Abstract: A tipping mechanism for buckets carried by a conveyor or elevator. Each bucket 28 is attached to a chain 26 by a swing link 29 and each bucket carries a sector shape cam 30. As the buckets are carried around a sprocket 27 the cam 30 contacts a peg 31, so as to cause the bucket to progressively tip and empty. The movement of the buckets back to their horizontal position is fully controlled and is smooth by virtue of the contact between a French curve on the cam 30 and a cam surface 35 of substantially wedge shape located above or below the conveyor or elevator chain.

Abstract: A conveyor system comprising a series of buckets supported by a chain along a predetermined endless path having straight portions and at least one internal curve. An individual pivoting arm supports a respective bucket on the chain. Each pivoting arm is pivotally attached to the entrainment means at a first end in fixed orientation to the chain, and pivotally supports the bucket at the opposite, second end. A chain guide engages the chain in advance of an internal curve in the path to cause the second end of the pivoting arm to which the bucket is attached to pivot outwardly and the buckets in turn to follow a diverging curved path of greater radius than the radius of the curve in the path being transited and thereby space the buckets further apart prior to negotiating the internal curve in the path than when the buckets are proceeding along a straight portion of the path.

Abstract: A bucket conveyor comprising a plurality of buckets, a chain on which the buckets are mounted in series, a chain track on which the chain is mounted for movement thereon, a drive for moving the chain whereby the buckets are moved along a circuitous conveyor path between one bucket filling station and one bucket emptying station, and a device for moving the buckets around the axis of movement of the chain as required for the buckets to negotiate curves and turns in the conveyor path as the buckets move along the conveyor path on the chain.

Abstract: An apparatus for tipping about a horizontal axis a bucket carried by a conveyor chain around a circuit to fill the bucket with contents at a predetermined location and empty the contents thereof at a predetermined location. The apparatus comprises a bucket pulley mounted for rotation with the bucket on one end thereof concentric with the horizontal axis about which the bucket is tipped, and an elongate bucket pulley-engaging device positioned adjacent said chain at a predetermined point on the circuit where the contents of the bucket are to be emptied. The bucket pulley-engaging device has a length at least as long as the circumference of the bucket pulley and frictionally engagable with the circumference of the bucket pulley to rotate the bucket pulley and thereby rotate and invert the bucket mounted thereon as the chain moves the bucket along the length of the bucket pulley-engaging device.

Abstract: A bucket conveyor comprising a plurality of buckets, a chain on which the buckets are mounted in cantilevered relation to one side of the chain by an outwardly-extending bucket spindle connecting the chain to one side of the bucket, a chain track on which the chain is mounted for linear movement thereon, a drive for moving the chain whereby the buckets are moved along a circuitous conveyor path between one bucket filling station and one bucket emptying station, an auxiliary support wheel mounted for rotation on the side of the bucket opposite the bucket spindle in coaxial relation therewith, and an auxiliary track mounted in laterally spaced-apart relation to the chain track in supporting relation to the auxiliary support wheel to support the bucket on both sides thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for tipping a bucket carried by a conveyor chain around a circuit to empty the contents thereof at a predetermined location. The apparatus is characterized by providing a dwell time to the bucket in its inverted position as the bucket is rotated 360 degrees around a fixed pivot degrees to permit complete emptying of the buckets. The apparatus comprises a sprocket mounted concentric with the pivot about which the bucket rotates and fixed for rotation with the bucket. The sprocket has a plurality of radially outwardly-extending uniformly spaced-apart projections and at least one space on the sprocket defined by the absence of a projection. An elongate rack is positioned adjacent the chain at the bucket tipping position and has sprocket engaging portions thereon positioned in engaging alignment with the projections of the sprocket as the bucket passes, thereby to arrest rotation of the bucket while the bucket is in its inverted position to permit the contents to empty entirely.

Abstract: A bucket elevator includes a continuous driven chain supporting inter-engaging buckets on swinging links. The links carry rollers which travel along guidance tracks which diverge from the track which guides the chain. Thus, the buckets pass around a curve of greater radius than the chain due to movement of the swinging links and will separate from each other while remaining horizontal.

Abstract: An elevating conveyor which operates as a pocket elevator to transfer granular, powdered or like material from a loading station through an elevating section to a discharge zone wherein an endless conveyor belt cooperates with a further conveyor part. The belt has transverse bars on its surface preferably located between belt side walls and facing the further conveyor part. The height of the bars is adjusted to have a clearance between it and the further conveyor part which corresponds to between 1 and 3 times the maximum particle size of the material being conveyed and preferably being above 1.5 times the maximum particle size.

Abstract: An elevating conveyor having a first endless belt entrained around a plurality of spaced support or guide drums for elevating material through an elevating section to a discharge station and a second endless loading belt also entrained around guide drums to cooperate with the first belt at least where a loading station and the elevating section merge so that in this vicinity the belts are in overlying relationship with each other so that material on the upper surface of one belt is held on the surface by the other belt. The two belts are moved at similar speeds in the same direction and a fixed plate cooperates with the first belt in the elevating section so that material located between the belt and plate is elevated to the discharge station by upward movement of the first belt through the elevating section. The conveyor may be of C, L or Z shape and the first belt preferably has upstanding side walls, the top faces of which bear against low friction material supported on the plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ammunition handling system in which a steel carrier is supported on a chain running along a cruciform track. The carrier has an inner lining (19) (FIG. 1) which is shaped so that when the carrier (10) is tipped from the position shown in FIG. 1, by turning it bodily in an anti-clockwise direction, ammunition contained within the liner will gently and smoothly run out into a receptacle.The opening and closing of the door, the tipping of the carrier and the deposit of its contents are all controlled automatically by ramps and a rack and pinion device located at various points along the track. The carrier can be lowered manually and is then automatically unloaded when it reaches its destination. The shape of the inner liner (19) is such as to provide a gentle and smooth flow for the ammunition and the liner itself is made of brass, or other suitable material.