  We report the experimental findings of formation and motion of heap in
granular materials in an inclined and vertically vibrated container. We show
experimentally how the transport velocity of heap up container is related to
the driving acceleration as well as the driving frequency of exciter. An
analogous experiment was performed with a heap-shaped Plexiglas block. We
propose that cohesion force resulted from pressure gradient in ambient gas
plays a crucial role in enhancing and maintaining a heap, and ratchet effect
causes the movement of the heap. An equation which governs the transport
velocity of the heap is presented.
