A Conveyor System

A conveyor belt redirection system to change elevation of a linear belt path from a liner belt path at an initial elevation to a linear belt path at an end elevation lower than the initial elevation, the conveyor belt redirection system comprising:

• a plurality of trough idlers configured to support a conveyor belt, the plurality of trough idlers comprising:
• an initial trough idler;
• a first plurality of intermediate trough idlers;
• a second plurality of intermediate trough idlers;
• and
• an end trough idler;
• and
• a support structure configured to support:
• the initial trough idler at an initial elevation, relative to a reference plane;
• the end trough idler at an end elevation, relative to the reference plane;
• the first plurality of intermediate trough idlers along a first longitudinal length of the conveyor belt redirection system at successively increasing elevations, relative to the reference plane, that are greater than the initial elevation;
• and
• the second plurality of intermediate trough idlers along a second longitudinal length of the conveyor belt redirection system that is between an end of the first longitudinal length and the end trough idler, at successively decreasing elevations, relative to the reference plane, that are greater than the end elevation, whereby a radius of one or more vertical curves through which a conveyor belt supported by the plurality of trough idlers is directed for the change in elevation is larger than through that which it would have been directed without the upward change in elevation.

A conveyor belt system support structure to change elevation of a linear belt path from a liner belt path at an initial elevation to a linear belt path at an end elevation lower than the initial elevation, the support structure comprising:

• an initial trough idler mounting portion configured to enable an initial trough idler to be mounted at an initial elevation, relative to a reference plane;
• an end trough idler mounting portion configured to enable an end trough idler to be mounted at an end elevation, relative to the reference plane;
• a first plurality of intermediate trough idler mounting portions positioned along a first longitudinal length of the support structure, the first plurality of intermediate trough idler mounting portions being configured to enable a first plurality of intermediate trough idlers to be positioned at successively increasing elevations, relative to the reference plane, that are greater than the initial elevation;
• and
• a second plurality of intermediate trough idler mounting portions positioned along a second longitudinal length of the support structure, the second plurality of intermediate trough idler mounting portions being configured to enable a second plurality of intermediate trough idlers to be positioned along the second longitudinal length of the support structure, between an end of the first longitudinal length and the end trough idler, at successively decreasing elevations, relative to the reference plane, that are greater than the end elevation, whereby a radius of one or more vertical curves through which a conveyor belt supported by trough idlers on the support structure is directed for the change in elevation is larger than through that which it would have been directed without the upward change in elevation.