Abstract: To take cross-section samples of material discharged from a conveyor, a sample chute has its lower end pivoted about an axis parallel to the direction of travel of the material, and at its upper end a cutter head with a mouth leading down to the chute. The sample chute is swung about its axis from one side to the other so the cutter head traverses the discharge end of the conveyor at constant speed, the cutter head mouth being arranged to receive a sample of the discharged material and having sides which are radial to a point on said axis so that, despite the arcuate travel of the cutter head, a true cross-section sample is obtained.