ELEVATOR HEAD MATERIAL GUIDE MEANS

ELEMENT DE GUIDAGE DE MATERIAUX MANUTENTIONNES PAR TRANSPORTEUR

English Abstract

ELEVATOR HEAD MATERIAL GUIDE MEANS

ABSTRACT OF DISCLOSURE:
An elevator having a bucket conveyor for moving material,
as grain, from a hopper to a discharge location. The conveyor
has an endless belt trained about idler and drive pulleys. A
plurality of cups secured to the belt carry columns of material
from the hopper to the head of the elevator. The cups include
a plurality of open bottom cups and a closed bottom cup located
below a column of open bottom cups to carry a column of grain.
An arcuate curved material guide element is located adjacent
the cups moving around the drive pulley at the upper end of the
elevator to retain material in the cups as they move around the
drive pulley. The guide element is a curved baffle that is
adjustably mounted on the elevator head housing allowing the
position of the baffle relative to the outer lips of the cup
to be adjusted to retain the material in the cups as the cups
move over the head pulley and to control the discharge of the
material from the cups.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive
property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A conveyor for moving material from a first location
to a second location comprising: material moving means having
a loading end and a discharge end operable to move material
from the loading end to the discharge end, said material moving
means including an endless belt, a first pulley at the loading
end, a second pulley spaced from the first pulley at the dis-
charge end, said belt being trained about said first and second
pulleys for movement therewith, means for rotating one of said
pulleys thereby moving the belt in an endless path, a plurality
of cups secured to the belt to carry material on movement of
the belt, each of said cups having an outer edge spaced outwardly
from said belt, material guide means for retaining material in
said cups as the cups move around the second pulley, said mate-
rial guide means comprising a baffle which extends arcuately
from adjacent a portion of the second pulley having a first
tangent line adjacent to a portion of the second pulley having
a second tangent line spaced about 90 degrees from the first
tangent line, said baffle being located in contiguous relation-
ship relative to the outer edges of said cups as the cups move
around said second pulley to retain material in said cups, and
means to support said baffle in a fixed position relative to
said cups, said means to support said baffle includes adjustable
means operable to adjust the location of the baffle relative to
the cups moving around the second pulley, said baffle includes
a first end portion at the inlet end of the baffle and a second
end portion at the discharge end of the baffle, said adjustable
means including first means for adjusting the location of the
first end portion relative to the cups and second means for
adjusting the location of the second end portion relative to

13

the cups.
2. The conveyor of Claim 1 wherein: said second end por-
tion of the baffle projects in a horizontal direction generally
parallel to a horizontal tangent line of said second pulley.
3. The conveyor of Claim 1 wherein: said baffle includes
an end portion at the inlet end of the baffle, said first end
portion of the baffle has at least a pair of legs, said means to
support said baffle being secured to said legs.
4. The conveyor of Claim 3 wherein: said means to support
said baffle includes fixed structure, plates secured to the
legs, and bolts secured to said plates to attach the plates to
the fixed structure.
5. The conveyor of Claim 1 wherein: said second means in-
cludes at least one bolt adjustably mounted on the fixed struc-
ture.
6. The conveyor of Claim 1 wherein: said means to sup-
port said baffle include a head housing surrounding the second
pulley and the belt and cups trained about the second pulley.
7. The conveyor of Claim 1 wherein: said means for rotat-
ing one of said pulleys comprise a motor drivably connected to
said second pulley.
8. The conveyor of Claim 1 wherein: said cups comprise
a plurality of groups of cups, each group of cups having a
first cup and a plurality of second cups, said first cup hav-
ing a bottom wall, each of said second cups having an opening
bottom and being located in column relationship above a first
cup, whereby columns of material are moved by said groups of
cup 5 upon movement of the belt.
9. The conveyor of Claim 8 wherein: said first cup in-
cludes an outwardly and upwardly inclined front wall, and each
of said second cups include an upwardly and outwardly inclined

14

front wall, said front wall of the second cup having a greater
angle of inclination than the front wall of said first cup.
10. A conveyor for moving material from a first location
to a second location comprising: material moving means having
a loading end and a discharge end operable to move material
from the loading end to the discharge end, said material moving
means including an endless belt, a first pulley at the loading
end, a second pulley spaced from the first pulley at the dis-
charge end, said belt being trained about said first and second
pulleys for movement therewith, means for rotating one of said
pulleys thereby moving the belt in an endless path, a plurality
of cups secured to the belt to carry material on movement of
the belt, each of said cups having an outer edge spaced outwardly
from said belt, material guide means for retaining material in
said cups as the cups move around the second pulley, said mate-
rial guide means comprising a baffle which extends arcuately
from adjacent a portion of the second pulley having a first
tangent line adjacent to a portion of the second pulley having
a second tangent line spaced about 90 degrees from the first
tangent line, said baffle being located in contiguous relation-
ship relative to the outer edges of said cups as the cups move
around said second pulley to retain material in said cups, and
means to support said baffle in a fixed position relative to
said cups, said baffle including a first end portion at the in-
let end of the baffle and a second end portion at the discharge
end of the baffle, said means to support said baffle further
including adjusting means to adjustably mount the baffle on the
head housing, said adjusting means having first means connect-
ing the first end portion of the baffle to said head housing,
said first means operable to adjust the location of the first
end portion of the baffle relative to said head housing.




