Abstract: A conveyor belt assembly is provided with automatic tension adjustment. The assembly includes a conveyor belt trained about a pair of pulleys. A drive means powers one of the pulleys, each of which are mounted upon slidably interconnected frame members. A hydraulic cylinder in fluid communication with the motor and connected at opposite ends to each frame member automatically extends the first frame member with respect to the second frame member so as to increase the tension upon the conveyor belt as the load upon the belt increases. As the load upon the belt decreases, the fluid pressure within the motor and hydraulic cylinder decreases such that the first frame member is retracted with respect to the second frame member, thereby decreasing the tension upon the conveyor belt.