Patent Publication Number: US-6712193-B2

Title: Intermediate discharge for an enclosed roller belt conveyor assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/836,516, filed Apr. 17, 2001, now Pat. No. 6,523,667. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to conveyor assemblies and, more particularly, to an intermediate discharge for an enclosed roller belt conveyor assembly. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     In various industries, such as those involving agriculture, manufacturing, commercial and industrial applications, it is often necessary to store and transport relatively large amounts of granular materials. In agriculture, for example, it is often necessary to store and transfer substantial quantities of grain from one location to another location. In such instances, grain conveyor assemblies are generally used to move the granular material or grain to and from storage silos or elevators at a first location to grain transportation vehicles at a second location, such as conveyors, grain transport barges, freight trains, trucks, etc. 
     Grain conveyor assemblies or belt conveyors generally employ a continuous conveyor belt that carries the grain on an upper surface of the conveyor belt. This continuous belt typically rides atop a set of rollers or pulleys. These pulleys include end pulleys which are used for driving the belt and intermediate pulleys which have a V-shape contour to retain and transport the grain, via the belt. The bulk material or grain is generally supplied to the belt conveyor at an inlet and discharged from the belt conveyor at an outlet of the conveyor assembly. 
     When needed, there are two primary devices used in the bulk material handling industry to remove product or granular material from a belt conveyor at intermediate locations along its length. These devices are known as trippers or plows, which can be designed as stationary or moveable members. Typically these types of applications have been designed and used with open style belt conveyors over the years. The use of open belt conveyors is common throughout many industries. However, some industries are placing more of a restraint on the use of open systems due to safety and environmental concerns. Other methods to accomplish the same purpose as intermediate discharge is by using multiple conveyor systems at each point where a discharge is required. This method, however, is a very expensive alternative and also requires more space to accommodate for the multiple conveyors. 
     With more safety, environmental and ecological restraints being placed on the belt conveyor industry, the enclosed roller belt conveyor has become more widely accepted and required in handling certain products in many industries. The enclosed roller belt conveyor is designed with an encasement surrounding the belt and mechanical components, thus providing an enclosure for transporting material and confining the airborne particles. These airborne particles caused from transporting and transferring products can have adverse effects. For example, in the grain industry, the containment of dust substantially reduces the risk of explosions. Also, at port facilities, the loading of ships with the enclosed belt eliminates the airborne dust particles that can negatively effect the environment. Additionally, the belt support rollers are within the enclosure and remove the risk of injury from these rotating components and moving belt. Therefore, this style of conveyor addresses the safety, environmental and ecological concerns related to many industries. 
     The dilemma facing the designers of enclosed roller belt conveyor systems is to incorporate features of the open style belt conveyor without the boundary of the enclosure, while maintaining the concerns discussed above. For example, one type of enclosed intermediate discharged system employs a belt conveyor assembly which ramps up or elevates the belt progressively over an extended length up to a discharge area where the belt is routed about a lower set of pulleys creating a stepped shape along the belt conveyor. At this stepped region, a tiltable bucket or direction member captures the bulk material dropping from the elevated portion of the belt conveyor to the lower portion of the belt conveyor to provide an intermediate discharge in this stepped area. If this discharge member or bucket is again actuated, the bulk material is simply dropped along the belt conveyor to a final outlet destination without having an intermediate discharge. 
     However, this type of system has many disadvantages. For example, by ramping up the conveyor assembly, this requires additional power output to drive the overall conveyor assembly and also requires a longer intermediate discharge region up to and generally over forty (40) feet long, which is elevated from a beginning point to an ending point of over generally four (4) feet. This prevents having several intermediate discharges positioned relatively close to one another, thereby, in some instances, requiring multiple conveyor assemblies to achieve multiple intermediate discharges. Additionally, these types of systems generally may not be retrofitted with existing conveyor belt assemblies due to the size and overall construction involved, thereby adding additional costs should it be desired to have an intermediate discharge along a conveyor assembly. Finally, these types of conveyor assemblies may only be driven in a single direction because of the step formed in the conveyor, thereby inhibiting a bi-directional operation of the conveyor assembly. 
