A conveyor and coolant cleaner for removing chips from conveyors of CNC lathes and other related types of machine tools includes a blower assembly having at least one nozzle. The conveyor and coolant cleaner further includes mounting structure for positioning the nozzle such that an air stream exiting the nozzle is directed in an upward direction. The air stream is directed against a downwardly-facing return stretch of a conveyor belt so that waste material chips sticking to the conveyor belt are dislodged by the air stream. The waste material chips are then pulled downwardly away from the conveyor belt by gravity.