Extendible Fences for Extendible Conveyors

A conveyor comprising:

• a main conveyor assembly having a plurality of conveyor sections, the conveyor sections including a base conveyor section, an intermediate conveyor section and a distal conveyor section, the main conveyor assembly being adjustable in a lengthwise direction selectively to a fully retracted configuration, a partially extended configuration and a fully extended configuration, the main conveyor assembly being longer in the fully extended configuration than in the partially extended configuration, and the main conveyor assembly being longer in the partially extended configuration than in the fully retracted configuration, the intermediate conveyor section being interposed between the base conveyor section and the distal conveyor section with respect to the lengthwise direction;
• a conveyor belt having an upper portion traveling in the lengthwise direction relative to the main conveyor assembly;
• and
• a fence assembly including a plurality of fence segments, the fence segments overlapping in the lengthwise direction to provide the fence assembly with a nested arrangement that renders the fence assembly adjustable in the lengthwise direction such that the fence assembly is longer when the main conveyor assembly is in the fully extended configuration than when the main conveyor assembly is in the fully retracted configuration, each fence segment including a pair of sidewalls extending upward to flank the upper portion of the conveyor belt, the pair of sidewalls extending in the lengthwise direction between a first end and a second end of the fence segments.

A conveyor comprising:

• a main conveyor assembly comprising a plurality of conveyor sections including at least a base conveyor section, an intermediate conveyor section and a distal conveyor section, the main conveyor assembly being adjustable in a lengthwise direction selectively to a fully retracted configuration, a partially extended configuration and a fully extended configuration, the main conveyor assembly being longer in the fully extended configuration than in the partially extended configuration, and the main conveyor assembly being longer in the partially extended configuration than in the fully retracted configuration, the intermediate conveyor section being interposed between the base conveyor section and the distal conveyor section with respect to the lengthwise direction;
• a conveyor belt having an upper portion movable in the lengthwise direction relative to the main conveyor assembly;
• and
• a fence assembly having a plurality of fence segments including at least a base fence segment, an intermediate fence segment, and a distal fence segment, the fence assembly being adjustable in the lengthwise direction such that the fence assembly is longer when the main conveyor assembly is in the fully extended configuration than when the main conveyor assembly is in the fully retracted configuration, the intermediate fence segment being interposed between the base fence segment and the distal fence segment with respect to the lengthwise direction, the distal fence segment extending a first distance upward from the distal conveyor section when the main conveyor assembly is in the fully extended configuration.