Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus including a conveying member defining a loop that may be used for transferring a product into a container. The conveying member can be a belt, a chain, or plurality of hinged plates. The invention also includes first and second supporting members individually disposed at opposite sides of the loop and spaced a first distance apart from one another. The first and second supporting members support rotating movement of the conveying member. The invention also includes a moving device operable to translate the first and second supporting members concurrently along a path having at least one bend. The lengths of the portions of the conveying member disposed on opposite sides of the bend can be adjusted by the moving device.

Abstract: A boot-driven bucket elevator apparatus for bulk material handling is provided with a boot pulley drive and take-up which effects rotation of the apparatus co-operating bucket endless belt, which is platform lever-mounted, and which automatically effects proper tensioning and centering of the apparatus endless belt by the gravitational weight of the drive and take-up.

Abstract: A continuous unloader has a vertically extending elevator portion having a bottom and a top, a digging portion extending horizontally from the bottom of the elevator portion and a return portion extending from the top of the elevator portion to a free end of the digging portion thereby forming an endless route. The continuous unloader further includes: an endless bucket conveyer extending through the endless route; and a plurality of drive components provided on the bucket conveyer with predetermined intervals in the direction of circulation. The drive components are synchronously operated so that the conveyer be circularly driven.

Abstract: A ship loader or unloader includes a vertically extending first region and a horizontally extending second region; a first hydraulic cylinder connected to a lower end of the first region and to the second region for translationally displacing the second region relative to the first region as a function of vertical ship motions; a bucket mechanism including a chain and buckets mounted on the chain; guides, including a guide wheel, mounted in the first and second regions for continuously guiding the chain on the first and second regions; and a chain length equalizer in the second region for varying a chain length in the second region as a function of displacements of the second region relative to the first region. The chain length equalizer includes a second hydraulic cylinder effecting a length variation of the chain. The first hydraulic cylinder is connected to and extends between a first support forming a part of the first region; and an abutment forming part of the second region.

Abstract: A bucket elevator type continuous ship unloader is used for both a sidewise shovelling operation and a catenary cleaning up operation. In this ship unloader, a bucket chain is wound around sprockets respectively provided at the front and rear ends of a horizontal frame and a sprocket provided above the rear sprocket such that it encircles the sprockets in an L-shaped form. The bucket chain is made loosened or taut by the upward or downward movement of the horizontal frame with respect to the upper sprocket. The horizontal frame is provided with a horizontal rail with which a roller provided on each bucket is fitted when the bucket chain is stretched tautly. During the sidewise shovelling operation, the buckets run while being guided by the rail. In consequence, the force acting on the bucket during the shovelling in the vertical direction as well as in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the bucket is exerted on the rail.

Abstract: A bucket elevator-type continuous unloader in which guide rails are provided on a frame of a horizontal scraping section and rollers engaging with each guide rail are provided for a train of elevator buckets, wherein the guide rails are adapted to be engaged with or disengaged from the rollers of the train of elevator buckets, whereby both a lateral scraping system, in an engaged state and a catenary scraping system in a disengaged state can be selectively adopted.

Abstract: A bucket type elevator having a head pulley and a boot pulley with a belt entrained about both pulleys is hydraulically driven. The drive mechanism comprises a hydraulic motor mounted in the boot pulley. It is connected, via flexible hydraulic lines, to an electric motor driven pump and fluid source located near ground level outside the boot housing, easily accessible for maintenance and replacement but far enough away from the elevator to avoid risks of explosion from the electrical power source. The elevator also includes a tensioning system for maintaining adequate and uniform tension across the width of the belt and for preventing slippage and miscentering of the belt on the boot pulley.

Abstract: A continuous vertical the ground-excavating arrangement which comprises a guide post for being driven vertically into the ground deeper than the desired excavation depth so that said guide post can stand independently of excavation, a lower earth loading mechanism slidably secured to the guide post, a lower earth loading mechanisms, a vertical conveyor including an endless chain and conveying containers, and a horizontal earth discharging mechanism secured to the top end of the guide post. The lower earth loading mechanism includes means for securing cut ends of the endless chain for ease in adding chain links to the endless chain as the lower earth loading mechanism is periodically moved to lower excavating depths.

Abstract: A bucket elevator wherein the boot extending between the upright hollow legs of the elevator has a readily removable cover at its upper end. The bucket belt is trained around an idler pulley journalled in the boot. The bearings for the opposite ends of the pulley shaft are mounted on a pair of support rods which extend vertically in the boot and upwardly through the cover thereon. The upper ends of the support rods are accessible from above the cover for adjusting the support rods and the pulley vertically in the boot.