Abstract: A center loading assembly for a conveyor belt having a carriage support attached to a belt conveyor main frame and having a carriage within the carriage support. The carriage has a center member with side members extending at an angle therefrom, each having an upward extension. The upward extensions have side rollers and conveyor belt covering skirts and keep the conveyor belt centered between the conveyor belt covering skirts. The carriage support has vertical bearings to support the carriage and side bearings to hold the carriage on the vertical bearings. The carriage and conveyor belt covering skirts follow a trough angle of the conveyor belt as the conveyor belt shifts. Material deposited onto the conveyor belt is deflected to the center portion of the conveyor belt by the conveyor belt covering skirts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ensuring the deposition of material onto a center portion of a conveyor belt during any lateral shifting of the belt from a centered position. The apparatus includes a frame supporting a belt between head and tail pulleys. A carriage having side loading skirts is provided which is transversely shiftable in response to lateral shifting of the belt so that the loading skirts direct material to a central portion of the belt even if the belt shifts transversely.