Methods and apparatus for conveying packages in manner minimizing jams
First Claim
1. A conveying apparatus for conveying packages in a direction of travel, comprising:
- an upstream conveying surface for conveying packages;
a downstream conveying surface;
an intermediate conveying surface situated between said upstream and downstream conveying surfaces for transferring packages from said upstream conveying surface to said downstream conveying surface, said intermediate conveying surface having a minimum width less than a width of each of said upstream and downstream conveying surfaces; and
a driven discharge member disposed adjacent a first lateral edge of said intermediate conveying surface and including a discharge surface of higher coefficient of friction than said intermediate conveying surface and projecting above said intermediate conveying surface, said discharge surface driven in a direction away from a center line of said intermediate conveying surface for removing wide packages from said intermediate conveying surface in a laterally outward direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Packages are conveyed in a direction of travel by transferring the packages from an upstream conveying surface to an intermediate conveying surface, conveying the packages along the intermediate conveying surface, and transferring the packages from the intermediate conveyor surface to a downstream conveying surface. A discharge member situated along at least one laterally outer edge of the intermediate conveying surface is driven such that a discharge surface thereof situated above the intermediate conveying surface moves in a direction away from a center line of the intermediate conveyor and pulls wide packages from the intermediate conveying surface, i.e., packages having a width great enough to contact the discharge surface.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A conveying apparatus for conveying packages in a direction of travel, comprising:
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an upstream conveying surface for conveying packages; a downstream conveying surface; an intermediate conveying surface situated between said upstream and downstream conveying surfaces for transferring packages from said upstream conveying surface to said downstream conveying surface, said intermediate conveying surface having a minimum width less than a width of each of said upstream and downstream conveying surfaces; and a driven discharge member disposed adjacent a first lateral edge of said intermediate conveying surface and including a discharge surface of higher coefficient of friction than said intermediate conveying surface and projecting above said intermediate conveying surface, said discharge surface driven in a direction away from a center line of said intermediate conveying surface for removing wide packages from said intermediate conveying surface in a laterally outward direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of conveying packages in a direction of travel comprising the steps of:
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A) transferring the packages from an upstream conveying surface to an intermediate conveying surface; B) conveying the packages along said intermediate conveying surface; C) transferring the packages from said intermediate conveying surface to a downstream conveying surface; and D) driving a discharge member situated along a laterally outer edge of said intermediate conveying surface such that a discharge surface of said discharge member situated above said intermediate conveying surface and having a higher coefficient of friction than said intermediate conveying surface moves in a direction away from said side guide surface and tends to pull from said intermediate conveying surface wide packages having a width great enough to contact said discharge surface.
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Specification