Automation in U.S. longwall coal mining: A state-of-the ...
The drive head of the stage loader, where it dumps coal into the panel belt conveyor, rides on the belt tail pieces on a dolly that can travel freely for a distance of 3.7–4.6 m. So as a new cut is made, the gate-end shields advance and push the cross frame and the whole stage loader a web distance ahead. (3).