Abstract: A direct engagement drive system [108] for a tripper conveyor system is disclosed. The drive system [108] comprises lead [140?] and follow [140?] cogwheels, each driven by a programmable logic controller [108q] and variable frequency drive-controlled electric motor [108a]. The torque applied to each of the lead [140?] and follow [140?] cogwheels varies as a function of loading experienced by the cogwheels [140] and as a function of the location of the cogwheels [140] relative to a gap [159] or other discontinuity in a cog rail [150] provided on a conveyor [110]. A process for moving a tripper [100] along a conveyor [110] is also disclosed. Other mobile conveying device such as mobile hoppers, maintenance vehicles, stacking machines, conveying devices, or cranes may employ the drive systems [108] shown and described.

Abstract: A mobile stacking and reclaiming apparatus includes a moveable bridge, a moveable hopper and a moveable tripper. The moveable bridge has a first end, a second end, and at least one intermediate portion between the first and second ends. The moveable hopper is connected to the moveable bridge. The moveable hopper is moveable relative to the moveable bridge along at least a portion of the moveable bridge. The moveable tripper is also connected to the moveable bridge. The moveable tripper being moveable relative to the moveable bridge along at least a portion of the moveable bridge. A system is also disclosed that includes at least one mobile stacking and reclaiming apparatus adjacent to at least one stacking overland conveyor configured to convey material for stacking material and at least one reclaiming overland conveyor configured to convey material for reclaiming material. A method of providing such systems is also disclosed.

Abstract: A mobile stacking and reclaiming apparatus includes a moveable bridge, a moveable hopper and a moveable tripper. The moveable bridge has a first end, a second end, and at least one intermediate portion between the first and second ends. The moveable hopper is connected to the moveable bridge. The moveable hopper is moveable relative to the moveable bridge along at least a portion of the moveable bridge. The moveable tripper is also connected to the moveable bridge. The moveable tripper being moveable relative to the moveable bridge along at least a portion of the moveable bridge. A system is also disclosed that includes at least one mobile stacking and reclaiming apparatus adjacent to at least one stacking overland conveyor configured to convey material for stacking material and at least one reclaiming overland conveyor configured to convey material for reclaiming material. A method of providing such systems is also disclosed.

Abstract: A conveyor system includes a conveyor track and at least one workpiece carrier that includes a first control curve and a second control curve, and a first control curve tracker and a second control curve tracker that are assigned to the conveyor track. The first control curve tracker is arranged in a first control engagement with the first control curve, and the second control curve tracker is arranged in a second control engagement with the second control curve. The control curves and associated control curve trackers are arranged so that the at least one workpiece carrier can be deflected laterally off of a subsection of the conveyor track via the interaction of the first control engagement and the second control engagement.

Abstract: Mobile conveyor modules are used for transporting aggregate over a long distance, or for transferring the aggregate to other modules, and for stacking the aggregate either linearly or radially. These modules may be used in various combinations by themselves or in combination with existing conveyor systems and bridge stackers to stack aggregate on and off multi-lift leach pads and on multi-lift dump sites. The mobile conveyor modules are designed to be steerable and self-propelled, providing increased maneuverability and reducing relocation/reformation time. Multiple stacking methods may be used with the mobile conveyor modules either separately, or at the same time, advance and retreat stacking, the stacking of a berm, or the filling in of a corridor, may be accomplished on a variety of terrain.

Abstract: A belt conveyor comprises an endless and closed conveyor belt (25) which is flexible essentially merely about axes which are parallel with the transverse direction of the belt (25), a tower (2; 70, 75); an inner arm (3; 64) supported by the tower (2; 70, 75); and an outer arm (6; 66) supported by the inner arm (3; 64) and positioned substantially in a vertical plane through the inner arm (3; 64). The conveyor belt (25) follows a path from the tower (2; 70; 75), via the inner arm (3; 64) and the outer arm (6; 66) to a distal end of the outer arm (6; 66) and back via the outer arm (6; 66) and the inner arm (3; 64) to the tower (2; 70; 75). Two first deflection rollers (10, 11; 65, 68) for the conveyor belt (25) are supported side by side at an intersection of the inner arm (3; 64) and the outer arm (6; 66) and has a common axis of rotation (12, 13) which is perpendicular to said vertical plane.

