Patent ID: 7438171

Claim:
A retractable and extendable material loader apparatus for directing material onto a conveyor, the apparatus comprising: a first tubular section having a first interior bore; a second tubular section having a second interior bore, the second interior bore communicating with the first interior bore, and the first and second tubular sections being operatively connected together for relative telescoping movement between retracted relative positions of the first and second tubular sections where the first and second interior bores have a first combined length, and extended relative positions of the first and second tubular sections where the first and second interior bores have a second combined length that is larger than the first combined length; an actuator that is operatively connected between the first and second tubular sections and is selectively operable to move the first and second tubular sections to the retracted relative positions and the extended relative positions of the first and second tubular sections; a guide surface that is fixed stationary relative to the first tubular section, the guide surface having a length that extends alongside the first tubular section and alongside the second tubular section; and, a guide surface follower that is fixed stationary relative to the second tubular section for movement of the guide surface follower along the length of the guide surface in response to the actuator moving the first and second tubular sections to the retracted relative positions and the extended relative positions.