In-mass conveyor with intermediate discharge

A conveyor for conveying material in-mass and including at least one intermediate discharge along the length thereof, said conveyor including:

• a. a longitudinally extending housing having a receiving end and a discharge end, said housing including a substantially planar, material support section, upstanding side sections and a top;
• b. a continuous, material conveying element arranged within said housing and providing an upper and a lower run portion, said lower run portion being arranged in close association to said housing material support section for travel thereover;
• c. means arranged on the respective ends of said housing and carrying said material conveying element;
• d. means driving one of said carrying means to impart motion to said material conveying element;
• e. said material conveying element including a generally centrally arranged connecting member and a plurality of laterally extending, upstanding material engaging elements;
• f. at least one intermediate discharge arranged between said ends of said housing and extending directly downwardly therefrom, said intermediate discharge including a downwardly extending housing having sides engaging said planar, material support section and having a door structure in planar alignment with said planar support section, said door structure forming said planar support section within said housing;
• g. said door structure including a pair of door members each being rotatably mounted on transversely extending pivot means, said pivot means being arranged on the ends of said door members adjacent the planar support section, the length of said doors providing an opening the entire width of said housing when the same are in open position;
• and,
• h. common actuating means arranged in association with said doors for sequentially closing the same into alignment with said planar support section, said actuating means including camming means associated with and operating against the bottom of said doors to shift the same upwardly, said camming means being spaced from said pivot mounting means for said doors.