Patent EA-001366-B1 (EA)
Title: Method of diverting an article from a conveyor by a pusher and device therefor
Inventor: DARWISH RAED Y
IPC: B65G47/82
Filed: 1998-09-18
Abstract: 1. A method of diverting an article (11) from a conveyor (12) to a take-away device (13) by a pusher assembly (10) with a pusher member (22), including an upstream portion (70) and a downstream portion (78), the conveyor (12) transporting the article (11) from an upstream end to a downstream end of the conveyor (12), the article (11) having a downstream end and a side, said method comprising the steps of pushing a portion of the side of the article (11) with the pusher member (22) in a generally lateral direction across the conveyor (12) and rotating the article (11) toward the take-away device (13) while pushing the side of the article (11) to direct the article (11) toward the take-away device (13), said method being characterized by pushing said portion of the side of the article (11) with the upstream end of the pusher member (22) at first and followed by rotating the pusher member (22) about the upstream end of the pusher member (22) against the side of the article (11) while pushing the article (11) across the conveyor (12). 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein rolling the pusher member (22) includes rotating the pusher member (22) about the upstream portion (70) of the pusher member (22) while pushing the side of the article (11) with upstream portion (70) of the pusher member (22). 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein rotating the article (11) includes rotating the pusher member (22) about an intermediate portion of the pusher member (22) while pushing the article  (11) with the pusher member (22). 4. The method according to any of the claims 1 to 3, wherein pushing a portion of the side of the article (11) includes rotating the pusher member (22) about a point downstream of the downstream end (74) of the pusher member (22) to move the upstream end (70) of the pusher member (22) from an initial retracted position into contact with the side of the article (11). 5. The method according to any of the claims 1 to 4, further including pivoting the pusher member (22) about an intermediate portion in a first direction to rotate the article (11). 6. The method according to claim 5, further including pivoting the pusher member (22) about the intermediate portion in an opposite direction from the first direction to return the pusher member  (22) to the initial retracted position. 7. A pusher assembly for diverting articles (11 ) on a conveyor (12), in particular for executing the method according to any of the claims 1 to 8, the conveyor (12) moving the articles (11) from an upstream portion of the conveyor to a downstream portion of the conveyor (12) and defining a direction of flow of the articles (11), said pusher assembly (10) comprising: a pusher member (22) having upstream (70) and downstream ends (74) and an intermediate portion between said upstream end (70) and said downstream end (74); a driver (motor 16, driver arm 24) coupled to said pusher member (22), said driver (motor 16, driver arm 24) moving said pusher member (22) in an arcuate path from an initial retracted position to a first diverting position for extending said pusher meber (22) across the conveyor (12) and for moving said upstream end (70) of said pusher member (22) into contact with a side of an article (22), said driver (motor 16, driver arm 24) then pivoting said pusher member (22) about said upstream end (70) of said pusher member (22) and moving said pusher member (22) to a second diverting position, said driver (motor 16, driver arm 24) then pivoting said pusher member (22) about said intermediate portion in a first direction and moving said pusher member (22) to a third diverting position, and said driver (motor 16, driver arm 24) then pivoting said pusher about said intermediate portion in an opposite direction from said first direction for disengaging said pusher member (22) from an article (11) and for moving said pusher member (22) out of the path of articles (11) on the conveyor (12) until said pusher member (22) is returned to said initial retracted position. 8. A pusher assembly according to claim 7, wherein said driver (motor 16, driver arm 24) pivoting said pusher member (22) about a point spaced downstream from said downstream end of said pusher member (22). 9. A pusher assembly according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said driver (motor 16, driver arm 24) moves said pusher member (22) in a cycloidal path. 10. A pusher assembly according to any of the claims 7 to 9, wherein said pusher member (22) comprises a pusher arm (30) and a motion imparting arm (32), said pusher arm (30) including said upstream end (70) and said downstream end (74), and said driver (motor 16, driver arm 24) being coupled to said motion imparting arm (32). 11. A pusher assembly according to claim 10, wherein said pusher arm (30) and said motion imparting arm (32) are connected in a L-shaped manner. 