     What is needed then is an improved intermediate discharge for an enclosed roller belt conveyor assembly, which does not suffer from the above-mentioned disadvantages. This will, in turn, enable bi-directional movement of the belt conveyor; reduce the power consumption generally required for intermediate discharge operations; provide a more compact and versatile intermediate discharge assembly, which can be retrofitted to existing conveyor belt assemblies; and provide an intermediate discharge assembly that is shorter in length and narrower in width to enable multiple intermediate discharges within a smaller space without having to configure the conveyor belt in a stepped configuration. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide such an intermediate discharge for an enclosed roller belt conveyor assembly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the teachings of one preferred embodiment of the present invention, an intermediate discharge assembly to remove granular material from a conveyor belt used in an enclosed roller belt conveyor assembly includes a first pair of leading and trailing pulleys, a second pair of leading and trailing pulleys and a plow. The first pair of leading and trailing pulleys is operable to support the conveyor belt in a substantially concave manner. The second pair of leading and trailing pulleys is operable to support the conveyor belt in a substantially flat manner. The plow is positioned between the first and second pairs of leading and trailing pulleys and is operable to remove the granular material from the conveyor belt. When the first pair of leading and trailing pulleys supports the conveyor belt, the plow is elevated above the conveyor belt, such that the granular material passes through the intermediate discharge assembly. When the second pair of leading and trailing pulleys supports the conveyor belt, the plow is positioned atop the substantially flat conveyor belt, such that the granular material is removed from the conveyor belt. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the intermediate discharge assembly to remove granular material from a conveyor belt used in an enclosed roller belt conveyor assembly includes a plow support frame platform and a plow. The plow support frame platform is positioned below the conveyor belt and is operable to be located in a first position and a second position. The plow is positioned above the conveyor belt and is operable to be located in a first position and a second position. When the plow support frame platform and the plow are each located in the first position, the conveyor belt passes over the plow support frame platform and the granular material passes through the intermediate discharge assembly. When the plow support frame platform and the plow are located in the second position, the plow support frame platform is elevated from the first position to substantially support the conveyor belt and the plow is lowered atop the conveyor belt to substantially remove the granular material from the conveyor belt. 
     In yet another preferred embodiment, a method to remove granular material at an intermediate location along a conveyor belt used in an enclosed roller belt assembly is provided. This method includes locating the conveyor belt at a first position to enable the granular material to pass by an intermediate location. This method further includes elevating the conveyor belt to a second position at the intermediate location to permit removal of the granular material at the intermediate location. 
     Use of the present invention provides an intermediate discharge assembly to remove granular material from a conveyor belt used in an enclosed roller belt conveyor assembly. As a result, the aforementioned disadvantages associated with existing conveyor assemblies have been substantially reduced or eliminated. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Still other advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the following specification and by reference to the drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an enclosed roller belt conveyor assembly delivering granular material from a first location to a second location according to the teachings of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the belt conveyor in the enclosed roller belt conveyor assembly illustrating the material flow along an intermediate discharge according to the teachings of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an end view illustrating the intermediate discharge along the intermediate discharge section according to the teachings of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the intermediate discharge section according to the teachings of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 a  is an enlarged side elevational view of a portion of the intermediate discharge section according to the teachings of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged top view of the intermediate discharge section according to the teachings of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 a  is an enlarged top view of a portion of the intermediate discharge section according to the teachings of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged end view of the intermediate discharge section according to the teachings of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a portion of the intermediate discharge section according to the teachings of the present invention; and 
     FIGS. 8 a - 8   e  illustrate perspective views of the intermediate discharge section in operation. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment concerning an intermediate discharge for an enclosed roller belt conveyor assembly is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. Moreover, while the present invention is described in detail below with reference to grain conveyor assemblies, the present invention is clearly not limited to only grain conveyor assemblies and may include any type of conveyor assembly to transport any type of bulk material. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a grain conveyor assembly  10  for transporting granular material or grain  12  from a first location  14  to a second location  16  is shown. The grain conveyor assembly  10  may also deliver the grain  12  to an intermediate location  18 , via an intermediate discharge section  20 , further discussed herein. The grain conveyor assembly  10  includes a telescopic tail section  22 , a head section  24 , an intermediate inlet section  26 , intermediate sections  28 , with the intermediate discharge section  20  positioned therebetween. It should be noted that while a pair of intermediate sections  28  are shown in FIG. 1, along with a single intermediate discharge section  20 , those skilled in the art will appreciate that depending on the particular configuration desired, multiple intermediate inlet sections  26 , intermediate discharge sections  20  and intermediate sections  28  may be included to lengthen the conveyor assembly  10 , as well as to provide additional inputs and outputs along the length of the conveyor assembly  10 . Moreover, in conveyor assemblies, which are over about two-hundred feet (200 ft) in length, a gravity take-up tail section may be employed. 
