A material conveyor apparatus is described comprising a conveyer device having a material receiving end suitable for receiving material such as overburden or mineral at a working site, a material discharge end distal of the material receiving end, and a material transport system disposed between the material receiving end and the discharge end so as in use to cause material received at the material receiving end to be conveyed to the material discharge end; an scanning system comprising a scanning device disposed to scan the material being conveyed to the material discharge end and obtain a response from the material from which the material may be classified at least into two classes comprising at least a waste class and a useable ore class based on the response; a chassis supporting the conveyor device and the scanning device; a transport carriage supporting the chassis and adapted to cause the chassis to be movable across a surface for deployment in use.

A sorter comprising: a rack; a track assembly comprising two ring-shaped tracks both installed on the rack, the tracks being respectively arranged in two mutually parallel vertical planes and being aligned with each other; a drive assembly comprising at least one sprocket sets that comprise a driving sprocket and a plurality of driven sprockets installed on the rack; at least one chain hooping on the driving sprocket and the driven sprockets and having the same shape as the tracks; an electric machine configured to drive the driving sprocket to rotate; a sorting cart comprising a carriage that is arranged between and slidably connected to the two ring-shaped tracks and is further hinged with the chain; a conveying assembly disposed above the carriage and carry and convey items, wherein a conveying direction of the conveying assembly is different from a moving direction of the sorting cart.

A sorter comprising: a rack; a track assembly comprising two ring-shaped tracks both installed on the rack, the tracks being respectively arranged in two mutually parallel vertical planes and being aligned with each other; a drive assembly comprising at least one sprocket sets that comprise a driving sprocket and a plurality of driven sprockets installed on the rack; at least one chain hooping on the driving sprocket and the driven sprockets and having the same shape as the tracks; an electric machine configured to drive the driving sprocket to rotate; a sorting cart comprising a carriage that is arranged between and slidably connected to the two ring-shaped tracks and is further hinged with the chain; a conveying assembly disposed above the carriage and carry and convey items, wherein a conveying direction of the conveying assembly is different from a moving direction of the sorting cart.

Some examples described herein include a flexible hopper for a conveyor system. The flexible hopper may include a hopper weldment attached to a frame of the conveyor, wherein the hopper weldment surrounds a charge end of the conveyor, a flexible frame configured to enable an opening of the flexible hopper to expand or contract, and/or a skirt attached to the flexible frame and configured to form an enclosure between the flexible frame and the hopper weldment.

The present invention proposes a relief module comprising a tubular body (10) for the passage of bulk material, at least a lateral opening (12) in the tubular body (10), a window (20) to cover the respective lateral opening (12), the window (20) operating in a closed position preventing the bulk material from exiting through the lateral opening (12) or in an open position allowing the material to exit through the lateral opening (12), the window (20) having at least one portion made of filtering material allowing the air to pass through and retain solid particles, when the window (20) is in the closed position. The present invention also proposes a bulk material discharge device which receives the bulk material from a feeding system and discharges the bulk material to a destination, the discharge device comprising a relief module configured according to the invention.

The present invention proposes a relief module comprising a tubular body (10) for the passage of bulk material, at least a lateral opening (12) in the tubular body (10), a window (20) to cover the respective lateral opening (12), the window (20) operating in a closed position preventing the bulk material from exiting through the lateral opening (12) or in an open position allowing the material to exit through the lateral opening (12), the window (20) having at least one portion made of filtering material allowing the air to pass through and retain solid particles, when the window (20) is in the closed position. The present invention also proposes a bulk material discharge device which receives the bulk material from a feeding system and discharges the bulk material to a destination, the discharge device comprising a relief module configured according to the invention.

A dual-layer linear sorter includes a delivery mechanism, a first feeding mechanism, a second uploading mechanism, a slewing mechanism, and a driving mechanism, the delivery mechanism is ring-shaped and includes upper and lower layers; the running direction of the upper layer is a first direction, the running direction of the lower layer is a second direction; the second direction is opposite to the first direction; the first feeding mechanism is close to the upper layer, and is docked with one end of the delivery mechanism; the second feeding mechanism is close to the lower layer and is docked with the other end of the delivery mechanism; the driving mechanism can drive the delivery mechanism to run; a part of the goods can be delivered to the upper layer via the first uploading mechanism; another part of goods can be delivered to the lower layer via the second uploading mechanism.

A dual-layer linear sorter includes a delivery mechanism, a first feeding mechanism, a second uploading mechanism, a slewing mechanism, and a driving mechanism, the delivery mechanism is ring-shaped and includes upper and lower layers; the running direction of the upper layer is a first direction, the running direction of the lower layer is a second direction; the second direction is opposite to the first direction; the first feeding mechanism is close to the upper layer, and is docked with one end of the delivery mechanism; the second feeding mechanism is close to the lower layer and is docked with the other end of the delivery mechanism; the driving mechanism can drive the delivery mechanism to run; a part of the goods can be delivered to the upper layer via the first uploading mechanism; another part of goods can be delivered to the lower layer via the second uploading mechanism.

Some examples described herein include a flexible hopper for a conveyor system. The flexible hopper may include a hopper weldment attached to a frame of the conveyor, wherein the hopper weldment surrounds a charge end of the conveyor, a flexible connector that is attached to the hopper weldment and configured to enable an opening of the flexible hopper to expand or contract, and a flexible skirt that is folded over the flexible connector. The flexible skirt may include a plurality of flexible strips configured to form an enclosure between the flexible connector and the hopper weldment.

Some examples described herein include a flexible hopper for a conveyor system. The flexible hopper may include a hopper weldment attached to a frame of the conveyor, wherein the hopper weldment surrounds a charge end of the conveyor, a flexible connector that is attached to the hopper weldment and configured to enable an opening of the flexible hopper to expand or contract, and a flexible skirt that is folded over the flexible connector. The flexible skirt may include a plurality of flexible strips configured to form an enclosure between the flexible connector and the hopper weldment.