Automated control of a longwall stageloader bootend using a plurality of sensors. The sensors include lift sensors, side shift sensors, advance sensors, angle sensors, and conveyor belt sensors. Signals from the plurality of sensors are received by a controller and used to control the operation of the bootend. Controlling the operation of the bootend includes controlling, for example, one or more lift actuators, one or more side shift actuators, one or more advance actuators, and one or more belt actuators. These various actuators can be controlled to, for example, advance the bootend, level the bootend, or match the interfaces between the bootend and a stageloader or a conveyor structure. By automating the operation of the bootend, the need for human positioning control is reduced and the safety of operators is improved.

A flexible material handling apparatus is arranged to be installed on a full face heading machine. The apparatus includes a material handling member and a linkage member coupled together in a head-tail manner by a joint connection, and the linkage member at the other end may be coupled to a frame of a heading machine. The entire apparatus may be retracted to rest on the side of the machine frame and maintained there by a locking means. The material handling member may be swivelled about two separate vertical axes and brought outwardly to an oblique front position, where one or more locking means may be included to secure the material handling member fixed in place relative to the machine frame.

In some aspects, a conveyor chain includes a first link, a second link, and a coupler link coupled between the first link and the second link. The first link includes a first portion and a second portion, the second portion oriented parallel to and laterally spaced apart from the first portion. The first portion includes a first sprocket-engaging pin protruding laterally, and the second portion includes a second sprocket-engaging pin protruding laterally. The second link includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a first sprocket-engaging portion protruding laterally, and the second portion includes a second sprocket-engaging portion protruding laterally. A flight bar is positioned adjacent an end of the first sprocket-engaging portion of the first link.

In some aspects, a conveyor chain includes a first link, a second link, and a coupler link coupled between the first link and the second link. The first link includes a first portion and a second portion, the second portion oriented parallel to and laterally spaced apart from the first portion. The first portion includes a first sprocket-engaging pin protruding laterally, and the second portion includes a second sprocket-engaging pin protruding laterally. The second link includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a first sprocket-engaging portion protruding laterally, and the second portion includes a second sprocket-engaging portion protruding laterally. A flight bar is positioned adjacent an end of the first sprocket-engaging portion of the first link.

A conveyor chain includes a first link, a second link, and a coupler link. The first link includes a first sprocket-engaging portion and a second sprocket-engaging portion, each protruding laterally away from one another. The second link includes a first sprocket-engaging portion and a second sprocket-engaging portion, each protruding laterally away from one another. The coupler link couples the first link to the second link, and the coupler link is positioned laterally between the first sprocket-engaging portion and the second sprocket-engaging portion of each link. The coupler link includes a first joint pivotably coupled to the first link and a second joint pivotably coupled to the second link. The first joint permits pivoting movement of the first link about a plurality of axes, and the second joint permits pivoting movement of the second link about a plurality of axes.

A conveyor chain includes a first link, a second link, and a coupler link. The first link includes a first sprocket-engaging portion and a second sprocket-engaging portion, each protruding laterally away from one another. The second link includes a first sprocket-engaging portion and a second sprocket-engaging portion, each protruding laterally away from one another. The coupler link couples the first link to the second link, and the coupler link is positioned laterally between the first sprocket-engaging portion and the second sprocket-engaging portion of each link. The coupler link includes a first joint pivotably coupled to the first link and a second joint pivotably coupled to the second link. The first joint permits pivoting movement of the first link about a plurality of axes, and the second joint permits pivoting movement of the second link about a plurality of axes.

Disclosed is a reciprocating impact bevel tooth discharging shovel of a reciprocating impact mining machine, which includes a reciprocating impact box and a reciprocating impact bevel tooth discharging shovel (1). The reciprocating impact box includes a reciprocating impact box body (3), a reciprocating impact power element, and a reciprocating impact guide element (2). One end or both ends of the reciprocating impact guide element (2) extend out of the reciprocating impact box body (3). The reciprocating impact bevel tooth discharging shovel (1) includes a main tooth seat (5), main impact teeth (4), a lateral discharging tooth wing plate (6), and lateral discharging bevel teeth (7). The impacted materials are discharged from a gap which is formed by the lateral discharging bevel teeth (7) towering over the lateral discharging tooth wing plate (6), which reduces resistance of the materials to the reciprocating impact bevel tooth discharging shovel (1).

Disclosed is a reciprocating impact bevel tooth discharging shovel of a reciprocating impact mining machine, which includes a reciprocating impact box and a reciprocating impact bevel tooth discharging shovel (1). The reciprocating impact box includes a reciprocating impact box body (3), a reciprocating impact power element, and a reciprocating impact guide element (2). One end or both ends of the reciprocating impact guide element (2) extend out of the reciprocating impact box body (3). The reciprocating impact bevel tooth discharging shovel (1) includes a main tooth seat (5), main impact teeth (4), a lateral discharging tooth wing plate (6), and lateral discharging bevel teeth (7). The impacted materials are discharged from a gap which is formed by the lateral discharging bevel teeth (7) towering over the lateral discharging tooth wing plate (6), which reduces resistance of the materials to the reciprocating impact bevel tooth discharging shovel (1).

Disclosed are a method for rotary clearing in a stripping tooth holder of a mining machine and a rotary clearing device in a stripping tooth holder implementing the method. The rotary clearing device includes a reciprocating impact power box (2), a stripping tooth holder (3), a rotary clearer supporting mechanism (4) and a rotary clearer (5), where the rotary clearer (5) includes a shifter (6) and a clearing drive roller (7), the reciprocating impact power box (2) includes a reciprocating impact power box power member (8), the reciprocating impact power box power member (8) supports and drives the stripping tooth holder (3), the rotary clearer supporting mechanism (4) is arranged on the reciprocating impact power box (2) or on the stripping tooth holder (3), a rear end of the stripping tooth holder (3) is connected to the reciprocating impact power box power member (8).

Disclosed are a method for rotary clearing in a stripping tooth holder of a mining machine and a rotary clearing device in a stripping tooth holder implementing the method. The rotary clearing device includes a reciprocating impact power box (2), a stripping tooth holder (3), a rotary clearer supporting mechanism (4) and a rotary clearer (5), where the rotary clearer (5) includes a shifter (6) and a clearing drive roller (7), the reciprocating impact power box (2) includes a reciprocating impact power box power member (8), the reciprocating impact power box power member (8) supports and drives the stripping tooth holder (3), the rotary clearer supporting mechanism (4) is arranged on the reciprocating impact power box (2) or on the stripping tooth holder (3), a rear end of the stripping tooth holder (3) is connected to the reciprocating impact power box power member (8).