     The telescopic tail section  18  is a conventional telescopic tail section as is known in the grain conveyor art and is preferably a Brock type telescopic tail section available from Chore-Time Brock of Milford, Ind. The telescopic tail section  22  includes a winged tail pulley  30  in which a conveyor belt  32  rides. The winged tail pulley  30  includes a re-loading feature which is well known in the art that is capable reloading any grain which may be displaced from the conveyor belt  32 , via paddles  34  located about the circumference of the tail pulley  30 . 
     The telescopic tail section  22  is substantially housed within a sealed outer housing  36 , thereby protecting the grain  12  being transported on the conveyor belt  32  from the environment. The winged tail pulley  30  is operable to be telescopically adjusted between the range of about one inch (1″) to about thirty inches (30″) along the longitudinal axis of the conveyor assembly  10  using conventional telescopic adjustment techniques, thereby enabling tension adjustment on the conveyor belt  32 . The overall length of the telescopic tail section is about six feet-three inches (6′-3″) and may be separated from the intermediate inlet section  22  along an abutting joint or seam  38 . 
     The head section  24  is used for driving the conveyor belt  32  along the conveyor assembly  10 , via a head pulley  40 . Here again, the head section  24  is a conventional head section for a grain conveyor assembly and is preferably a Brock head section also available from Chore-Time Brock of Milford, Ind. The head pulley  40  is driven by a High Torque Drive (HTD) which includes a reduction gear box in communication with the head pulley  40 , via a belt drive, or other appropriate drive. The head pulley  40  is substantially cylindrical in shape, such that the conveyor belt  32  is driven along a substantially planar surface. The structure of the head section  24  includes a sealed housing  42  having an access panel  44  and a discharge outlet  46  extending from a discharge chute  48 . As the head pulley  40  is rotated clockwise at a speed between about 0-200 revolutions per minute (RPM), up to about 60,000 BU/HR (bushels per hour) of grain  12  is delivered from the discharge chute  48  at the discharge outlet  46  to the second location  16 . The second location  16  may be a grain barge, freight train, grain hauling trucks etc. Alternatively, the second location  16  may also be an additional grain conveyor assembly or other storage facilities, such as a grain elevator. The head section  24  is about four feet (4′) in length and is joined to one of the intermediate sections  28 , via an abutting joint or seam  50 . 
     The intermediate inlet section  26  is operable to receive the grain  12  from the first location  14 , via an inlet opening  52  of an inlet duct  54 . Here again, the first location  14  will generally be a grain storage facility such as a grain elevator or grain silo or other storage facilities for fertilizer, seed, etc. However, the first location  14  may also be a grain hauling vehicle as noted with respect to the second location  16 , as well as an additional conveyor assembly. The inlet duct  52  is coupled to a sealed housing  56  which houses the intermediate inlet section  26 . The intermediate inlet section  26  is coupled to the telescopic tail section  22 , via the abutting joint  38  and to the intermediate discharge section  20 , via an abutting joint  58 . The intermediate inlet section  26  is about eight feet (8′) in length and includes at least three idler pulleys  60  spaced about three feet (3′) apart from one another along the sealed housing  56 . The idler pulleys  60  are preferably the idler pulleys disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 09/099,971, filed Jun. 19, 1998, entitled “Idler Pulley For A Conveyor Assembly”, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The use of three idler pulleys  60  positioned in relative close proximity to one another (i.e., approximately three feet (3)) provides additional support as the grain  12  drops onto the conveyor belt  32 , via the inlet duct  52 . This substantially evenly dissipates the force generated by the granular material  12  flowing upon the conveyor belt  32 . 
