Ladder for fragile particulate commodities

An apparatus for lowering fragile, particulate commodities into a commodity storage facility, comprising:

• a vertically disposed ladder means having upper and lower ends;
• means for supporting said ladder means within the storage facility so that the lower end thereof is positioned adjacent the lower end of the storage facility;
• the upper end of said ladder means being in communication with a source of commodities;
• said ladder means comprising a plurality of resilient, flexible planar sheets bent upon themselves to define a substantially U-shaped cute member having upper and lower ends;
• said chute members being formed of a material which will resiliently deform and return to its original shape, whereby said chute members will cushion the fall of the said particulate commodities;
• the lower ends of each chute member, except the lower most member, being secured to the upper ends of the chute members positioned therebelow, said chute members defining a zigzag pattern, whereby the particulate commodities will flow downward through said chute members passing from one chute member to the next chute member positioned therebelow;
• adjacent chute members defining an opening at the connection therebetween whereby the particulate commodities may exit the ladder therethrough once the level of commodity within the storage facility has reached the level;
• and
• means for selectively, adjustably securing the lower ends of the chute members to the upper ends of the chute members positioned therebelow, so as to selectively and individually adjust the slope of each chute member in the zigzag pattern, whereby the speed at which a commodity passes through said ladder means may be adjusted.