Patent ID: 6382398
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
An apparatus for controlling the flow of articles, comprising:an infeed conveyor driven in a first direction to convey articles therealong in said first direction, and an outfeed conveyor driven in an opposite direction to convey articles therealong in said opposite direction; said infeed and outfeed conveyors spaced apart and generally parallel so as to define a space therebetween; a movable transport member disposed between and movable along said space, said transport member further comprising a rotatable member drivingly engaged on a common drive surface simultaneously by said infeed and outfeed conveyors so that said rotatable member continuously rotates as either of said infeed and outfeed conveyors move and said transport member travels along said space if a relative speed difference exists between said infeed and outfeed conveyors causing said transport member to travel in the direction of the faster of said infeed and outfeed conveyor; and a rotating article transfer member carried by and driven by said transport member to rotate and transfer articles between said infeed conveyor and said outfeed conveyor as said rotatable member rotates relative to said infeed and outfeed conveyors.