     The first intermediate section  28  is coupled to the intermediate discharge section  20 , via an abutting joint  62  and coupled to adjacent intermediate section  28 , via an abutting joint  64 . Here again, each intermediate section  28  includes an enclosed housing  66  to protect the grain  12  from the environment and the environment from dust and dirt as the grain  12  is transported along the conveyor belt  32 . Each intermediate section  28  is about eight feet (8′) in length and includes two (2) idler pulleys  60  which are positioned at about four feet (4′) apart from one another. In this way, by connecting multiple intermediate sections  28 , each idler pulley  60  is generally spaced at about four feet (4′) apart from one another, which is sufficient to support the load of the grain  12  upon the conveyor belt  32 , except at the inlet duct  52  where the idler pulleys  60  include the three pulleys  60  within a total length of about eight feet (8′), providing further support for the grain  12  as it is dropped or flows upon the conveyor belt  32 . 
     Each idler pulley  60  in the intermediate inlet section  26  and intermediate sections  28  are secured within its respective housing, via adjustable bearing stiffness plates  68  having adjustment slots (not shown). The adjustment slots enable the bearing stiffness plates  68  to be moved along the longitudinal axis of the conveyor assembly  10  either fore or aft by about 0.75 inches, independently on either side of the idler pulley  60 . In this way, the idler pulley  60  can be positioned substantially perpendicular to the conveyor belt  32  or angled a few degrees relative to this perpendicular position, which enables belt training capability for the conveyor belt  32 . In other words, upon adjusting the bearing stiffness plates  68 , either fore or aft on either side of the idler pulley  60 , a tension and frictional force is applied to the conveyor belt  32  as it freely rolls along the idler pulley  60 . This enables the conveyor belt  32  to be adjusted to the right or left of the longitudinal center line of the idler pulley  60  to substantially center the conveyor belt  32  along the entire conveyor assembly  10 . This adjustment provides further versatility should it be required to form the conveyor assembly  10  along an arcuate curve versus along a straight axial path. 
     Turning now to FIGS. 4-7, the intermediate discharge section  20  according to the teachings of the present invention is shown in further detail. The intermediate discharge section  20  enables various discharge locations intermediate the outlet  46  essentially anywhere along the conveyor assembly  10 . The intermediate discharge section  20  may also be easily retrofitted to any existing conveyor assemblies  10  simply by separating abutting joints and installing the intermediate discharge section  20  where an intermediate discharge is desired. Here again, it should be noted that multiple intermediate discharge sections  20  may be dispersed along the length of the conveyor assembly  10  to provide multiple intermediate discharges at multiple intermediate discharge locations  18 . 
     The intermediate discharge section  20  is preferably sixteen feet (16′) in length, twice as long as the standard intermediate section  28 . The intermediate discharge section  20  consists of a first intermediate discharge section  70  and a second intermediate discharge section  72  joined by an abutting joint  74 . The intermediate discharge section  20  is housed within a housing  76  which provides additional height for the intermediate discharge mechanism, further discussed herein, when the conveyor belt  32  is raised during operation. The first intermediate discharge section  70  includes a pair of idler pulleys  60 , each attached to a bearing stiffness plate  68  and positioned about four feet (4′) apart as with the intermediate sections  28 . Here again, the bearing stiffness plate  68  enable the idler pulleys  60  to be adjusted fore and aft for belt training purposes. It should further be noted that the idler pulleys  60  are the same size and shape as the other idler pulleys  60  throughout the conveyor assembly, thereby providing a full belt cross section such that the conveyor capacity is not reduced through the intermediate discharge section  20 . 