Abstract: A tripper/hopper car rides on a conveyor via four wheel tires running on T-section rails, with respective hold down wheels riding adjacent the underside of the rails and respective caster side wheels riding adjacent the vertical edges of the T-rails. Each wheel tire is driven by a motor drive unit employing a shaft-mount gearbox with a motor brake that utilizes the reduction of the drive gearbox to increase the effective braking torque developed. A pair of caliper-type brakes is further provided for redundancy.

Abstract: A conveyor for an endless, closed-loop conveyor belt (1), which is flexible transverse to its extension, has a guide (11) keeping conveyor belt on a substantially rectilinear main path (3) and on a generally perpendicular branch. A branch device (9) is movable along the main path. There the belt takes two branch paths (19, 20), both parallel with a branch line (26) which is generally transverse to the main path. The branch device (9) comprises two first deflection rollers (14, 23), which are offset in opposite directions laterally from the main path (3). The axes of the two deflection rollers are each perpendicular to a respective deflection plane. Each deflection plance passes through the center of the respective deflection rollers and intersects the main path and the respective branch paths (19, 20) at respective distances from the deflection rollers.

Abstract: An improved storage and discharge apparatus (10) for receiving items to be stored and selectively discharging same. The storage and discharge apparatus (10) comprises a depositary (14) for receiving items to be stored, the depository (14) defining a forward end portion (22) defining a discharge opening (26). The depository (14) further defines a bottom portion comprising a discharge conveyor (16) for supporting the items stored and for selectively discharging the items through the discharge opening (26). The apparatus also comprises a traveling loading mechanism (12) disposed above the depository (14) for depositing items to be stored into the depository (14). The loading mechanism (12) is longitudinally movable along substantially the length of the depository (14) and is selectively driven by a suitable drive.

Abstract: A conveyor system comprising a first endless belt conveyor; a vibrating conveyor at an angle to the endless belt conveyor including a vibrating mechanism positioned beneath the belt conveyor to vibrate the belt conveyor along with the vibrating conveyor and to fluidize product on the belt conveyor; a diverter blade in contact with the belt conveyor adapted to vibrate with the belt conveyor, the blade being positioned and angled to divert fluidized product from the belt conveyor to the vibrating conveyor.

Abstract: This invention relates to stockyard transporter and tripper car equipment which is movable on rail disposed on both sides, comprising portal uprights provided with running gears, a tripper car frame and a boom, which is mounted so that it can be lifted and lowered and/or rotated. Here the stockyard transporter is supported in the tripper car substantially without a counterweight.

Abstract: A collator mechanism for transporting and feeding sheets of material such as paper, microfiche film or the like to individual bins. The sheets are carried by an apertured conveyor tape which slides along an apertured vacuum manifold so that the sheet is maintained in contact with the tape by the vacuum. The conveyor tape delivers the sheet to a deflector assembly which is progressively stepped through a plurality of indexed positions adjacent the bins. The deflector assembly includes upper and lower deflector rollers which bend the tape and sheet sufficiently to feed it toward the adjacent bin, release the sheet from the tape and then bend the tape away from the sheet being conveyed and the adjacent bin. The momentum and rigidity of the sheet carries the sheet, after its release from the tape, into the adjacent bin.