11. The conveyor of Claim 10 wherein: said first end por-
tion includes at least one leg, said first means being secured
to said leg.
12. The conveyor of Claim 11 wherein: said first means
includes a plate secured to the leg and engageable with the
head housing and a bolt secured to the plate, said head hous-
ing having an elongated slot for accommodating the bolt, and
means threaded on the bolt to clamp the plate on the housing.
13. The conveyor of Claim 10 wherein: said first end por-
tion includes a pair of legs, said first means including a plate
secured to the end of each leg and engageable with the housing
thereby providing a passage between the housing and baffle,
and means connecting the plates to the housing.
14. The conveyor of Claim 13 wherein: said housing has
a pair of slots, said means connecting the plates to the hous-
ing including bolts projected through said slots and means
threaded on the bolts to hold the plates in adjusted positions
relative to the housing.
15. The conveyor of Claim 10 wherein: said adjusting means
includes second means connecting the second end portion of the
baffle to said head housing, said second means operable to ad-
just the location of the second end portion of the baffle rela-
tive to said head housing.
16. The conveyor of Claim 15 wherein: said second means
includes at least one bolt secured to the second end portion
of the baffle, and means threaded on the bolt engageable with
the housing operable to adjust the position of the bolt thereby
adjusting the location of the second end portion of the baffle
relative to the cups.
17. The conveyor of Claim 10 wherein: said cups comprise
a plurality of groups of cups, each group of cups having a

16


first cup and a plurality of second cups, said first cup having
a bottom wall, said second cups having bottom openings and
located in column relationship above a first cup whereby columns
of material are moved by said groups of cups upon movement of
the belt.
18. The conveyor of Claim 16 wherein: said first cup in-
cludes an outwardly and upwardly inclined front wall, and said
second cups each include an upwardly and outwardly inclined front
wall, said front wall of the second cup having a greater angle
of inclination than the front wall of said first cup.
19. A conveyor for moving material from a first location
to a second location comprising: material moving means having
a loading end and a discharge end operable to move material
from the loading end to the discharge end, said material moving
means including an endless belt, a first pulley at the loading
end, a second pulley spaced from the first pulley at the dis-
charge end, said belt being trained about said first and second
pulleys for movement therewith, means for rotating one of said
pulleys thereby moving the belt in an endless path, a plurality
of cups secured to the belt to carry material on movement of
the belt, each of said cups having an outer edge spaced outwardly
from said belt, material guide means for retaining material in
said cups as the cups move around the second pulley, said mate-
rial guide means comprising a baffle which extends arcuately
from adjacent a portion of the second pulley having a first
tangent line adjacent to a portion of the second pulley having
a second tangent line spaced about 90 degrees from the first
tangent line, said baffle being located in contiguous relation-
ship relative to the outer edges of said cups as the cups move
around said second pulley to retain material in said cups, and
means to support said baffle in a fixed position relative to

17

said cups, said means to support said baffle including a head
housing surrounding the second pulley and the belt and cups
trained about the second pulley, said baffle includes a first
end portion at the inlet end of the baffle and a second end por-
tion at the discharge end of the baffle, said means to support
said baffle further including first means connecting the first
end portion of the baffle to the head housing, and second means
connecting the second end portion of the baffle to said head
housing, said first and second means being operable to adjust
the location of the baffle relative to said head housing, said
cups comprising a plurality of groups of cups, each group of cups
having a first cup and a plurality of second cups, said first
cup having a bottom wall, each of said second cups having an open
bottom, and located in column relationship above a first cup,
whereby columns of material are moved by said groups of cups
upon movement of the belt, said baffle retaining the columns of
material in said groups of cups as the cups move around said
second pulley.
20. The conveyor of Claim 19 wherein: said first cup in-
cludes an outwardly and upwardly inclined front wall, and each
of said second cups include an upwardly and outwardly inclined
front wall, said front wall of the second cup having a greater
angle of inclination than the front wall of said first cup.
21. A conveyor for moving material from a first location
to a second location comprising: material moving means having
a loading end and a discharge end operable to move material
from the loading end to the discharge end, said material moving
means including first rotating means at the loading end, second
rotating means spaced from the first rotating means at the dis-
charge end, endless means located about said first and second
rotating means for movement therewith, means for rotating one