     The second intermediate discharge section  72  is used to transition the conveyor belt  32  from the standard full concave cross section to a lesser concave cross section. This is accomplished by a pair of leading and trailing edge transition idler pulleys  78 , which are again attached to bearing stiffness plates  68 , enabling fore and aft adjustment of the transition idler pulleys  78 . The transition idler pulleys  78  have a shallower profile as compared to a standard pulleys  60  (see FIG.  5 ), thereby providing a shallower concave cross section to the conveyor belt  32 . Positioned between the transition idler pulleys  78  is a plow support frame  80  having a plow support frame platform  90  which is preferably covered with an ultra high molecular polyethylene and defines a substantially V-shaped opening  82 , further discussed herein. The conveyor belt  32  passes over the plow support frame platform  90  when the intermediate discharge section  20  is deactivated to allow the grain  12  to pass by this discharge location or any immediate location  18 , to continue to a subsequent intermediate discharge or a discharge from the head section  24  of the conveyor assembly  10 . The second intermediate discharge section  72  also includes a leading flat roller  84  and a trailing flat roller  86 , which are employed to force the conveyor belt  32  into a flat configuration when an intermediate discharge is desired. 
     The operation of the intermediate discharge section is shown in FIGS. 8 a - 8   e , with the conveyor belt  32  not shown for clarity. In use, the plow support frame  80  is normally in a “down” position when the intermediate discharge is deactivated (see FIG. 8 a ). In this location, the conveyor belt  32  rides atop the idler pulleys  60  and transition idler pulleys  78 , thereby maintaining the concave cross section of the conveyor belt  32  to transport the grain  12  through the intermediate discharge section  20 . Once activated, the plow support frame  80 , along with the leading flat roller and trailing flat roller  86  are raised to the “up” position with a pair of synchronized linear actuators  88  (see FIG. 8 b ) or manually actuated. In the “up” position, the leading flat roller  84  and trailing flat roller  86  which are attached to the plow support frame  80  supports the conveyor belt  32  and forces the conveyor belt  32  into a flat profile. At this point of operation, the conveyor belt  32  is also supported by the plow support frame platform  90 . 
     Next, a V-shaped plow  92  formed from steel, lined with ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, or similar material used to extend the life of the plow, having a hardened steel edge  94  is lowered by three (3) parallel linkage arms  96  that are attached to the top of the housing  76  (see FIG. 8 c ). A mechanical actuator  98 , such a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder or a manual lever may be used to rotate a shaft  100  connected to the parallel linkage arms  96 . The mechanical actuator  98  may also be equipped with limit switches to accurately position the plow height. With the edge  94  of the plow  92  lowered into contact with the top of the conveyor belt  32 , pressure is exerted on the conveyor belt  32  by the plow weight (see FIG. 8 d ). It should be noted that spring mechanisms or other weights can also be used or applied to the plow  92  to insure that the plow  92  rides or “floats” atop the conveyor belt  32 . The plow  92  “floats” atop the conveyor belt  32  by way of slotted holes  102  (see FIG. 8 e ) positioned within the parallel linkages  96  that connect the plow  92  to the linkages  96 . 
     The down pressure applied by the plow  92  is able to substantially completely remove all material and product from the conveyor belt  32  because of this floating feature and because of the V-shaped groove  82  defined within the plow support frame platform  90 . In this regard, by providing an opening or groove  82  which substantially corresponds to the plow shape  92 , the conveyor belt  32  is able to flex in this region, thereby insuring that the edge  94  of the plow  92  rides substantially atop the entire conveyor belt  32  to insure complete discharge of the granular material. Moreover, by having the plow support frame platform  90  synchronized in movement, via the pair of synchronized linear actuators  88 , this insures that the plow  92  and plow support frame  90  are flat in contact with one another so that substantially all the granular material  12  is removed from the belt  32 . As such, in the “up” position, when pressure is exerted on the conveyor belt  32 , the conveyor belt  32  will contact the plow support frame platform  90 , which includes the ultra high molecular weight polyethylene liner, while the conveyor belt  32  rides atop the leading flat roller  84  and trailing flat roller  86 , which are elevated above the transition idler pulleys  78 , thereby removing the support of the transition idler pulleys  78  from the conveyor belt  32 . It should also be noted that the plow  92  can be deployed onto either an empty conveyor belt  32  or a conveyor belt  32  containing the granular material  12 , without any adverse effect to the conveyor belt  32 . 
