Abstract: A clearing method for use with a conveyor belt driven by a reversible motor for essentially automatically eliminating swarf or other obstructions along the belt including an clearing process including sensing motor load and comparing sensed load to a maximum load, when the sensed load exceeds the maximum, stopping the belt, reversing the belt, stopping the belt again and driving the belt forward, and repeating this process until the obstruction is eliminated or a predetermined number of clearing processes have been performed. Also an apparatus for implementing the method including an inverter.