18


of said rotating means thereby moving the endless means in an
endless path, a plurality of material carrying members secured
to the endless means to carry material on movement of the end-
less means, said material carrying members, each having an
outer edge spaced from the endless means, material guide means
for retaining material in said material carrying members as
the material carrying members move around the second pulley
means, said material guide means including baffle means extended
arcuately from adjacent a portion of the second rotating means
having a first tangent line adjacent to a portion of the second
rotating means having a second tangent line spaced about 90
degrees from the first tangent line, said baffle means being
located in contiguous relationship relative to the outer edges
of said material carrying members as the material carrying mem-
bers move around said second rotating means to retain material
in said material carrying members, and means to support said
baffle means in a fixed position relative to said material carry-
ing members, said means to support said baffle means including
adjustable means operable to adjust the location of the baffle
means relative to the material carrying members moving around
the second rotating means, said baffle means including a first
end portion at the inlet end of the baffle means and a second
end portion at the discharge end of the baffle means, said ad-
justable means including first means for adjusting the location
of the first end portion relative to the material carrying mem-
bers and second means for adjusting the location of the second
end portion relative to the material carrying members.
22. The conveyor of Claim 21 wherein: said second end por-
tion of the baffle means projects in a horizontal direction
generally parallel to a horizontal tangent line of said second
rotating means.

19


23. The conveyor of Claim 21 wherein: said second end por-
tion has at least a pair of legs, said means to support said
baffle means being secured to said legs.
24. The conveyor of Claim 23 wherein: said means to sup-
port said baffle means including fixed structure, plates secured
to the legs, and bolts secured to said plates to attach the
plates to the fixed structure.
25. The conveyor of Claim 21 wherein: said means to sup-
port said baffle means includes fixed structure, said first
means and second means being adjustably mounted on the fixed
structure, said second means including at least one bolt adjust-
ably mounted on the fixed structure.
26. The conveyor of Claim 21 wherein: said means to sup-
port said baffle means include a head housing surrounding the
second rotating means and the endless means and material carry-
ing members about the second rotating means.
27. The conveyor of Claim 26 wherein: said adjusting means
including first means connecting the first end portion to said
head housing, said first means operable to adjust the location
of the first end portion relative to said head housing.
28. The conveyor of Claim 27 wherein: said adjusting means
include second means connecting the second end portion of the
baffle means to said head housing, said second means operable
to adjust the location of the second end portion of the baffle
means relative to said head housing.
29. The conveyor of Claim 28 wherein: said material carry-
ing members comprise a plurality of groups of members, each
group of members having a first member and a plurality of
second members, said first member having a bottom wall, each
of said second members having an open bottom and located in
column relationship above the first members, whereby columns



of material are moved by said groups of members upon movement
of said endless means.
30. The conveyor of Claim 29 wherein: said first member
includes an outwardly and upwardly inclined front wall and
each of said second members include an upwardly and outwardly
inclined front wall, said front wall of the second member hav-
ing a greater angle of inclination than the front wall of said
first member.
31. A conveyor for moving material from a first location
comprising: material moving means having a loading end and a
discharge end operable to move material from the loading end to
the discharge end, said material moving means including an end-
less belt, a first pulley at the loading end, a second pulley
spaced from the first pulley at the discharge end, said belt
being trained about said first and second pulleys for movement
therewith, means for rotating one of said pulleys thereby mov-
ing the belt in an endless path, a plurality of cups secured to
the belt to carry material on movement of the belt, said cups
comprising a plurality of groups of cups, each group of cups
having a first cup and a plurality of second cups, said first
cup having an upwardly and outwardly inclined outer wall having
an outer edge spaced outwardly from said belt, generally hori-
zontal top side edges, side walls, and a bottom wall, said second
cups each having an upwardly and outwardly inclined outer wall
having an outer edge spaced outwardly from said belt, generally
horizontal side edges, side walls, and a bottom opening, said
second cups located in column relationship above said first cup
whereby columns of material are moved by said groups of cups upon
movement of the belt, material guide means for retaining material
in said cups as the cups move around the second pulley, support
means for holding the material guide means adjacent the cups,

21


said material guide means comprising a flexible baffle plate
which extends arcuately from adjacent a portion of the second
pulley having a first generally vertical tangent line adjacent
to a portion of the second pulley having a second generally hori-
zontal tangent line spaced about 90 degrees from the first tan-
gent line, said baffle plate having a width wider than the length
of the cups with side portions located outwardly relative to
the side walls of the cups, said baffle plate having a first
end with an opening allowing air to flow past the first end,
outwardly of said baffle plate, said first end being located
adjacent said generally vertical tangent line of the second pul-
ley, first adjustable means mounting said first end of the baffle
plate on said support means to locate said first end in a selected
adjusted position relative to said cups, said baffle plate having
a second end located adjacent said generally horizontal tangent
line of the second pulley, said baffle plate being curved and
continuous between said first and second ends thereof, and second
adjustable means mounting said second end of the baffle plate
on said support means to locate said second end in a selected
adjusted position relative to said cups, said first and second
adjustable means locating the entire baffle plate in a selected
contiguous relationship relative to the outer edges of said cups
as the cups move around said second pulley to retain material
in said cups.
32. The conveyor of Claim 31 wherein: said baffle plate
includes an end extension at the second end of the baffle plate,
said end extension projected in a generally horizontal direction
generally parallel to said generally horizontal tangent line of
said second pulley.
33. The conveyor of Claim 31 wherein: said first end in-
cludes at least a pair of legs, said first adjustable means being

