Conveying device and a method for conveying material, through a conveying channel

A conveying device comprising:

• a longitudinally extending conveying channel extending between an upstream end and a downstream end,
• the conveying channel having
• a base extending longitudinally between the upstream end and the downstream end of the conveying channel,
• a feed rotor located in the conveying channel and rotatable about a transversely extending rotational axis for urging material through the conveying channel,
• wherein
• the base of the conveying channel comprises
• an upstream base part extending between an upstream end and a downstream end thereof, and
• a downstream base part extending between an upstream end and a downstream end thereof,
• the upstream base part and the downstream base part being arranged sequentially in the conveying channel with the downstream end of the upstream base part terminating adjacent the upstream end of the downstream base part,
• the downstream end of the upstream base part being resiliently supported by a first resilient support means in a normal operating state thereof to define an upstream portion of the base of the conveying channel, and being urgeable downwardly against the first resilient support means from the normal operating state thereof away from the conveying channel in response to the force with which the material is being urged against the downstream end of the upstream base part by the feed rotor exceeding a first predefined value, and
• the upstream end of the downstream base part being resiliently supported by a second resilient support means in a normal operating state thereof to define a downstream portion of the base of the conveying channel, and being urgeable downwardly against the second resilient support means from the normal operating state thereof away from the conveying channel in response to the force with which the material is being urged against the upstream end of the downstream base part by the feed rotor exceeding a second predefined value.