Patent ID: 6666450
Filing Date: 2003-12-23
Classification: B65H,Y10S

Abstract:
A drop-box system for receiving articles conveyed by an article conveyor and for permitting the conveyed articles to be deposited into an open top storage tub, comprising:a drop-box framework adapted to be disposed adjacent to an article conveyor so as to be capable of receiving articles conveyed by the article conveyor, and adapted to be disposed above an open top storage tub by means of a predetermined space so as to permit the conveyed articles to be deposited into the storage tub; a pair of chambers defined within said drop-box framework such that a first one of said pair of chambers is disposed relatively remote from the article conveyor and the storage tub, while a second one of said pair of chambers is disposed relatively adjacent to the article conveyor and the storage tub; a platen movable along tracks, defined within said drop-box framework, between said first and second chambers defined within said drop-box framework such that when said platen is disposed within said first chamber defined within said drop-box framework, the open top of the storage tub is uncovered so as to permit the conveyed articles to pass directly from the article conveyor and into the storage tub, whereas when said platen is disposed within said second chamber defined within said drop-box framework, the open top of the storage tub is covered such that articles conveyed by the article conveyor are accumulated upon said platen; means for moving said movable platen between said first and second chambers defined within said drop-box framework; and means for covering said platen tracks and the space defined between the drop-box framework and the open top of the storage tub, when said platen is disposed within said first chamber such that the open top of the storage container is uncovered, so as to prevent any conveyed article from becoming jammed within said platen tracks, and to prevent any conveyed article from being discharged through the space defined between the drop-box framework and the open top of the storage tub, such that the conveyed articles are properly deposited into the storage tub.