Patent ID: 6179021
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: B65B,B65G

Abstract:
A material transfer system for loading a pair of spaced receptacles with a material capable of gravitationally flowing toward the receptacles from a source and wherein the material which is gravitationally directed toward the receptacles moves unhaltingly along a path between the source and the receptacles which has a segment through which the material falls downwardly, and the spaced receptacles to be loaded define a spacing therebetween which is movable into vertical registry with the segment of the material flow path through which the material falls unhaltingly downwardly, the transfer system comprising:an elongated support frame mounted adjacent the receptacles;a divider mechanism providing two downwardly-directed flow-directing surfaces which are joined together at an apex and which diverge from one another as paths are traced downwardly along the flow-directing surfaces from the apex, and each flow-directing surface terminates at a discharge end from which material which falls upon the flow-directing surfaces is permitted to fall therefrom and move toward one of the receptacles to be loaded;means for mounting the divider mechanism along the support frame for movement along the length thereof and into and out of a position at which the divider mechanism spans and thereby covers the spacing defined between the two receptacles; andmeans for moving the divider mechanism along the length of the support frame and into a position at which the divider mechanism is positionable in vertical registry with the segment of the material path through which the material falls unhaltingly downwardly so that when the spacing defined between the receptacles is moved in vertical registry with the segment of the material flow path through which the material falls unhaltinaly downwardly, the divider mechanism is positionable in registry with the segment of the material flow path through which the material falls unhaltingly downwardly so that the material is prevented from falling into the spacing by the divider mechanism.