Improvements in or relating to sampling devices for bulk materials

931,901. Sampling apparatus. BIRMINGHAM SMALL ARMS CO. Ltd. Feb. 9, 1962 [Nov. 9, 1960], No. 38410/60. Class 58. [Also in Group XXX] A device for taking a sample from bulk material on a moving conveyer belt comprises a sample collector 12 supported by means 14, 16 above the belt, and moans 17 for moving the collector at substantially uniform speed along a path inclined to the direction of movement of the belt, the arrangement being such that the angle of inclination and speed of the collector are so determined in relation to each other and to the speed of the belt that the movement of the collector relative to the material-carrying surface of the belt is at right angles to the direction of movement of the belt. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the collector, which has an open end forming cutting edges 13, and an open bottom, is attached to a pair of chains 14 passing over sprockets 15, 16, the chains being guided by a curved track 20 so that the collector follows the shape of the belt when it is loaded; the track is spring-loaded downwardly to maintain the collector in contact with the belt. The sample collected is deposited in a shoot 22. In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the collector is attached to one end of the pivoted lever 31, the other end of the lever being connected to the piston 37 of a ram 38 which may be actuated by fluid pressure or electrical or mechanical means. A roller 40 is mounted on the lever 31 and is urged into contact with a curved cam-surface 41 by a spring 35 so that, as the collector moves across the belt,.it is constrained to follow the curve of the belt. In order to ensure that the collector clears the material on the belt during its return stroke, the roller is forced, by the spring 35, to ride over a pivoted cam 43.