Material handling apparatus

Abstract

A scraper bowl with a bottom wall having a downwardly deflected scraper blade is connected at its rearward end portion to a conveyor support frame having an upper inclined platform that extends rearwardly from the scraper bowl and terminates in a horizontal cantilivered platform. The conveyor support frame is connected to ground traction devices by a leveling mechanism that maintains vertical positioning of the support frame as the scraper bowl is forwardly propelled by a prime mover. An inclined endless belt conveyor is secured to the inclined platform and includes an end portion positioned within the scraper bowl for receiving dislodged material. Oscillating plate members within the scraper bowl assist in transferring the material onto the inclined conveyor. The material is transported rearwardly of the scraper bowl by the inclined conveyor onto an endless belt conveyor that is supported by the horizontal platform and is positioned intermediately to and transversely of the inclined conveyor. Material haulage vehicles are adapted to be positioned in material receiving relationship with the end portions of the transverse conveyor and proceed at the rate of speed of the prime mover to remain in material receiving relationship with the transverse conveyor as the scraper bowl is being loaded. Rotation of the transverse conveyor in a preselected direction discharges the material into one of the haulage vehicles and upon completion of loading thereof, the transverse conveyor is rotated in the opposite direction to load the other haulage vehicle. Thus, the scraper bowl is continuously loaded without interruption during the unloading of the material into the haulage vehicles.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.