Patent ID: 7175017
Filing Date: 2007-02-13
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A mechanism, for use in connection with an article conveyor system conveying a plurality of articles along a predetermined axial path, so as to ensure that each one of the plurality of articles being conveyed along the predetermined axial path can attain a predeterminedly proper orientation, comprising: a tubular housing, defined around a longitudinal axis which is coaxially aligned with the axis defined by the predetermined axial path along which the plurality of articles are being conveyed, for peripherally enclosing a space through which the plurality of articles are adapted to be conveyed along the predetermined axial path; said tubular housing comprising a framework having a plurality of sides fixedly positioned with respect to each other, and a plurality of conveyor mechanisms rotatably mounted within each one of said plurality of sides of said framework so as to form, with said plurality of said sides of said framework, a plurality of side wall members wherein said plurality of side wall members are fixedly positioned with respect to each other, wherein said plurality of side wall members are fixedly positioned with respect to said longitudinal axis of said tubular housing, wherein said plurality of side wall members peripherally enclose said space through which the plurality of articles are adapted to be conveyed along the predetermined axial path, and wherein, depending upon the particular angular orientation of said tubular housing with respect to said longitudinal axis thereof, any one of said plurality of side wall members, comprising said plurality of conveyor mechanisms, can serve as a floor support member along which any one of the plurality of articles can be supported while being conveyed along the predetermined axial path; and means for angularly rotating said tubular housing around said longitudinal axis thereof so as to alter said angular orientation of said tubular housing with respect to said longitudinal axis thereof such that, if a particular one of the plurality of articles being conveyed through said tubular housing, as a result of being disposed upon said plurality of conveyor mechanisms forming one of said plurality of side wall members of said tubular housing serving as said floor support member for the particular one of the plurality of articles, has an improper orientation, another one of said plurality of side wall members of said tubular housing will be angularly moved to a position so as to subsequently serve as said floor support member for the particular one of the plurality of articles so that the particular one of the plurality of articles will now be disposed in a proper orientation.