Patent ID: 7931137

Claim:
A case turner comprising: a powered roller conveyor including opposite first and second sides defining the width of the conveyor and a plurality of rollers having axes of rotation perpendicular to the first and second sides and spaced apart along the length of the roller conveyor and rotating to convey supported cases along the length of the conveyor in a downstream direction; an obstruction defining a vertical pivot axis along the conveyor at a position closer to the first side of the conveyor about which cases in contact with the obstruction pivot toward the second side as the supporting rollers rotate; wherein at least one of the rollers is an assist roller disposed downstream of the pivot axis and rotating at a higher tangential speed at the second side of the conveyor than at the first side of the conveyor to assist in the pivoting of the cases about the pivot axis; and wherein the assist roller at the second side of the roller conveyor is elevated above the level of the other rollers.