Conveyor with directional fold

1 . A foldable belt-type conveyor, the conveyor comprising:

a frame;

a first conveyor portion having a first housing section connected to the frame;

a second conveyor portion having a second housing section connected to the frame and to the first housing section, at least a portion of the second housing section being inclined at a substantially fixed angle relative to horizontal;

a third conveyor portion having a third housing section, the third housing section being pivotally connected to the frame by a linkage assembly, the linkage assembly comprising:

a mounting structure disposed on an underside of the third housing section;

a first vertical support rigidly connected to the frame at a first end and pivotally connected to the mounting structure at a second end;

a telescoping arm pivotally connected to the frame at a first end and pivotally connected to the mounting structure at a second end;

a second vertical support extending from the frame;

a sliding support member, the sliding support member being pivotally connected to the mounting structure at a first end and being releasably securable to the second vertical support at a second end; and

an inclined support having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the first vertical support and the second end is connected to the frame;

a support leg pivotally coupled to the underside of the third housing section, a height of the support leg being selectively adjustable; and

a conveyor belt operably associated with each of the first conveyor portion, the second conveyor portion, and the third conveyor portion;

wherein:

the first conveyor portion is configured to receive a conveying material upon the conveyor belt;

the third housing section rotates between an operational configuration and a transportation configuration via the linkage assembly;

the sliding support member comprises a wheel disposed at the second end configured to engage with an upper surface of the inclined support when the third housing section is rotated between the transport configuration and the operational configuration;

in the operational configuration:

the third housing section is substantially co-linear with the inclined portion of the second housing section; and

the support leg is pivoted into a storage configuration whereby the support leg is substantially adjacent the third housing section; and

in the transportation configuration:

the third housing section is substantially horizontal; and

the support leg is pivoted into a substantially vertical configuration and the height is adjusted such that the support leg extends between the third housing section and a floor surface.

2 . The conveyor of claim 1 , wherein the frame further comprises a pair of receptacles configured to slidably engage with a forklift.

3 . The conveyor of claim 1 , wherein the telescoping arm includes a linear actuator.

4 . The conveyor of claim 3 , wherein the linear actuator is connected to and in data communication with an electronic controller, and the electronic controller is configured to operate the linear actuator based upon a characteristic of the conveyor.

5 . The conveyor of claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism for securing the sliding support structure to the second conveyor portion.

6 . The conveyor of claim 1 , further comprising a tensioning system configured to selectively adjust an amount of tension on the conveyor belt.

7 . The conveyor of claim 1 , wherein the frame forms a part of a trailer chassis.

8 . A conveyor, comprising:

a static conveyor housing section comprising a substantially horizontal portion and an inclined portion;

a foldable conveyor housing section, the foldable conveyor housing section being selectively rotatable between an operational configuration and a transportation configuration;

a linkage assembly configured to selectively rotate the foldable conveyor housing section between the operational configuration and the transportation configuration, the linkage assembly comprising:

a first vertical support rigidly connected to the frame at a first end, the foldable conveyor housing section being pivotally connected to a second end of the first vertical support; and

a telescoping arm pivotally connected to the foldable conveyor housing section and to the frame, wherein the telescoping arm is configured to selectively raise and lower the foldable conveyor housing section;

an inclined support connected to the frame at a first end and to the first vertical support at a second end; and

a support member pivotally connected to the foldable conveyor section at a first end and having a roller disposed at a second end, wherein the roller selectively moves along a length of the inclined support when the foldable conveyor housing section is rotated between the operational and transportation configurations;

a conveyor belt operably associated with each of the static conveyor housing section and the foldable conveyor housing section; and

a frame for supporting the static conveyor housing section and the foldable conveyor housing section, the frame comprising at least one locator tab;

wherein:

in the operational configuration, the foldable conveyor housing section is angled;

in the transportation configuration, the foldable conveyor housing section is substantially horizontal; and

the locator tab is configured to selectively engage with a material receiving bin to ensure accurate placement of the conveyor relative to the material receiving bin.

9 . The conveyor of claim 8 , further comprising a tensioning system configured to adjust an amount of tension on the conveyor belt.

10 . The conveyor of claim 8 , wherein the inclined portion of the static conveyor section and the foldable conveyor section

(a) are selectively coupled to form a continuous enclosure when the foldable conveyor housing section is in an operational configuration, and

(b) are selectively separated when the foldable conveyor housing section is in a transportation configuration.

11 . A conveyor, comprising:

a static conveyor housing section comprising a substantially horizontal portion and an inclined portion;

a foldable conveyor housing section, the foldable conveyor housing section being selectively rotatable between an operational configuration and a transportation configuration;

a linkage assembly configured to selectively rotate the foldable conveyor housing section between the operational configuration and the transportation configuration, the linkage assembly comprising:

a first vertical support rigidly connected to the frame at a first end, the foldable conveyor housing section being pivotally connected to a second end of the first vertical support; and

a telescoping arm pivotally connected to the foldable conveyor housing section and to the frame, wherein the telescoping arm is configured to selectively raise and lower the foldable conveyor housing section;

an inclined support connected to the frame at a first end and to the first vertical support at a second end; and

a support member pivotally connected to the foldable conveyor section at a first end and having a roller disposed at a second end, wherein the roller selectively moves along a length of the inclined support when the foldable conveyor housing section is rotated between the operational and transportation configurations;

a conveyor belt operably associated with each of the static conveyor housing section and the foldable conveyor housing section; and

a frame for supporting the static conveyor housing section and the foldable conveyor housing section, the frame comprising at least one locator tab;

wherein:

in the operational configuration, the foldable conveyor housing section is angled;

in the transportation configuration, the foldable conveyor housing section is substantially horizontal;

the locator tab is configured to selectively engage with a material receiving bin to ensure accurate placement of the conveyor relative to the material receiving bin; and

the support member is selectively lockable in a substantially vertical orientation when the foldable conveyor housing section is in the operational configuration.

12 . The conveyor of claim 8 , wherein the frame forms a part of a trailer chassis.

13 . A method of moving material, comprising:

providing a foldable conveyor having a frame supporting a static conveyor housing section and a foldable conveyor housing section, a conveyor belt operably associated with the static conveyor housing section and the foldable conveyor housing section, a conveyor belt tensioning system operable to selectively adjust an amount of tension in the conveyor belt; wherein the foldable conveyor housing section includes a linkage assembly, comprising:

a first vertical support rigidly connected to the frame at a first end and pivotally connected to the foldable conveyor housing section at a second end;

an inclined support connected to the frame at a first end and connected to the first vertical support at a second end;

a telescoping arm pivotally connected to the frame and the foldable conveyor section; and

a support member pivotally connected to the foldable conveyor housing section at a first end and having a roller disposed at a second end;

providing at least one material storage bin configured to receive material;

extending the telescoping arm such that the support member roller travels along a length of the inclined support until the support member is in a substantially vertical orientation and the foldable conveyor housing section is upwardly angled;

depositing material onto the conveyor belt; and

activating the conveyor belt to deposit the material into the at least one material storage bin.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising releasably securing the support member in the substantially vertical orientation.

15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising adjusting the tension in the conveyor belt via the belt tensioning system to a predetermined threshold tension based on a characteristic of the conveyor.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the frame forms a part of a trailer chassis.