22


connected to said legs.
34. The conveyor of Claim 33 wherein: said support means
includes fixed structure, said first adjustable means including
plates secured to the legs, and bolts secured to said plates to
attach the plates to the fixed structure.
35. The conveyor of Claim 31 wherein: said first end in-
cludes a pair of spaced legs, said opening of the first end be-
ing located between said pair of legs.
36. The conveyor of Claim 31 wherein: said second adjust-
able means includes at least one bolt adjustably mounted on the
support means.
37. The conveyor of Claim 31 wherein: said support means
includes a head housing surrounding the second pulley and the
belt and cups trained about the second pulley, said housing hav-
ing means having a passage allowing air and dust to be removed
from the housing.
38. The conveyor of Claim 37 wherein: said first end in-
cludes at least one leg, said first adjustable means attaching
said leg to said housing, said opening of the first end being
located between said first end and the housing.
39. The conveyor of Claim 38 wherein: said first means in-
cludes a plate secured to the leg and engageable with the head
housing and a bolt secured to the plate, said head housing having
an elongated slot for accommodating the bolt, and means threaded
on the bolt to clamp the plate on the housing.
40. The conveyor of Claim 37 wherein: said first end in-
cludes a pair of legs, said first adjustable means including a
plate secured to the end of each leg and engageable with the
housing thereby providing the opening between the housing and
baffle plate, and means connecting the plates to the housing.
41. The conveyor of Claim 40 wherein: said housing has a

23

pair of slots, said means connecting the plates to the housing
including bolts projected through said slots and means threaded
on the bolts to hold the plates in adjusted positions relative
to the housing.
42. The conveyor of Claim 31 wherein: said outer wall of
each second cup has a greater angle of inclination than the outer
wall of said first cup.
43. A conveyor for moving material from a first location to
a second location comprising: material moving means having a
loading end and a discharge end operable to move material from
the loading end to the discharge end, said material moving means
including first rotating means at the loading end, second rotating
means spaced from the first rotating means at the discharge end,
endless means located about said first and second rotating means
for movement therewith, means for rotating one of said rotating
means thereby moving the endless means in an endless path, a
plurality of material carrying members secured to the endless
means to carry material on movement of the endless means, said
material carrying members, each having an outer edge spaced from
the endless means, material guide means for retaining material
in said material carrying members as the material carrying mem-
bers move around the second rotating means, support means for
holding the material guide means adjacent the outer edges of
the material carrying members as the members move around a por-
tion of the second rotating means, said material guide means
including a baffle plate extended arcuately from adjacent a
portion of the second rotating means having a first generally
vertical tangent line adjacent to a portion of the second rotat-
ing means having a second generally horizontal tangent line spaced
about 90 degrees from the first tangent line, said baffle plate
having a width wider than said material carrying members, said

24

baffle plate having a first end with an opening allowing air to
flow past the first end outwardly of said baffle plate, said
first end being located adjacent said generally vertical tan-
gent line of the second rotating means, first adjustable means
mounting said first end of the baffle plate on said support
means to locate said first end in a selected adjusted position
relative to said material carrying members, said baffle plate
having a second end located adjacent said generally horizontal
tangent line of the second rotating means, said baffle plate be-
ing curved and continuous between said first and second ends
thereof, and second adjustable means mounting said second end
of the baffle plate on said support means to locate said second
end in a selected adjusted position relative to said material
carrying members, said first and second adjustable means locat-
ing the entire baffle plate in a selected continuous relation-
ship relative to the outer edges of said material carrying mem-
bers as the material carrying members move around said second
rotating means to retain material in said material carrying mem-
bers.
44. The conveyor of Claim 43 wherein: said baffle plate
includes an end extension projected in a generally horizontal
direction generally parallel to said generally horizontal tan-
gent line of said second rotating means.
45. The conveyor of Claim 43 wherein: said first end has
at least a pair of legs, said first adjustable means being con-
nected to said legs.
46. The conveyor of Claim 45 wherein: said support means
includes fixed structure, said first adjustable means including
plates secured to the legs, and bolts secured to said plates to
attach the plates to the fixed structure.
47. The conveyor of Claim 43 wherein: said first end



