PURPOSE: To provide a belt conveyor of the type having a trough along the upper run of the belt, in which fluid is ejected into the trough for supporting the belt by fluid pressure, whereby it is enabled to smoothly drive the belt.
CONSTITUTION: Through 3 is arranged almost along the entire upper run of belt 1 where articles are transported. The trough 3 has a plurality of partitions 3A along the stretch of belt 1 and fluid chambers 4 are formed between the trough 3 and inner surface of belt 1. A suitable gas like air is introduced into the fluid chambers 4 via air pipe 6 by means of blower 5. With such an arrangement, gas is ejected out from the fluid chambers 4 through the elearance formed by the difference between gap D of trough 3 and thickness C of belt 1, and pressure loss corresponding to the amount of gas ejected from said clearance is developed on the inside of belt 1, which results in that pressure corresponding to the pressure loss serves to suspend belt 1 upward. Therefore, belt 1 can be driven smoothly since its weight is supported by fluid pressure.
MITOMO MASAKI