Abstract: A novel apparatus for vertically conveying bulk materials is provided which includes a vertical belt conveyor comprised of two endless conveyor belts guided to travel upwardly along a substantially vertical plane in a face-to-face overlapping relation to each other and a highspeed bulk projector for packing bulk material into between the opposing faces of the two conveyor belts, utilizing the momentum of the bulk material per se. The two conveyor belts are guided at the bottom so as to turn round in directions opposite to each other in substantially symmetrical fashion and bulk material is projected rapidly under the effect of centrifugal force to the bottom belt junction where the two conveyor belts come to join each other. The conveying apparatus, with its highspeed bulk projector combined with a rotary bucket wheel type bulk feeder, forms a vertical bulk delivering apparatus which is compact and highly versatile.

Abstract: A handcart for retrieving tennis balls lying on a ground or floor surface and comprising a wheeled support structure adapted to be wheeled along said surface, a ball collection receptacle supported on said structure at approximately waist level about said surface, and means supported on said structure for picking up balls lying on said surface and depositing the picked-up balls in said receptacle.

Abstract: A bucket wheel type excavator is provided in which a vibrating movement is imparted to the individual cutting components of each bucket on the wheel. Moreover, each such imparting movement to the individual teeth or cutting components is from a single excitation device fixed in the axis of the wheel and driven from a power source coaxially through a hollow shaft for the wheel. The imparting movement is through flexible bars extending from the excitation device to a point adjacent the cutting components wherein the vibrating end of the respective flexible bar is spaced from and intermittently vibrates the cutting component which, in turn, is pivotally mounted.

Abstract: A pair of screw conveyors pivotally mounted on rotatable arms extending laterally from the extended ends of the bottom sprocket wheel shaft on a bucket ladder dislodge bulk material and direct it toward the buckets. The bottom sprocket wheels are journaled for rotation independent of the shaft which is rotated by a centrally located drive mechanism to position the rotatable arms and therefore the screw conveyors for various operations.

Abstract: A reversible arrangement for transporting bulk materials includes a plurality of buckets mounted on a bucket wheel for rotation therewith and for pivoting between respective end positions in which the open ends of the buckets face in respective circumferential directions of the bucket wheel. The buckets are mounted on levers which are interconnected by flexible elements for coordinated displacement of the buckets between the end positions. The bucket wheel carries two circumferentially and radially spaced cams which control the extent of displacement of cam followers of respective switches between their respective retracted and extended positions. A detaining arrangement is situated along the path of movement of the buckets and engages one of the buckets during the reverse motion of the bucket wheel to detain the bucket while the bucket wheel continues to rotate so that the buckets are angularly displaced between their end positions.

Abstract: A reclaiming and stacking system for conveying bulk material has an elongated yard conveyor for moving the bulk material in the longitudinal direction of the yard conveyor; a rail-mounted undercarriage straddling transversely the yard conveyor; first and second booms supported, at their respective inner ends, on the undercarriage.

Abstract: A new mechanical shovel adapted for mounting on a vehicle and for shovelling continuously onto a conveyor consists of a plurality of buckets pivotally mounted equidistantly around an axis to two spaced coaxial cam disc members rotatable by a drive about an axis. These two rotatable members are mounted between and each closely adjacent to another respective coaxial cam disc member also coaxial with the axis. The first-mentioned rotatable cam members have a plurality of cam tracks each for a respective bucket, while the second-mentioned cam members each have a single endless bucket-attitude determining cam track. Each bucket has cam followers each of which cooperates with two cam tracks, one on each member, so that the buckets pivot to the required attitude for shovelling and subsequent discharging as they are rotated about the axis. The inclination of the shovelling part of the bucket path can be changed by rotating the second-mentioned cam members about the axis.

Abstract: A chain of pivotably interconnected drag buckets for removing material from the sides of a loose pile and for delivering the material to a secondary discharge conveyor. The drag bucket assembly is particularly designed to be pulled about a circular path and includes a forward end adapted to be connected to a towing device and a free rearward end loosely received on a flat supporting surface. As the forward drag bucket is pulled along, the remaining buckets move in the circular path but also migrate radially inwardly toward the storage pile. The buckets scrape along the sides of the pile to remove material and move it along the support surface to openings where the material drops onto a discharge conveyor. The buckets are particularly designed so that flexure along the length of the chain will not cause openings to be formed between adjacent buckets.