Abstract: A hopper assembly for crushed material such as ore and limestone is provided, comprising a downwardly narrowing hopper having an outlet located at its lower end defined by facing lateral arcuate edges and a discharge chute, the discharge chute including at one end an arcuate portion conforming to the lateral arcuate edges and at another end a straight portion which guides the material discharged from the hopper, the chute including at each lateral edge thereof a deflector plate extending upwardly from the discharge chute positioned at the junction between the straight and arcuate portions, the deflector plates including an upper arcuate edge portion which lies in the same vertical plane as the facing lateral arcuate edges of the hopper and is adjacent thereto, the plate serving to prevent material discharge from the hopper from jamming between the facing lateral arcuate edges of the hopper and the discharge chute.

Abstract: A bulk material unloading apparatus comprises a vertical conveyor (10) and a horizontal conveyor connected thereto. A rotable feeder (13) is mounted at the feeding end of the vertical conveyor for feeding material thereinto. According to the invention, the apparatus also has a separately operable material supply device (23, 32) for the controlled supply of material to the feeder. The material supply device has a gimbal-mounted material draw-in device (32) which is universally tiltable relative to the axis of rotation of the feeder (13) and which preferably also is telescopically mounted in relation to the feeder.