Patent ID: 6712195
Filing Date: 2004-03-30
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A conveyor apparatus that conveys a plurality of objects, the apparatus comprising:a conveying surface having a longitudinal length with opposite upstream and downstream ends, the conveying surface being dimensioned to support a plurality of objects conveyed on the conveying surface in a downstream direction from the conveying surface upstream end to the conveying surface downstream end; a holdback bar extending laterally across the conveying surface, the holdback bar being moveable vertically between lowered and raised positions of the holdback bar relative to the conveying surface where in the lowered position the holdback bar is adjacent the conveying surface where the holdback bar will contact objects conveyed on the conveying surface and hold back the objects from being conveyed in the downstream direction on the conveying surface and in the raised position the holdback bar is elevated above the conveying surface where the holdback bar will not contact objects conveyed on the conveying surface and allows the objects to be conveyed in the downstream direction on the conveying surface, and the holdback bar being moveable longitudinally between first and second longitudinally spaced positions of the holdback bar relative to the conveying surface where the holdback bar moves from the first position toward the second position in response to the objects conveyed on the conveying surface approaching contact with the holdback bar, and; an actuator operatively connected to the holdback bar, the actuator being selectively operable to move the holdback bar between the first position and the second position of the holdback bar relative to the conveying surface.