Apparatus for dividing a single file stream of conveyed containers into a plurality of separate streams

US5441142A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Krones AG Hermann Kronseder Maschinenfabrik · DE

Inventor

• Egon Schneider · Neutraubling, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 31, 1993
• Grant date: Aug 15, 1995
• Expiry date: Aug 31, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65G47/71
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Containers such as bottles are conveyed on a conveyor belt in single file between parallel infeed guide rails above its laterally opposite edges to a transition region where the parallel guide rails become confluent with smoothly S-shaped transition side rails that diverge but ultimately become parallel in a container discharge region with the conveyor belt running centrally between them. A flexible and swingable diverter blade has one end fastened down stream of the transition region and has a slider on its other freely movable end. The slider is guided on a rod that extends across and above in the belt in the upstream transition region. A controlled actuator moves the slider back and forth across the belt to swing the diverter blade in one direction for the blade to form a passageway in conjunction with one of the S-shaped side rails and then swings back to form a passageway in conjunction with the other so as to alternately divert container bottles to opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the belt. The containers encounter a separator guide rail after they pass the diverter blade which rail is arranged over the center line of the belt for cooperating with alternate S…