Abstract: In a bulk material handling apparatus especially adapted for handling granular material a pair of flexible belts are arranged about drive and idler pulleys to provide a material receiving run of one belt, a substantially vertical run or section where the belts are in face-to-face contact for receiving and transporting the material therebetween, and an upper material delivery run where the material is discharged at a different level. In the change of elevation section, staggered rollers are provided to urge the edges of the belts into engagement with one another so as to substantially eliminate leakage or spillage of material from therebetween. The edges of the belts are stretched in following a sinuous path between the edge rollers thereby causing the confronting belt edges to firmly engage one another.

Abstract: An endless belt conveyor including straight path and curved path sections for the carrying and return runs of the belt. The carrying and return runs of the belt are supported on a support frame by troughing and support idlers. In one version of the invention, the carrying and return runs of the belt are caused to follow a predetermined curve through the curved path section of the conveyor by powered edge drive rolls on the outside edges of the belt runs having a speed which is greater than the belt speed thereby causing the edge of the belt on the outside of the curve to be stretched relative to its condition in the straight path section. In a second version of the invention edge drive rolls are also used on the edges of the belt runs at the inside of the curve. In the latter construction, the peripheral speed of the drive rolls at the inside of the curve is less than belt speed in the straight path section whereby the inner edge is compressed or stretched to a lesser extent than in the straight path section.

Abstract: In a bulk material handling apparatus, a pair of fluid impervious flexible endless belts are arranged about drive and idler pulleys to provide a material receiving run of one belt, a substantially vertical elevator or lift run or elevating section where the belts are in face-to-face contact for receiving the material therebetween; and an upper material delivery run where the material is discharged at a different level. In the elevating section, fluid pressure means are provided to effectively cause engagement of the edge portions of the belts with one another in order to eliminate spillage of the material being elevated and also in the elevating section fluid pressure means are provided to urge the remainder of the belts toward one another. These means involve the use of fluid pressure in various ways.