Conveyor having a material attenuating device, and a material attenuating device therefor

A vibratory conveyor comprising:

• a. a trough structure along which material to be conveyed moves;
• b. a vibratory generating device for imparting a vibratory force to the conveyor trough structure;
• c. an attenuating device for attenuating material moving on the conveyor trough structure as the material is being conveyed comprising:
• a lever arm over the conveyor trough structure;
• means for mounting the lever arm for pivotal motion about a fixed point located directly over the trough structure;
• means interconnecting the lever arm to the trough structure for transmitting the vibratory motion from the trough structure to the lever arm and for causing the lever arm to pivot about the fixed point as the conveyor trough structure vibrates conveying the material, and for causing a distal end of the lever arm to move out of phase with the vibratory motion of the conveyor trough such that as the vibrating conveyor trough structure moves upwardly, the distal end of the lever arm moves downwardly toward the conveyor trough structure and as the vibratory conveyor trough structure moves downwardly, the distal end of the lever arm moves upwardly away from the conveyor trough structure;
• and,
• a tool at the distal end of the lever arm for movement with the lever arm and attenuating the material moving on the conveyor trough structure.