Abstract: A pair of conveyor pan immobilizing subassemblies are disclosed for engaging the opposite sides of a conveyor pan to stabilize the pan in a first direction transverse to the conveyed direction of the pan. In one embodiment, each subassembly is comprised of a plurality of pan engagement assemblies, each pivotally mounted for depression in a vertical axis by an off-centered pan, and each spaced further from the conveyor pan in the first direction, such that the pan is serially engaged by the assemblies as a result of pan movement resulting from, for example, loading or unloading of the pan. In another embodiment, the subassembly comprises a roller rotatably mounted for rotation by a pan being moved in the conveyed direction and resiliently mounted for depression by an off-centered pan.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for uniformly spreading a flowing stream of dry solids, which may include solid particles and lumps of varying sizes, with minimal segregation, which utilizes an adjustable dam having a curved crest for forming in the flowing stream a mass of solids in the shape of a segment of a cone, over the surface of which the stream is spread from a relatively narrow stream at the apex of the cone to a relatively wide stream at the base of the cone, and including a mechanism for adjusting the dam to vary the degree of transverse arc curvature of the spreading surface. As an alternative, the spreading surface may be formed by a series of elongated, adjustable bars.