A belt tensioner for a food processing machine includes a base member, a nose member, a belt member, and a driving member. The nose member is pivotally connected with the base member. The belt member is moveably disposed around the base member and the nose member. The driving device is configured to pivotally move the nose member relative to the base member. As the nose member pivotally moves relative to the base member the nose member applies variable levels of tension on the belt member.