Self-aligning conveyor belt having multiple zones with differing flexiblity and crowned roller

An apparatus comprising:

• a conveyor belt having perforations;
• and
• a roller supporting said conveyor belt,
• said belt contacting an exterior surface of said roller,
• said belt moving in a processing direction as said roller rotates,
• said exterior surface of said roller having roller outer sections and a center crowned portion between said roller outer sections,
• said center crowned portion of said roller having a larger diameter relative to a smaller diameter of said roller outer sections,
• said belt having belt outer sections and a belt center section between said belt outer sections,
• said belt outer sections contacting said roller outer sections,
• said belt center section contacting said center crowned portion of said roller,
• said belt outer sections having a first pattern of holes,
• said first pattern of holes producing a lower flexibility in said belt outer sections,
• said belt center section having a second pattern of holes,
• said second pattern of holes producing a higher flexibility in said belt center section relative to said lower flexibility, and
• a flexibility difference between said higher flexibility and said lower flexibility biasing said belt outer sections toward said center crowned portion of said roller and maintaining said belt center section self-aligned with said center crowned portion of said roller.

A sheet drying apparatus comprising:

• a heater;
• a conveyor belt adjacent said heater;
• and
• a roller supporting said conveyor belt,
• said belt contacting an exterior surface of said roller,
• said belt moving in a processing direction past said heater as said roller rotates,
• said exterior surface of said roller having roller outer sections and a center crowned portion between said roller outer sections,
• said center crowned portion of said roller having a larger diameter relative to a smaller diameter of said roller outer sections,
• said belt having belt outer sections and a belt center section between said belt outer sections,
• said belt outer sections contacting said roller outer sections,
• said belt center section contacting said center crowned portion of said roller,
• said belt outer sections having a lower flexibility,
• said belt center section having a higher flexibility relative to said lower flexibility, and
• a flexibility difference between said higher flexibility and said lower flexibility biasing said belt outer sections toward said center crowned portion of said roller and maintaining said belt center section self-aligned with said center crowned portion of said roller.

A printing apparatus comprising:

• a printing engine;
• a conveyor belt transporting sheets from said printing engine;
• a heater adjacent said conveyor belt;
• and
• a roller supporting said conveyor belt,
• said belt contacting an exterior surface of said roller,
• said belt moving in a processing direction as said roller rotates and transporting printed sheets output by said printing engine past said heater,
• said exterior surface of said roller having roller outer sections and a center crowned portion between said roller outer sections,
• said center crowned portion of said roller having a larger diameter relative to a smaller diameter of said roller outer sections,
• said belt having belt outer sections and a belt center section between said belt outer sections,
• said belt outer sections contacting said roller outer sections,
• said belt center section contacting said center crowned portion of said roller,
• said belt outer sections having a lower flexibility,
• said belt center section having a higher flexibility relative to said lower flexibility, and
• a flexibility difference between said higher flexibility and said lower flexibility biasing said belt outer sections toward said center crowned portion of said roller and maintaining said belt center section self-aligned with said center crowned portion of said roller.