Patent ID: 6848568

Claim:
A method for moving bulk material through a bulk material distribution system, the system having an independently-operable first conveyor up-stream, in series with, and adjacent to an independently-operable second conveyor, said method comprising the steps of: operating the first conveyor to deliver bulk material therein toward the second conveyor; detecting if the bulk material within the first conveyor has formed into a semi-solid cohesive block of material using a height sensor; reducing the speed of the first conveyor when the bulk material is substantially adjacent to the second conveyor and operating the second conveyor at a speed greater than the reduced speed of the first conveyor when a semi-solid cohesive block of material has been detected; and, operating the first conveyor at a speed substantially the same as the speed of the second conveyor when a semi-solid cohesive block of material ceases to be detected.