Equipment for handling bulk material

Apparatus for handling bulk material at controlled rates, comprising a bridge which extends in a first horizontal direction and is movable in a second substantially perpendicular horizontal direction;

• a scraper conveyor carried by said bridge and including an endless scraper chain having an upper and lower course and a series of scraper flights connected thereto in spaced relationship along the length thereof, first drive means adapted to drive said scraper conveyor toward one end at a selected rate of speed, said scraper conveyor being operable to move bulk material towards said one end thereof by means of said scraper flights;
• mutually opposite confining wall elements disposed on opposite sides of said lower course of said scraper chain, mounting means connecting said confining walls to said bridge and permitting guided vertical movement of said confining walls relative to said bridge, and actuating means operable to lift and lower said confining walls a roller bed extending under said one end of said scraper conveyor substantially perpendicularly thereof and connected to said bridge to move therewith;
• an endless conveyor belt supported by and overlying said roller bed having an upper course which extends under said one end of said scraper conveyor and adapted to receive bulk material which has been delivered by said scraper conveyor at said one end thereof;
• a conveyor-type weigher adapted to indicate the weight of bulk material lying on said upper course of said conveyor belt in a predetermined area thereof, said weigher being spaced in said second direction from said one end of said scraper conveyor;
• second drive means operably connected to said conveyor and belt adapted to drive said upper course thereof in said second direction from said one end of said scraper conveyor toward and beyond said predetermined area at a selected rate of speed.