Patent ID: 6009993
Filing Date: 2000-01-04
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A bucket conveyor apparatus, comprising:an infeed station frame;at least one first sprocket and at least one second sprocket rotatably mounted on said infeed station frame;at least one conveyor chain extending at least partially between said first and second sprockets to define an upper conveyor run and a lower conveyor run, each extending at least partially between said first and second sprockets;a plurality of conveyor buckets each having a mounting element for mounting said buckets on said conveyor chain in spaced apart relationship to each other;a plurality of guide rollers, said conveyor chain carrying at least one of said guide rollers intermediate adjacent buckets;means for driving said first and second sprockets for conjoint rotation to thereby move said conveyor chain and said conveyor buckets mounted thereon along said upper and lower runs; anda stepped guide member positioned along at least a portion of said upper conveyor run for reducing the relative spacing between said conveyor buckets as said conveyor buckets are moved along said portion of said upper conveyor run to facilitate filling of said buckets, said stepped guide member having a flat surface forming a first guide path and an inwardly open channel portion forming a second guide path, said mounting elements guided along said first guide path, and said guide rollers supported for rotation along said second guide path, said second guide path at a different elevation than said first guide path.