Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for diverting a stream of articles

US7222723B2 · kind B2 · utility

8Cited by
31References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 7, 2005
Grant dateMay 29, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 7, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65G47/5131
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Apparatus is disclosed for diverting a stream of articles, the apparatus including a framework, a first conveyor supported in the framework and conveying stream of articles along a first conveying surface, and a second conveyor supported in the framework parallel to the first conveyor and having a second conveying surface. A first drive mechanism drives the first conveyor at a first speed in a first direction, and a second drive mechanism drives the second conveyor at a second speed in a second direction opposite to the first direction. A carrier is arranged to travel along a path parallel to the first and second conveyors, and a diverter element is affixed to the carrier and extending across at least a portion of the conveying surfaces of the first and second conveyors to divert articles in the stream on the first conveyor to the second conveyor. A carrier drive mechanism is operatively configured to drive the carrier along the path at a speed and in a direction that depends on the first speed and the second speed. The carrier drive mechanism is disposed in a stationary position with reference to the framework. A controller calculates a differential speed corresponding to the diff…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.