Patent ID: 6068105
Filing Date: 2000-05-30
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A pusher assembly for diverting articles on a conveyor, the conveyor moving the articles from an upstream portion of the conveyor to a downstream portion of the conveyor, said pusher assembly comprising:a pusher having upstream and downstream ends and an intermediate portion between said upstream end and said downstream end;a driver coupled to said pusher, said driver initially pivoting said pusher about a point spaced downstream from said downstream end of said pusher and moving said pusher in an arcuate path from an initial retracted position to a first diverting position whereby said upstream end initially contacts an article for moving the article laterally across the conveyor, said driver then pivoting said pusher about said upstream end of said pusher and moving said pusher to a second diverting position, said driver then pivoting said pusher about said intermediate portion in a first direction and moving said pusher to a third diverting position, and said driver then pivoting said pusher about said intermediate portion in an opposite direction from said first direction to return said pusher to said initial retracted position.