Patent ID: 6585104
Filing Date: 2003-07-01
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
Apparatus for diverting a stream of articles, comprising:a first conveyor belt conveying a stream of articles along a conveying surface; a second conveyor belt disposed parallel to the first conveyor belt and having a conveying surface; a carrier arranged to travel along a path parallel to the first and second conveyor belts said path disposed laterally outward of one of said first and second conveyor belts; a first drive mechanism for driving the first conveyor belt at a first speed in a first direction; a second drive mechanism for driving the second conveyor belt at a second speed in a second direction opposite to the first direction; a differential drive for said carrier driving said carrier along said path at a speed and direction corresponding to a differential speed of said first and second speeds; and a diverter element affixed to the carrier and extending across at least a portion of the conveying surfaces of the first and second conveyor belts to divert articles in the stream from said first conveyor belt to the second conveyor belt.