Patent ID: 6725998
Filing Date: 2004-04-27
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
An apparatus for controlling the flow of articles, comprising:a main conveyor transporting said articles having an infeed section and an outfeed section; an infeed conveyor positioned adjacent said infeed section of said main conveyor for receiving articles from said main conveyor; a drive mechanism operably coupled to said infeed conveyor driving said infeed conveyor in a first direction; an outfeed conveyor positioned adjacent said outfeed section of said main conveyor; said infeed conveyor and said outfeed conveyor having sections that are generally parallel to each other; a variable speed drive mechanism operably coupled to said outfeed conveyor driving said outfeed conveyor in a second direction opposite said first direction; a condition responsive device positioned adjacent said outfeed section of said main conveyor for sensing a backup of articles being fed from said outfeed conveyor onto said outfeed section of said main conveyor and generating an article backup signal responsive thereto; and said condition responsive device coupled to said variable speed drive for varying the speed of said outfeed conveyor responsive to said backup signal for controlling the flow of articles from said outfeed conveyor back onto said outfeed section of said main conveyor.