A device for excavating a shaft in which a suction line extends between a mining tool and a single intermediate storage container. During the continuous operation of the mining tool, the intermediate storage chamber can be filled via the suction line to a predetermined filling level, and when said level is reached, in the event of a lack of pressure in the suction line, an ejector door can be opened to fill at least one of the conveyor containers. Based on the arrangement of the opening area of the suction line in the immediate vicinity of the mining tool, the degraded material produced when there is no pressure in the suction line can be easily evacuated after restarting the suction line.