Take-up head for bulk material conveyor installation

A method of taking up bulk material into a conveyor which includes the steps of:

• (a) lowering onto the bulk material a take-up head comprising frame means including a substantially vertically disposed conveying pipe connected to a source of suction and the lower end of which terminates in a take-up aperture;
• (b) rotating a feeder which is mounted to the frame means around the take-up aperture to cause the bulk material to be fed inwardly to the take-up aperture;
• (c) lowering an anchoring member carried by the frame means, at least part of which extends outwardly relative to the take-up aperture and which can be raised and lowered, to engage the bulk material remote from the rotary feeder means to resist rotation of the frame means;
• (d) and causing a centering tip which is part of the take-up head and which projects axially below the feeder and defines a free space therethrough, to engage the underlying bulk material to help hold the take-up head against lateral movement, and to communicate the bulk material through the free space to the take-up aperture.

Apparatus for removing bulk material from the hold of a ship or the like comprising:

• (a) a take-up head adapted to be lowered into engagement with bulk material and constructed to take up the bulk material;
• (b) support means for movably suspending the take-up head relative to the bulk material;
• (c) and suction conveyor means cooperating with the take-up head for upwardly conveying bulk material taken up thereby;
• (d) the take-up head comprising
• (i) frame means including a substantially vertically disposed conveyor pipe connected to the suction conveyor means and having a lower end terminating in a take-up aperture through which bulk material may be drawn;
• (ii) rotary feeder means mounted on the frame means for rotation relative to the take-up aperture, the rotary feeder means being constructed and arranged to engage and feed the bulk material inward to the take-up aperture;
• (iii) drive means carried by the frame means for rotating the rotary feeder means;
• (iv) at least one anchoring member carried by the frame means, at least part of which extends outwardly relative to the take-up aperture and which can be raised and lowered to engage the bulk material remote from the rotary feeder means to resist rotation of the frame means;
• (v) and centering tip means carried by the rotary feeder means and rotatable therewith, the centering tip means projecting axially downward below the rotary feeder means and in coaxial relation with the take-up aperture for engaging the underlying bulk material to resist lateral movement of the take-up head, the centering tip means defining a free space below the take-up aperture through which bulk material may be communicated to the take-up aperture.