Apparatus for filling a silo with tobacco and the like

A material handling apparatus for selectively bulk filling and blend bulk filling an open topped elongated silo, comprising:

• an elongated silo having a length and a width, said length being much greater than said width, said silo having an open top and a bottom;
• a floor discharge conveyor for moving material, said floor discharge conveyor being mounted along said bottom;
• a first shuttle car;
• means for mounting the first shuttle car over the top of the silo for movement along the length of the silo;
• means for indexing a length of travel of said first shuttle car;
• means for selectively moving the first shuttle car along the length of the silo on the first shuttle car mounting means;
• a first belt conveyor mounted on the first shuttle car for conveying in directions in alignment with movement of the first shuttle car on the first shuttle car mounting means;
• a second shuttle car;
• means for mounting the second shuttle car over the top of the silo and above the first shuttle car for movement along the length of the silo;
• means for positioning said second shuttle car;
• means for selectively moving the second shuttle car in either direction along the length of the silo on the second shuttle car mounting means;
• a second belt conveyor mounted on the second shuttle car for conveying in directions in alignment with movement of the second shuttle car on the second shuttle car mounting means;
• and
• means to move said second belt conveyor in response to a movement of said floor discharge conveyor.