12. A pusher assembly according to any of the claims 7 to 11, wherein said driver includes a motor (16). 13. A pusher assembly according to claim 12, wherein said driver further includes a driver arm (24) drivingly coupled to said motor (16), said motor (16) moving said driver arm (24) in a circular path in one of a clockwise direction and a counter clockwise direction. 14. A pusher assembly according to any of the claims 7 to 13, further comprising a linkage member (54), said linkage member (54) having a first end (56) and a second end (57), said first end (56) being adapted to pivotally couple to a fixed member (frame 14), and said second end (57) being pivotally coupled to said intermediate portion of said pusher member (22). 15. A pusher assembly according to any of the claims 7 to 14, wherein said fixed member is a frame (14) and said linkage arm (54) and said pusher member (22) pivoting about said first end (56) of said linkage member (54) when said driver (motor 16, driver arm 24) moves said pusher member (22) in said arcuate path. 16. A pusher assembly according to claim 14 or 15, wherein said downstream end (74) of said pusher member (22) includes a distal end, said linkage member (54) being pivotally coupled to said pusher frame (14) downstream from said downstream end (74) of said pusher member (22). 17. A pusher assembly according to claim 15, wherein said second end (57) of said linkage member (54) being pivotally coupled to said pusher arm (30) intermediate said importing arm (32) and said medial portion of said pusher arm (30). 18. A pusher assembly according to any of the claims 8 to 17, wherein the point spaced downstream from said downstream end of said pusher member (22) comprises said first end (56) of said linkage member (52). 19. A pusher assembly according to any of the claims 7 to 18, said pusher member (22) having a longitudinal axis, said longitudinal axis of said pusher member (22) being adapted to be generally parallel with the direction of flow of articles (11) on the conveyor (16) when said pusher member (22) is in said initial retracted position and being aligned with the side of an article (11) pivoting the pusher member (22). 20. A pusher assembly according to any of the claims 10 to 19, wherein said importing arm (32) includes a free end, said driver (motor 16, driver arm 24) being coupled to said free end of said importing arm (32). 21. A pusher assembly according to any of the claims 10 to 20, wherein at least one of said upstream (70) end and said downstream end (74) of said pusher arm (30) include one of a tapered portion and a rounded portion for engaging a side of an article (11). 22. A pusher assembly according to any of the claims 7 to 21, wherein said pusher member (22) includes a substantially planar pushing surface. 23. A pusher assembly according to claim 22, wherein said pusher member (22) includes spaced upper (36) and lower flanges (37) extending from said substantially planar pushing surface, said linkage member (54) being pivotally connected to said pusher by a pin member (64), said pin member (64) extending between and being coupled to said upper (36) and lower flanges (37) of said pusher member (22). 24. A pusher assembly according to claim 19, wherein said substantially planar pushing surface includes a cover (40) for further reducing the impact between the pusher and the articles (11) on the conveyor (12). 25. A pusher assembly according to any of the claims 7 to 24, wherein said free end of said driver arm (24) is pivotally coupled to said pusher by a pin (24b). 26. A pusher assembly according to any of the claims 7 to 25, wherein said driver (motor 16, driver arm 24) initially pivots said pusher member (22) and said linkage member (54) about said first end (56) of said linkage member (54) followed by driver pivoting said pusher member (22) about said upstream end (70) of said pusher member (22). 27. A pusher assembly according to any of the claims 14 to 26, wherein said pusher arm (30) and said linkage member (54) each having a longitudinal axis, said longitudinal axes of said pusher arm (30) and said linkage member (54) being substantially parallel when said pusher arm (30) is in said initial retracted position. 28. A pusher assembly according to any of the claims 12 to 27, said pusher arm (30) together with said linkage member (54) pivoting about said first end (56) of said linkage member (54) from an initial retracted position to a diverting position thereby defining a first motion, said motor (16) continuing to drive said pusher member (22) such that said pusher arm (30) pivots about the pivotal connection between said pusher arm (30) and said linkage member (54) thereby defining a second motion, said motor (16) pivoting said pusher member (22) about said second end (57) of said linkage (54) moving defining a third motion, and said motor (16) pivoting said pusher member (22) about said second end (57) of said linkage member (54) in an opposite direction from said third motion and returning said pusher member (22) to said initial retracted position thereby defining a fourth motion,