A conveyor assembly includes an extendable conveyor, a cradle configured to at least partially receive the extendable conveyor, a first conveyor that is movable between a first position and a second position, the first conveyor configured to receive a material from a first source, and second conveyor configured to receive a material from a second source. The extendable conveyor may be configured to pivot with respect to the cradle.

Embodiments of this invention relate to highwall mining, and more particularly to a launch vehicle adapted for use in highwall mining of downward angled seams of mineable material, such as coal. More specifically, the provided launch vehicle includes a lower deck, an upper deck disposed above the lower deck, a launch deck pivotally attached to the upper deck, a first conveyor belt carried on the lower deck and a second conveyor belt carried on the launch deck. A conveyor car is positioned on the launch deck while the launch deck is in a substantially horizontal orientation, then the launch deck is tilted in a vertical place relative to the upper deck to substantially match a dip angle of the seam to be mined. The conveyor car is attached to a conveyor train extending into the seam as the rearmost car in the train. As the conveyor train advances into the seam, the launch deck is returned to a horizontal orientation, an additional conveyor car is added to the launch deck, and the launch deck is again tilted to substantially match the dip angle of the seam to add the additional conveyor car as the new rearmost car in the conveyor train.

Embodiments of this invention relate to highwall mining, and more particularly to a launch vehicle adapted for use in highwall mining of downward angled seams of mineable material, such as coal. More specifically, the provided launch vehicle includes a lower deck, an upper deck disposed above the lower deck, a launch deck pivotally attached to the upper deck, a first conveyor belt carried on the lower deck and a second conveyor belt carried on the launch deck. A conveyor car is positioned on the launch deck while the launch deck is in a substantially horizontal orientation, then the launch deck is tilted in a vertical place relative to the upper deck to substantially match a dip angle of the seam to be mined. The conveyor car is attached to a conveyor train extending into the seam as the rearmost car in the train. As the conveyor train advances into the seam, the launch deck is returned to a horizontal orientation, an additional conveyor car is added to the launch deck, and the launch deck is again tilted to substantially match the dip angle of the seam to add the additional conveyor car as the new rearmost car in the conveyor train.

Systems and methods are provided for controlling flexible tracks. One embodiment is a system for conveying plies of laminate to a forming device. The system includes a flexible track assembly comprising a first portion of track and a second portion of track, each of the portions defining a groove dimensioned to receive a slider that transports a ply, the second portion arranged to transport the ply into the forming device. The track assembly also includes a guide in which ends of the portions are disposed. The system further includes a retraction line that applies a contracting force that biases the end of the second portion towards contact with the end of the first portion, the retraction line being extendable to enable the second portion to separate from the first portion, thereby accommodating extension of the track assembly in response to forces applied by the forming device during forming.

A conveyor includes an endless belt, a boot end supporting a portion of the endless belt, a support structure, and a bridge. The endless belt includes a first run and a second run, and the first run extends along a conveyor axis. The support structure includes an end spaced apart from the boot end, a plurality of frames, and a plurality of idler rolls. The frames are spaced apart from one another and aligned with one another in a direction parallel to the conveyor axis. The idler rolls support another portion of the endless belt. The bridge extends between the boot end and the end of the support structure. The bridge is movable in a direction parallel to the conveyor axis relative to at least one of the boot end and the support structure.

A conveyor includes an endless belt, a boot end supporting a portion of the endless belt, a support structure, and a bridge. The endless belt includes a first run and a second run, and the first run extends along a conveyor axis. The support structure includes an end spaced apart from the boot end, a plurality of frames, and a plurality of idler rolls. The frames are spaced apart from one another and aligned with one another in a direction parallel to the conveyor axis. The idler rolls support another portion of the endless belt. The bridge extends between the boot end and the end of the support structure. The bridge is movable in a direction parallel to the conveyor axis relative to at least one of the boot end and the support structure.

A submersion conveyor system for processing materials that need to be completely submersed in a processing liquid, such as food products, the submersion conveyor system providing a continual looping motion with a conveyor belt and flights providing a semi-enclosed volume for containing the material to be processed, the semi-enclosed volume containing the material to be processed being completely submersed in at least a portion of a processing tank during operation to provide a washing, rinsing, coating, treating, sanitizing and/or chilling or heating of the processing materials.

A device for transporting elongated metal material comprises two chain drive units with a continuous chain, which are arranged such that the elongated material is passed through between the chains with frictional contact so that the elongated material is moved; two controllable pressure units configured to apply pressure forces to the chains towards each other; at least one controllable adjusting unit which is mechanically connected to at least one of the chain drive units and which is configured to move same in a longitudinal direction of the elongated material during operation. A plant can have such a device, and a process is used for controlling such a device.

A device for transporting elongated metal material comprises two chain drive units with a continuous chain, which are arranged such that the elongated material is passed through between the chains with frictional contact so that the elongated material is moved; two controllable pressure units configured to apply pressure forces to the chains towards each other; at least one controllable adjusting unit which is mechanically connected to at least one of the chain drive units and which is configured to move same in a longitudinal direction of the elongated material during operation. A plant can have such a device, and a process is used for controlling such a device.

A material processing apparatus has a discharge conveyor that is coupled to the body of the apparatus so that it can pivot with respect to the body and be raised vertically with respect to the body. The coupling mechanism allows the pivoting and lifting of the conveyor to be performed by the same actuators. The discharge conveyor can be raised into an access state in which a transfer conveyor can be removed from the body.