A process is for the maintenance of a belt conveyor, which includes a longitudinal conveyor belt and a number of support stations for the conveyor belt distributed along the conveyor belt. Each support station includes a cradle on which the conveyor belt rests. The process includes inserting an inflatable pad in a deflated state below the conveyor belt, in a lifting position near one of the support stations, inflating the inflatable pad to an inflated state in which the conveyor belt rests directly on the inflatable pad and no longer rests on the cradle of the support station, performing a maintenance operation on the support station, and deflating the inflatable pad to its deflated state.