Intermediate discharge for an enclosed roller belt conveyor assembly

An intermediate discharge assembly to remove material from a rotating conveyor belt, said intermediate discharge assembly comprising:

• a support platform positioned below the rotating conveyor belt, said support platform having a support surface, said support surface operable to directly engage and support substantially an entire width of the rotating conveyor belt in a substantially flat manner only when the rotating conveyor belt is located in a first position;
• a plow positioned above the rotating conveyor belt when the rotating conveyor belt is located in a second position, and wherein said plow engages the rotating conveyor belt when the rotating conveyor belt is located in said first position, wherein when the rotating conveyor belt is located in said first position and said plow rides atop a surface of the rotating conveyor belt, the material is substantially removed from the conveyor belt;
• and
• an adjuster operable to move at least one of said support platform and said conveyor belt in a substantially vertical manner between said first position and said second position.

A method to remove material at an intermediate location along a rotating conveyor belt, said method comprising:

• locating the rotating conveyor belt at a first position to enable the material to pass by the intermediate location;
• locating the conveyor belt at a second position at the intermediate location to enable removal of the material at the intermediate location by vertically moving a support platform to the second position;
• directly engaging and supporting substantially an entire width of the rotating conveyor belt with the support platform adjacent a leading edge of a plow in a substantially flat manner;
• and
• locating the plow atop the rotating conveyor belt to discharge the material at the intermediate location where the support platform directly engages and supports the width of the rotating conveyor belt.