includes a pair of spaced legs, said opening of the first end
being located between said pair of legs.
48. The conveyor of Claim 43 wherein: said second adjust-
able means includes at least one bolt adjustably mounted on the
support means.
49. The conveyor of Claim 43 wherein: said support means
includes a head housing surrounding the second rotating means
and the endless means and material carrying members about the
second rotating means, said housing having means having a pass-
age allowing air and dust to be removed from the housing.
50. The conveyor of Claim 49 wherein: said second adjust-
able means include second means connecting the second end of the
baffle plate to said head housing, said second means operable
to adjust the location of the second end of the baffle plate
relative to said head housing.
51. A conveyor for moving material from a first location to
a second location comprising: material moving means having a
loading end and a discharge end operable to move material from
the loading end to the discharge end, said material moving means
including first rotating means at the loading end, second rotat-
ing means spaced from the first rotating means and located at
the discharge end, endless means located about said first and
second rotating means for movement wherewith, means for rotating
one of said rotating means thereby moving the endless means in
an endless path, a plurality of material carrying members secured
to the endless means to carry material on movement of the end-
less means, material guide means for retaining material in said
material carrying members as the material carrying members move
around the second rotating means, support means for holding the
material guide means adjacent the material carrying members so
that as the material carrying members move around a portion of

26


the second rotating means the material is retained in the area
of the material carrying members, said material guide means
including a baffle plate extended arcuately from adjacent a por-
tion of the second rotating means having a first tangent line
adjacent to a portion of the second rotating means having a
second tangent line spaced about 90 degrees from the first tan-
gent line, said baffle plate having a first end located adjacent
said first tangent line of the second rotating means and a second
end located adjacent the second tangent line, first adjustable
means mounting said first end of the baffle plate on said sup-
port means to locate said first end in a selected adjusted posi-
tion relative to said material carrying members, and second
adjustable means mounting said second end of the baffle plate
on the support means to locate said second end in a selected
adjusted position relative to the material carrying members,
said first and second adjustable means locating the entire baf-
fle plate in a selected contiguous relationship relative to said
material carrying members as the material carrying members move
around said second rotating means to retain material in said
material carrying members.
52. The conveyor of Claim 51 wherein: said baffle plate
is a curved and continuous sheet member.
53. The conveyor of Claim 52 wherein: said baffle plate
includes an extension at the second end thereof, said end exten-
sion projected in a general horizontal direction generally para-
llel to said second tangent line.
54. The conveyor of Claim 52 wherein: said first end has
at least a pair of legs, said first adjustable means being con-
nected to said legs.
55. The conveyor of Claim 52 wherein: said first end in-
cludes a pair of spaced legs, and an opening between said legs

27

to allow air to flow past the baffle plate.
56. The conveyor of Claim 52 wherein: said second adjust-
able means includes at least one longitudinally adjustable mem-
ber mounted on the support means.
57. The conveyor of Claim 52 wherein: said support means in-
cludes a head housing surrounding the second rotating means, the
endless means, and the material carrying members located about
the second rotating means.
58. The conveyor of Claim 52 wherein: said second adjust-
able means includes longitudinally adjustable means connecting
the second end of the baffle plate to the head housing, said
second means operable to adjust the location of the second end
of the baffle plate relative to the head housing and material
carrying members.

28

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION:
Bucket elevators and conveyors have been used to move
material, as water, grain, earth, and the like. These eleva-
tors include the type which have an endless belt trained about
a pair of spaced pulleys. A plurality of buckets or scoops
attached to the belt carry the material along the belt to a
discharge location.
In use, the bucket type elevators experience a consider-
able amount of spilling and backlegging. The spilling occurs
when the b~ckets move around the upper pulley at the discharge
end of the elevator. The premature discharge of material is
due to the increase in the distance between the outer portions
or lips adjacent buckets as the buckets move over the discharge
pulley. During this movement there is a jerk due to centrifugal
~orce which causes the material to move outwardly out o~ the
buckets and fall back into the elevator casings, rather than
the desired material discharge location.
. I
SUMMARY OF INVENTION:
The invention is directed to a material conveyor, such
as an elevator for moving grain from a hopper to a discharge
location. The conveyor has an endless conveying means compris-
ing an endless belt trained about an idler pulley and a drive
pulley. A plurality of cups mounted on the outside of the belt
carry material to a discharge head located adjacent the upper
end of the conveyor and drive pulley. The cups are arranged
in series or groups. Each group has a plurality of open bottom
cups and a closed bottom cup. The open bottom cups are located
in a stacked or column relationship above the closed bottom
cup and are secured to the endless flexible be:lt to carry a
1~ column of material.
;1 -2-

. '`"' ' ~



A material guide means is adjustably mounted on the head
housing for retaining the material in the cups as the cups
move aTound the drive pulley and for directing the material
discharged from the cups to a discharge location, such as a
funnel having a discharge opening. The material guide means
comprises an arcuate baffle or plate having a first end secured
to the head housing adjacent the side of the cups generally
along a horizontal plane passing through the axis of rotation
of the drive pulley. A second adjusting means mounts the dis-
charge end of the baffle on the head housing along a linegenerally parallel to a vertical plane of the axis of rotation
of the head or drive pulley. The position o the ba-Efle rela-
tive to the outer lips o~ the cups can be adjustecl to retain
the material in the cups as the cups move ove~ the head pulley.
The second adjusting means also adjusts the discharge angle
of the discharge portion of the baffle, whereby the direction
of the material discharged by the cups is controlled.
The elevator having the cups structure and material guide
baffle can be operated at relatively high speeds providing
the elevator with increased operating capacity. The bafEle
is adjusted to release the material at the most efEective dis-
charge point and prevent the undesirable backlegging and
raining o~ material. The ba~fle is versatile in use, as it
can be used with numerous types of conveyors to control the
material in the cups as the cups move over the discharge pulley.
,
IN THE DRAWINGS:
Figure 1 is a foreshortened elevational view, partly
sectioned, of a material handling conveyor equipped with the
material guide means of the invention;
Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the
-3-





