Patent ID: 6152291
Filing Date: 2000-11-28
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
An apparatus for controlling the flow of articles comprising:an infeed conveyor for transporting said articles;an outfeed conveyor;a support structure supporting said infeed conveyor and said outfeed conveyor wherein a substantial portion of the run of said conveyors are parallel to each other providing a space therebetween;a transport member carried by said support structure in said space between said infeed and outfeed conveyors;infeed drive mechanism driving said infeed conveyor in one direction;outfeed drive mechanism driving said outfeed conveyor in a second direction;a variable speed control operatively connected to said outfeed drive mechanism for varying the speed of said outfeed conveyor;a rotatable member carried by said transport member;drivers carried by said infeed conveyor engaging said rotatable member for rotating said rotatable member;drivers carried by said outfeed conveyor engaging said rotatable member for rotating said rotatable member and causing said transport member to move along a path parallel to said infeed conveyor and said outfeed conveyor at a speed and direction depending on the relative speed of said infeed conveyor and said outfeed conveyor;an article deflecting member carried by said transport member for deflecting articles from said infeed conveyor to said outfeed conveyor;said drivers carried by said infeed conveyor include driving lugs equally spaced along the infeed conveyor; andsaid rotatable member having sockets meshing with said driving lugs for rotating said rotatable member.