     As the plow  92  rides atop the conveyor belt  32 , the grain  12  is deflected from the curved plow  92  which rolls and propels the grain  12  from the blade edge  94 . This curved or arcuate profile is superior to conventional straight profile plows such that the grain  12  is propelled by the constant motion of the conveyor belt  32  passing under the plow blade  94 . The grain  12  deflected from the plow  92  is discharged and channeled into side discharge chutes  104 , which receive the grain  12  through openings  106  in the side of the second intermediate discharge section  72 . The side discharge chutes  104  deliver the granular material  12  to an outlet  108  for subsequent delivery to the intermediate location  18 . The side discharge chutes  104  are also lined with ultra high molecular weight polyethylene or other appropriate material to provide extended life to the metal housing of the discharge chutes  104 . It should further be noted that by providing a pair of openings  106  on either side of the V-shaped plow  96 , this provides an even distribution force to the conveyor belt  32 , thereby preventing the conveyor belt  32  from being forced to one side or the other, which commonly occurs with a single angled plow system. Additionally, this enables the side discharge chutes  104  to only extend out slightly from the conveyor assembly  10  on either side of the conveyor assembly  10  because each discharge chute only receives about half or a portion of the grain  12 , thereby providing for a more compact design of the intermediate discharge section  20 . 
     When the intermediate discharge is deactivated, the reverse procedure occurs. In this regard, the plow  92  raises out of the grain flow area and the plow support frame  80  lowers to the “down” position, such that the conveyor belt  32  now rides atop the leading or trailing transition idler pulleys  78  providing for a substantially concave cross section to carry the grain  12  through the intermediate discharge section  20 . 
     Returning to FIG. 2, the plow  92  may also be repositioned to accommodate for product flow coming from the opposite direction along the conveyor belt  32  so that the conveyor assembly can accommodate bi-directional movement of the conveyor belt  32 . In this regard, the plow  92 , parallel linkage arms  96 , actuator  98  and shaft  100  may simply be reversed along with the plow support frame platform  90  to accommodate for a reversed granular material flow, along conveyor belt  32 . Alternatively, the plow  92  can be configured to provide for bi-directional movement of the conveyor belt  32  by simply providing a plow  109 , which is substantially diamond shaped to accommodate for granular flow in either direction. Here again, the plow  109  may simply be connected to the parallel linkage members  96  and raised and lowered as previously described to provide two (2) opposed plow faces  110  and  112 . Likewise, a diamond shaped groove (not shown) can simply be used in place of the V-shaped groove  82  to accommodate for the configuration of the blade  109 . In this way, the conveyor belt  32  may be driven in a first direction or a second direction while providing an intermediate discharge without having to provide further reconfiguration of the intermediate discharge section  20 . 
     The intermediate discharge section  20  therefore provides an intermediate discharge capability which may be retrofitted to existing conveyor assemblies and provides a configuration which is lower in profile that existing systems. This lower and narrower profile enables multiple intermediate discharge outlets to be positioned adjacent to one another should this be desired. The intermediate discharge section  20  may also be configured to handle bi-directional movement of the conveyor belt  32 , as opposed to existing stepped intermediate sections which cannot be configured in this fashion. The intermediate discharge section  20  also provides a shaped plow  20 , which is lined and curved to provide a propelled motion of the grain  12 , thereby exhibiting superior displacement of granular material  12  out of openings  106 . The floating plow  92 , via the slots  102  and the V-shaped groove  82  also enables substantially all of the granular material  12  to be removed from the conveyor belt  32  when the intermediate discharge section  20  is put into use. The intermediate discharge section  20  is also generally formed from a galvanized steel that essentially bolts to existing conveyor assemblies and provides the features of external mounted bearings  114  and actuators  88  and  98 , which are not exposed to contaminants or other dust within the conveyor assembly, along with a dust seal  116  which seals the moveable plow support frame  80  relative to the housing  76  upon moving up or down. It should further be noted that each external mounted bearing  114  will also include a polymer seal between the bearing and the housing  76 , as set forth in U.S. Ser. No. 09/099,971, filed Jun. 19, 1998, entitled “Idler Pulley For A Conveyor Assembly”, hereby incorporated by reference. 
     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.