Apparatus for use in sampling aggregate

A sample collector assembly for use in sampling aggregate material from a truck having an open bed, said assembly comprising:

• (a) an assembly frame which includes an overhead rail that is suspended over and adjacent to a truck zone into which the truck has been driven;
• (b) a carriage which is adapted to ride on the overhead rail between a first position adjacent to the truck zone and at least one sampling position over the truck zone;
• (c) means for moving the carriage between the first position and at least one sampling position over the truck zone;
• (d) a sample collector which is attached to the carriage and which comprises:
• (i) a support frame having a first end and a second end;
• (ii) a pair of guide plates which are attached to the first end of the support frame, said guide plates being spaced apart so as to define a collection space therebetween, at least one of said guide plates being provided with a track that extends generally along the periphery of the collection space;
• (iii) a flexible closing plate which is disposed between the guide plates and adapted for sliding engagement with the track so that the closing plate may be moved between an open position which exposes the collection space and a closed position which encloses the collection space;
• (iv) means for sliding the closing plate between an open position which exposes the collection space and a closed position which encloses the collection space;
• (e) an elongate extension which is attached to the second end of the support frame;
• (f) a boom to which the elongate extension is mounted in sliding engagement therewith;
• (g) means for moving the elongate extension from a retracted position to an extended position for inserting the collector into the aggregate material in the truck.

A sample collector for aggregate material, comprising:

• (a) a support frame comprised of a length of tubing having a pair of generally planar sides, each of which is disposed generally parallel to the other, said support frame having a first end and a second end;
• (b) a pair of guide plates which are attached to the first end of the support frame, said guide plates being spaced apart so as to define a collection space therebetween, with each of said guide plates being provided with a pair of tracks so that each track on a guide plate extends generally along one side of the periphery of the collection space to a common termination point, and so that the tracks on one guide plate are generally parallel to the tracks on the other guide plate;
• (c) a carrier which is adapted to move along the support frame, said carrier having a first end and a second end;
• (d) a pair of flexible closing plates which are attached to opposite sides of the carrier at its first end, each of said closing plates being disposed between the guide plates and adapted for sliding engagement with the tracks on one side of the periphery of the collection space so that the carrier may be moved between an open position in which the closing plates expose the collection space and a closed position in which the closing plates enclose the collection space;
• (e) means for moving the carrier along the support frame between an open position in which the closing plates expose the collection space and a closed position in which the closing plates enclose the collection space.