Patent ID: 6669005
Filing Date: 2003-12-30
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A feed conveyor for depositing articles onto a downstream conveyor, comprising:an endless circulating belt having an upper conveying surface; a roller controlling a belt accumulation region of said endless circulating belt, said conveying surface having an upstream region adapted to receive a stream of articles in rows across a lateral direction of said belt, said belt circulated to move said rows in said longitudinal direction to an end of said conveying surface, wherein said endless belt is turned over at said end, wherein circulation of said belt passes said rows off of said conveying surface to be deposited onto said downstream conveyor, and said longitudinal position of said end is movable between an extended position and a retracted position passing across at least a portion of a transverse dimension of said downstream conveyor by longitudinal positioning of said roller; a first electric motor and a traction system, said traction system engaged to be translated by said second electric motor, said roller mechanically connected to said traction system to be moved longitudinally thereby; a second electric motor, wherein said conveying surface is circulated by mechanical communication from said second electric motor; and a controller operatively connected to said first and second electric motors to precisely control the position of said end and the conveying speed of said conveying surface.