Patent ID: 6497321
Filing Date: 2002-12-24
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; an endless intermediate belt disposed parallel to and abutting the first and second conveyor belts and having a transfer surface; 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 mechanism for driving the intermediate belt at a speed and in a direction that depend on the first speed and the second speed; and a diverter element affixed to the intermediate belt and extending across at least a portion of the conveying surfaces of the first and second conveyor belts to divert articles in the stream on the first conveyor belt across the transfer surface of the intermediate belt onto the second conveyor belt.