line 2-2 of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3
of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of an open bottom cup
of the conveyor of Figure l;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a closed bottom cup
of the conveyor o-f Figure l;
Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of the discharge
end of the conveyor of Figure 1 equipped with the material
guide means of the invention;
~ Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the
;; line 7-7 of Figure 6;
Pigure 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the
line 8-8 o:E ~igure 6;
~ igure 9 is a side elevational view o~ the material guide
means; and
Figure 10 is a front elevational view of the material
guide means of Figure 9.

DESCRIRTION OF PREFERRED EM~ODIMENT:
Reerring to Figure 1, there is shown the material handl-
ing apparatus indicated generally at 20 as a conveyor or eleva-
tor for moving material 21, such as grain and similar particu-
late materials, from a lower location to a higheT location.
Other types of materials can be handled with apparatus 20.
' The lower location includes a downwardly extended hopper 22
for receiving material 21 from a supply, such as a convey`or
or material hauling vehicle. The top of hopper 21 carries an
open grate or door 23 which allows the materia:L to flow into
hopper 22. Material 21 is removed from hopper 22 with an
endless belt-type conveyor assembly indicated generally at 24.
-4-
~'`
.
I

10i~ 49

Conveyor assembly 24 has an idler or base wheel or pulley
26 mounted on a transverse shaft 27 located in the lower portion
of hopper 22. Suitable bearings (not shown) mount the opposite
ends of shaft 27 to support structure The upper end of con-
veyor assembly 24 has a drive or head pulley or wheel 28 secured
to a transverse drive shaft 29. Pulleys 26 and 28 are rotatable
means having circular rims with cylindrical outer surfaces. As
shown in Figure 7, the rim of pulley 28 has a width that extends
- the major portion of the distance between the side walls of
head housing 64.
As shown in Figure 8, shaft 29 is rotatably mounted on a
pair of bearings 31. Support brackets 32 mount bearings 31 in
fixed positions. Shaft 29 is drivably connected to a power
unit 33, shown as an electric motor, with a drive 34, as a belt
or endless chain. Power unit 33 can be a hydraulic motor, air
motor, internal combustion engine, or like power sources. Motor
33 is secured to a support frame 36. An endless flat belt 37
is trained about pulleys 26 and 28. Belt 37 is made of end-
less flexible material, such as rubber or rubber-like material.
; 20 Belt 37 has a width substantially the same width as pulleys 26
and 28.
A plurality of groups or series oE cup-type members or cups
are secured to the outside of belt 37. Each group o-E cups has
a first closed bottom cup 38 and a plurality of second open
bottom cups 39 A - D. First cup 38, shown in Figures 2, 3,
and 5, comprises a generally cup-shaped member having a closed
bottom wall 41, upright outwardly extended side walls 42 and
43, an upright back wall 44, and an outwardly and forwardly
sloping front wall 46 terminating in a transverse lip or edge
46A. Back wall 44 has three holes 47 accommodating fasteners,
such as bolts or rivets 48, for attaching cup 38 to belt 37.

1~)1!il8~9

Cups 38 extend laterally from the outside surface of belt 37.
Second cups 39 A - D are located in a stacked or column
relationship above a first cup 38. The bottom edge of cup 39A
is located along a plane that is above the plane along the top
edge of cup 38. Adjacent cups 39A, 3'3B, 39C, and 39D are
spaced from each other along the length of belt 37. As shown
in Figures 2, 3, and 4, second cups 39A, 39B, 39C, and 39D
are identical in structure. The followlng description is limited
to second cup 39A. Cup 39A has an open bottom 49 located above
the open top of cup 38. Cup 39A has upwardly directed side
walls 51 and 52, a back wall 53 located adjacent the outside
surface o~ belt 37. An upwardly and outwardly directed front
wall 54 is secured to the forward portions oE side walls 51 and
52. The back wall 53 has three holes 56 accommodating Easteners
57, as rivets, bolts, and the like, to secure cup 39~ to the
belt 37 above irst cup 38.
An example of cups 38 and 39A is as follows. Other sizes
and shapes can be used for cups 38 and 39A. Cup 38 has a
rectangular top having a width of 6 inches ~15.2 cm} and a
20 length of 9 inches (23 cm) and a depth of 3-1/4 inches t8.25 cm).
The bottom ~1 has a flat section having a width of 3 inches
~7.6 cm) and a length of 4 inchcs (10.1 cm). The side walls
42 and 43 have an outwardly convex curvature and join with a
flat inclined front wall 46 and flat upright back wall 44. Wall
46 extends at an angle of about 40 degrees from the plane of
bottom 41. Front wall 46 terminates in a linear lip 46A joined
I to the top edges of side walls 42 and 43. The entire cup is
-l made from a slngle sheet of metal.
Cup 39A has the same rectangular top as cup 38. The
side walls 51 and 52 have convex curvatures and join with
back wall 53 and front wall 54. The bottom is open with an
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49

