage, supports the conveyor belt and redirects the wash liquid in a second direction, and wherein the reservoir collects the wash liquid;
• a drying station in the interior of the housing and in communication with the washing station via the passage and in communication with the exterior via the second end of the passage, the drying station comprising one or more angularly adjustable air knife/knives and one or more tracks, wherein the one or more air knife/knives are located above and/or below the passage and discharge pressurized air into the passage, and wherein the one or more tracks support(s) the conveyor belt;
• and
• one or more spray barriers in the interior of the housing disposed between the washing station and the drying station, wherein the spray barriers prevent wash liquid from directly discharging into the drying station,
• wherein, the conveyor belt is washed in the washing station by the one or more washing heads and dried in the drying station by the one or more air knife/knives as it moves through the passage.

A conveyor belt washer/dryer for cleaning and drying a moving conveyor belt, the belt having opposing first and second planar surfaces, the conveyor belt washer/dryer comprising:

• a housing defining a substantially enclosed interior and an exterior and comprising first and second ends, opposing sides, a top wall, a bottom wall and a substantially horizontal passage having a first end and a second end corresponding to and extending between the first and second ends of the housing, wherein the passage is sized and configured to allow the conveyor belt to movably pass through the housing;
• a washing station in the interior of the housing and in communication with the exterior via the first end of the passage, the washing station comprising one or more rotatable washing heads, a splash plate and a reservoir, wherein the one or more washing heads discharge a wash liquid into the passage in a first direction, wherein the splash plate is located below the passage, supports the conveyor belt and redirects the wash liquid in a second direction, and wherein the reservoir collects the wash liquid;
• a drying station in the interior of the housing and in communication with the washing station via the passage and in communication with the exterior via the second end of the passage, the drying station comprising one or more air knife/knives and one or more tracks, wherein each of the one or more air knife/knives comprises a rotatable duct with a longitudinal axis that extends between the opposing sides of the housing and a slot in the duct, wherein the slot is parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the pressurized air is discharged through the slot and the duct is rotated to adjust the direction of the pressurized air into the passage, and wherein the one or more tracks support(s) the conveyor belt;
• and
• one or more spray barriers in the interior of the housing disposed between the washing station and the drying station, wherein the spray barriers prevent the rotatable washing heads from directly discharging wash liquid into the drying station,
• wherein, the conveyor belt is washed in the washing station by the one or more washing heads and dried in the drying station by the one or more air knife/knives as it moves through the passage.