Abstract: A conveyor freezer employing a self-supporting conveyor arranged in a helical stack for carrying discrete food items into the freezer, through the helical stack for a predetermined period of time, and out of the freezer. A major portion of the weight of the helical belt stack is supported by a rotatable turntable. A portion of the lowermost tier of the stack is elevated and supported by a ramp structure which preferably comprises a pair of runners engaging lower surfaces of outwardly extending flange portion of side links of the belt. The belt is preferably driven by a single drive unit at a location outside of the freezer enclosure, remote from the stack, by a single pair of sprockets. A timing sprocket is preferably employed to control belt pitch along the infeed section of the belt.

Abstract: A conveyor freezer employing a self-supporting conveyor arranged in a helical stack for carrying discrete food items into the freezer, through the helical stack for a predetermined period of time, and out of the freezer. A major portion of the weight of the helical belt stack is supported by a rotatable turntable A portion of the lowermost tier of the stack is elevated and supported by a ramp structure which preferably comprises a pair of runners engaging lower surfaces of outwardly extending flange portion of side links of the belt. The belt is preferably driven by a single drive unit at a location outside of the freezer enclosure, remote from the stack, by a single pair of sprockets. A timing sprocket is preferably employed to control belt pitch along the infeed section of the belt.