Patent ID: 9469488
Filing Date: 2016-10-18
CPC Classification: B65G

Claim Text:
1. An article conveyor for conveying articles in a downstream direction along a conveyor path, the article conveyor comprising: a first belt conveyor, a second belt conveyor, and an air conveyor; the first belt conveyor extending along and defining an upstream portion of the conveyor path, the second belt conveyor extending along and defining a downstream portion of the conveyor path, the air conveyor extending along and defining an intermediate portion of the conveyor path between the upstream and downstream conveyor paths; the first belt conveyor being spaced apart from the second belt conveyor by an air gap being disposed between the first belt conveyor and the second belt conveyor, the air gap being sufficient to separate the upstream conveyor path and the downstream conveyor path; the air conveyor bridging the gap between the first belt conveyor and the second belt conveyor, the air conveyor connecting the upstream conveyor path and the downstream conveyor path, the air conveyor being disposed to receive upright articles being conveyed by the first belt conveyor and not receive tipped articles being conveyed by the first belt conveyor whereby tipped articles fall into the gap and are ejected from the article conveyor.