opening 49 having a width of 4-1/4 inches (10.8 cm) and a length
of 5-3/4 inches ~14.6 cm). The front wall 54 has an arcuate
; or convex curvature and extends at an angle of about 60 degrees
from the plane of ~he bottom edge of cup 39A. The upper edge of
wall 54 terminates in a linear lip 54~. The front wall 54 has
a greater incline than front wall 46 of cup 38.
I As shown in Figure 3, a column of material 21A is located
in the first and second cups 38 and 39 A - D. First cup 38
supports the entire column of material. Second cups 39 A - D
maintain the column of material in a vertical relation above
first cup 38. The endless belt conveyor 24 has a plurality of
groups of first and second cups. First cup 38 is located between
8 - 10 second cups 39 ~ - ~I so that conveyor assembly 24 carries
1 a plurality o:E columns of material. Other numbers o~ cups 39A
can be used with a closed bottom cup 38 so that the ma.ter:ial
columns can be longer or shorter.
The elevating and return runs of belt con~eyor assembly
24 are located in upright tubular housings or casings 5~ and
59, respectively. Casing 58 has an elongated upright passage
58A for accommodating the elevating run of conveyor assembly
24. Casing 59 has a similar elongated passage 59A for accommo-
dating the return run of conveyor assembly 24. The casings 58
and 59 are attached to lower portions o a head housing indi-
cated generally at 61. Housing 61 has a discharge chamber 62
having a bottom discharge opening 63. The material carried
by conveyor assembly 24 is discharged into chamber 62 and flows
1 from chamber 62 to a desired location through discharge open-
,: ing 63. The material can flow to a storage bin or a second
:l conveyor which moves the material to a desired location. The
, 30 material may be loaded on a vehicle for transport to another
location.


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- Housing 61 has a top wall 64 connected to downwardly direc-
ted side walls 66 and 67. A tubular extension or nipple 68
is connected to top wall 64. The tubular extension 68 is coupled
to an air evacuation system which carries the fine dust and par-
; ticulates from chamber 62. A downwardly open funnel 69 is
attached to side wall 67. The lower part of funnel 69 has a
discharge opening 63. A downwardly sloping bottom wall 71
located below head pulley 28 is connected to downwardly direc-
: ted tubular portions 72 and 73 accommodating parts of conveyor
24. A first annular connector 74 connects the upper end of tubu-
lar member 58 to tubular portion 72. In a similar manner, a
second annular connector 76 connects tubular member 59 to tubu-
lar portion 73.
In the operation of conveyor assembly 24, motor 33 rotates
head pulley 28. This moves the belt and cups attached thereto
through the passages of tubular members 58 and 59. The cups
38 and 39 moving around idler pulley 26 pick up material 21 in
hopper 22. The elevating or upwardly moving run of conveyor
assembly 24 carries columns of material in cups 38 and 39 A - D
¦ 20 in an upward direction. As the belt 37 and cups 38 and 39 move
~l over head pulley 28, the material is discharged into chamber
.~ 62 and directed by unnel 69 to discharge opening 63.
A material guide means indica~ed generally at 77 is located
adjacent the top portion of the first and second cups 38 and
:~` 39 as the cups move over head pulley 28. Material guide means
,
77 is operable to prevent premature discharge of material from
~ the elevator cups 38 and 39. The premature discharge of mate-
-l: rial happens because the distance between the adjacent lips
i: 46A and 54A of the cups 38 and 39 increases as the cups move
., :
: '
~: 30 with the belt around head pulley 28. The cups 38 and 39 are
; moving in a straight upward movement in casing 58. As the
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1(~8~

