Low tension dual helical conveyor system

1. Field of the Invention A dual helical conveyor system, is disclosed having a conveyor belt adapted to move in a first direction along a first helical path and thereafter in a second direction generally opposite the first direction along a second helical path generally concentric with said first helical path. The conveyor belt is further movable through a cross-over section along a cross-over path which connects the first and second helical paths, and a conveyor belt drive mechanism is provided in the cross-over section to frictionally drive the conveyor belt along the cross-over path and between the first and second helical paths. The conveyor belt is driven by friction/slip drive mechanism along the first and second helical paths. The conveyor in the first and second paths may be a single continuous belt or it may be alternatively be comprised of two separate and independent belts. When the conveyor in the first and second paths is comprised of separate and independent conveyor belt systems, communication between the product/discharge end of each system is provided by a third conveyor belt system. Independent friction/slip drive mechanisms are respectively provided for the first and second conveyor paths.