Conveyor belt/cutting head advance mechanism

摘要

Disclosed is a conveyor belt/cutting head advancement mechanism (10). Mechanism (10) comprises a conveyor belt support structure (11) connected at one end to a conveyor belt gathering structure (12). The conveyor belt support structure (11) is typically interconnected at its forward end to a self advancing conveyor return end (not shown). Material removed from a mine face by the cutting implement is delivered to a conveyor belt supported by the support structure (11). Structure (11) comprises a plurality of structural elements (18) pivotally interconnected in a scissor-like configuration. The mid points of elements (18) are pivotally interconnected at a point coinciding with the mounting location of a conveyor belt return roller (16). At the upper pivotally interconnected extremities of elements (18), the conveyor belt advancing rollers are supported. Mounted at a location nearby the lower ends of elements (18) are ground engaging wheels (17). The conveyor belt gathering structure (12) comprises a frame (19) within which is mounted a pair of gathering roller groups (21 and 22). One or both of the gathering roller groups may be mounted upon sub-frames which may longitudinally traverse frame (19). A winch or hydraulic ram (20) may be employed to effect such longitudinal traverse. As roller groups (21) and 22) are caused to move apart, the length of belt (14) gathered thereby is many times greater than the distance through which the roller pairs (21 and 22) have separated.