Abstract: A scraper-chain conveyor has a scraper assembly and plurality of channel sections defining upper and lower runs for the scraper assembly. The scraper assembly passes round sprocket drums positioned at the ends of the conveyor, and is constituted by two drive chains and a plurality of scrapers connected thereto. The conveyor has first and second straight portions joined by a curved portion. The upper run of the curved conveyor portion is at a lower level than the upper run of the adjacent end of the first straight conveyor portion. The scraper assembly passes between the upper runs of said end of the first straight conveyor portion and the curved conveyor portion via upper and lower deflector rollers which direct the scraper assembly in a Z-shaped path. The upper deflector roller is provided with a drive, whereby the chain tension of the scraper assembly is negligible when the assembly passes round the curved portion.

Abstract: A pick-up and dump machine is mounted on rails for travel along the length of the intermediate space between two parallel row-like mounds of material piled on a storage field. A conveyor belt extending along the length of such intermediate space can feed material to and from the pick-up and dump machine. The machine is provided with supports engaging the conveyor belt to form a conveyor-belt loop having an infeed run terminating in a dump end followed by an intermediate run, followed by an outfeed run. A horizontally swingable dump boom has a dump conveyor whose inward end is located to receive material from the dump end of the conveyor-belt loop irrespective of the side to which the dump boom is swung. A horizontally swingable pick-up boom has a scoop conveyor which engages the side of a mound to be torn down and dumps onto the outfeed run of the conveyor-belt loop.

Abstract: A ship loading system for loading bulk cargo, e.g. iron ore, at a ship's berth is proposed which has two shiploaders spaced apart along the berth and each shiftable along the berth. The shiploaders are both fed by an endless main conveyor which has trippers at its respective delivery points to the shiploaders, the trippers being shiftable along the berth with the respective shiploaders. At the first tripper, the flow on the main conveyor is switchable without interruption from delivery to the first shiploader and delivery back onto the main conveyor to the second tripper. A system which is highly flexible in operation, and can load a ship continuously without interruption of the flow is thus provided.

Abstract: A granular matter feeding method and an apparatus, in which unvulcanized rubber blocks of a non-fixed shape are crushed by a crusher into granules, the weight of said granules being measured, batches of said granules being fed onto a plurality of storages conveyors according to kind, said conveyors feeding in turn to a plurality of metering hoppers which selectively deliver measured amounts of the granules to a conveyor for transporting to a kneader. This system permits the mixing of precise amounts of various types or sizes of rubber granules.

Abstract: A reciprocating belt feeder for distributing material from a common supply point into a selected one of a plurality of elongated feed bins arranged in parallel rows in end to end relation includes an elongated conveyor frame with a reversible belt supported on the frame. A drive pinion engages the frame for reciprocally moving the conveyor longitudinally between opposite ends of the rows of feed bins. A clamp device is provided for selectively holding and releasing a run of the conveyor belt and a discharge chute is mounted at each end of the conveyor for selectively discharging material from the belt into a selected bin in a selected row.

Abstract: A conveyor mechanism having a conveying surface that is supported for movement along a rectilinear path and which is pivotable about a horizontal axis for positioning the conveying surface at various points in a container so as to facilitate filling thereof.

Abstract: A material distributing assembly having a simplified and improved sensing and control means for causing the distributing mechanism to move forwardly or rearwardly, as required, and cause it to always distribute its load of such material at the forwardmost point available within the receptacle with which it is utilized, is disclosed. A rotatably mounted motor pivots about its output shaft axis when the rotary sensor driven thereby is restrained, the rotation of the motor causing an electrical circuit to a forwardly driving electromagnetic clutch to be broken and closing another circuit to a rearwardly driving electromagnetic clutch, the power for the entire drive and control mechanism being derived from the material distributing mechanism.

Abstract: A tripper/hopper car rides on a conveyor via four wheel tires running on T-section rails, with respective hold down wheels riding adjacent the underside of the rails and respective caster side wheels riding adjacent the vertical edges of the T-rails. Each wheel tire is driven by a motor drive unit employing a shaft-mount gearbox with a motor brake that utilizes the reduction of the drive gearbox to increase the effective braking torque developed. A pair of caliper-type brakes is further provided for redundancy.