Patent ID: 6550602
Filing Date: 2003-04-22
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
An apparatus for controlling the flow of articles, comprising:a first article moving device driven in a first direction to move articles therealong in said first direction, and a second article moving device driven in an opposite direction to move articles therealong in said opposite direction; said first and second moving devices spaced apart and generally parallel so as to define a space therebetween; a movable transport member disposed between and movable along said space, said transport member further comprising a rotatable member drivingly engaged on a common drive surface simultaneously by said first and second article moving devices so that said rotatable member continuously rotates as either of said article moving devices move and said transport member travels along said space if a relative speed difference exists between said article moving devices causing said transport member to travel in the direction of the faster of said article moving devices; and a rotating article transfer member carried by said transport member to rotate and transfer articles between said first and second article moving devices as said rotatable member rotates.