Patent ID: 8020691

Claim:
A belt conveyor comprising: a conveying upper run including: a feed end, a discharge end, and a return lower run ( 42 ); characterized in that the conveying upper run comprises a curved extension ( 43 ), which is concave and ascending and includes an inlet lower portion ( 43 a ) and an outlet upper portion ( 43 b ), the latter ending at the discharge end ( 41 b ) of the conveying upper run ( 41 ); wherein the belt conveyor provides to material on the belt conveyor a path that is substantially coplanar and opposite in relation to that imparted to the material in the inlet portion ( 43 a ), said ascending curved path providing a curvature for producing a centrifugal force on the material conveyed at a determined belt speed, wherein the centrifugal force is sufficient to maintain the material seated against the curved extension ( 43 ) of the conveying upper run ( 41 ), until reaching the discharge end ( 41 b ), wherein said curved extension ( 43 ) has a single radius of curvature and has a material support face having opposite marginal portions ( 43 c ), each seated on one respective support roller ( 44 ) having a radius of curvature defines the radius of curvature of the curved extension.