cups 38 and 39 move in a circumferential path with pulley 28,
there is a slight jerk due to centrifugal force. This is
enough force to discharge material from the cups. On high
capacity elevator cups, this discharge leads to spilling and
backlegging. Material guide means 77 overcomes the spilling
and the backlegging problems of the prior art bucket-type eleva-
tors.
Referring to Figures 9 and 10, material guide means 77
has an elongated arcuately curved baffle or plate 78. Baffle
78 is a flexible curved sheet member having an arcuate length
extending through an arc of about g0 degrees. The lower or
inlet portion of baffle 78 has a pair of downwardly directed
outwardly curved legs 78A attached to upright ~lat back plates
79 and 81 by welds at 82. Plates 79 and 81 have center holes
for accommodating bolts 83. The heads oE bolts 83 are secured
by welds to plates 79 and 81. Baffle 78 has a discharge end
portion 78B projected in a horizontal direction to guide mate-
rial toward chamber 62. Discharge end portion 78B projects in
a horizontal direction parallel to a horizontal tangent line
extended from the top o pulley 28. Preerably the portion
78B projects about ~ inches (10.2 cm) beyond a vertical line
passing through the axis of rotation of pulley 28.
As shown in Figure 8, bolts 83 extend through elongated
slots 8~ in housing side wall 66. Nuts 85 threaded on bolts
83 clamp plates 79 and 81 against the inside of side wall 66.
The slots 84 permlt vertical adjustment of baffle 78 on side
wall 66, as indicated by arrow 90. Legs 78A space the leading
or lower edge of baffle 78 from side wall 66 providing a rectan-
gular opening 96. Air, dust, dirt, and air-borne particulates
flow upwardly in casing 58, through opening 96 to the space
above baffle 78 shown by arrow 97 in Figure 6. The air evacua-





8~9

tion system connected to tubular extension 68 removes the airand particulates from the space above baffle 78.
A pair of upright bolts 86 and 88 are secured to the
discharge end portion 78B of ba-ffle 78. Bolt 86 is threaded
into a pair of nuts 87 secured to the top of discharge end
section 78B of baffle 78. Bolt 88 is threaded into a pair of
nuts 89 secured to the top of end section 78B. As shown in
Figure 7, bolts 86 and 88 space end section 78B from top wall
64 of housing 61. Nuts 91 adjustably mount bolt 86 on top wall
74. In a similar manner nuts 92 adjustably mount bolt 88 on
top wall 64. Bolts 91 and 92 are releasable to allow for the
adjustment o-f space 94 between the inside of baffle 78 and the
outer lips 46A and 54A of the cups 38 and 39 A - D. Space 94
is relatively small being about 5/8 inch ~1.6 cm). The direc-
tion o~ the adjustment is indicatecl by the arrow 93 in Figure
7.
The baffle 77 is a material guide element or displacement
body located in the chamber formed by head housing 61 at the
backside or belt upcoming side of head pulley 28. Baffle 77
is at a location between 270 degrees and 0 degrees, clockwise
in Figures 1 and 6, or at a 9 to 12 o'clock location, adjacent
the arcuate path of movement of cup lips 46A and 54A as the cups
46 and 54 move around head pulley 28. The inlet portion of
baffle 77 is located along a vertical line that is parallel
to a vertical tangent line of head pulley 28. The outlet
portion 78B of baffle 77 is located along a horizontal llne
that is parallel to a horizontal tangent of the top of head
pulley 20.
In use, motor 33 is operated to rotate head pulley 28.

- 30 Pulley 28 moves conveyor assembly 24 through the tubular hous-
l ings 58 and 59 and around bottom pulley 26 located in hopper 22.
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The cups 38 and 39 A - D moving through the hopper 22 pick up
the material and carry the material in a column up tubular mem-
ber 58. Baffle 78 is located within the elevator head adjacent
the upward quadrant of conveyor assembly 24 as it moves over
head pulley 28. Baffle 78 has an arcuate inside surface that
is located in close proximity or contiguous relationship to the
outer lips 46A and 54A of cups 38 and 39. The baffle has a
width wider than the transverse dimension~of length of cups
38 and 39 A - D, as shown in Figure 7. The material in the
cups 38 and 39 A - D is retained in the vicinity of the cups
as portions of the material in the cups are moved out into
engagement with baffle 78 as the cups move over head pulley
28. The material is discharged into the discharge chamber 62
and alls into the funnel 69. The material flows from ~unnel
j 69 through the discharge open:ing 63 to the desired locat:ion.
Baffle 78 is adjustably mounted on housing 61 to con-
trol the space or clearance 9~ between the baffle 78 and the
outer lips 46A and 54A of cups 38 and 39 A - D. The adjustment
permits baffle 78 to be used with different types of head pulleys,
' 20 and cups, as well as with varying speeds of the conveyor assem-
bly.
While there have been shown and described the preferred
embodiments of the conveyor assembly and material guide means,
it is understood that changes in the size, shape, and struc-
ture can be made by those skilled in the art without depart-
ing from the invention. For example, baffle 78 can have a
tangential extension extended vertically in a downward direc-
tion from the loading end of the baffle adjacent the legs 78A.
; Also, a tangential extension can be added to the end 78B. The
baffle 78 can be provided with downwardly directed side flanges
along the opposite sides of the baffle. This provides the baffle
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, . -. . . . .. .
.. .. . ...

with a generally inverted U-shaped cross section. This type of
baffle can be used in installations where the elevator head has
an extreme width in relation to the width of the head pulley.
Other types of baffle adjusting structures can be used to mount
the baffle on the head housing. The adjusting structures can
provide the baffle with both vertical and horizontal adjustment
relative to the cups of the conveyor assembly. The invention
is defined in the following Claims.




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