Patent ID: 6776277
Filing Date: 2004-08-17
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
A conveyor for transporting flat items, comprising:a series of conveyor modules which are arranged one behind another for transporting flat items in a conveying direction; a first pivot mechanism supporting a front end of each conveyor module; a second pivot mechanism supporting a rear end of each conveyor module; means for vertically displacing the front end of each conveyor module by pivoting it about the first pivot mechanism, including a first drive element for moving the conveyor module between a horizontal transport position and a pivoted recovery position; means for vertically displacing the rear end of each conveyor module by pivoting it about the second pivot mechanism, including a second drive element for moving the conveyor module between a horizontal transport position and a pivoted expulsion position; and a controller actuating the means for vertically displacing the front and rear ends of each conveyor module, whereby during a closing movement of a rear end of an expelling conveyor module wherein the expelling conveyor module is returning from the expulsion position to the horizontal transport position, the controller causes the front end of the conveyor module adjacent and downstream from the expelling conveyor module to pivot down from its horizontal transport position to the pivoted recovery position, and then return to its horizontal transport position while maintaining a position wherein its front end is below or the same height as the rear end of the expelling module, such that a flat item following the flat item just expelled is supported by both the rear end of the expelling conveyor module and the front end of the adjacent downstream conveyer module as both modules return to respective horizontal transport positions.