Patent ID: 7273143
Filing Date: 2007-09-25
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A rotary board turner comprising: a conveyor having discreet board engaging means in spaced relation therealong defining board carrying spaces therebetween for carrying, at a downstream translation velocity along a flow path, a board aligned across a downstream flow direction of said conveyor, an acceleration means for accelerating, relative to said conveyor and said conveyor velocity, the board in a board carrying space of said board carrying spaces of said conveyor to a downstream-most end of said board caring space, a bumper stop in a board engaging position in said flow path so as to engage the board in said board carrying space when at said downstream-most end and so as to inhibit motion of the board in said downstream flow direction while the board is in contact with said conveyor and while said conveyor is simultaneously in motion at said translation velocity, at least one driven rotator arm rotatably mounted under said conveyor for rotating to engage an underside of the board, once the board is engaged against said bumper stop, so as to rotate the board one hundred eighty degrees about its longitudinal axis, and up and over said bumper stop in said down-stream flow direction, and so as to deposit the board towards an upstream end of said board carrying space without requiring a change in or stopping of said translation velocity of said conveyor.