Apparatus for diverting a stream of articles
US6585104B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 12, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jul 1, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 12, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G47/5131
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus for diverting a stream of articles from one conveyor to another parallel conveyor moving in an opposite direction in a conveyor bed. A diverter element is attached to a carrier that is driven along a path parallel to the two conveyors by a differential drive mechanism coupled to the drive mechanisms of the two conveyors. The differential drive mechanism responds to the difference in the speeds of the two conveyor drive mechanisms to drive the carrier and position the diverter element along the parallel conveyors. The diverter element extends at least partway across the widths of the two conveyors to guide articles on one conveyor to the other. In a preferred version, the carrier is an endless conveyor belt to which the diverter element is attached, and the differential drive mechanism includes a shaft arranged coaxially with drive or idler sprocket shafts of the conveyor belts at each end of the bed. The apparatus is useful in accumulating articles transported on a main conveyor in a first-in, first-out fashion.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.