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Apparatus for controlling the flow of articles

  • US 6,230,874 B1
  • Filed: 12/07/1999
  • Issued: 05/15/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for controlling the flow of articles, comprising:

  • a first conveyor driven in a first direction to convey articles thereon in said first direction, and a second conveyor driven in a second direction opposite to said first direction to convey articles thereon in said second direction;

    said first and second conveyors extending side-by-side and parallel with a space defined therebetween;

    a movable transport member disposed generally across and movable along said space, said transport member having a singular drive wheel drivingly engaged simultaneously on its circumference by said first and second conveyors so that said drive wheel continuously rotates as either of said first and second conveyors move and said transport member travels along said space if a relative speed difference exists between said first and second conveyors;

    an article transfer member carried by said transport member and operably disposed relative to said conveyors to contact and transfer articles from said first conveyor to said second conveyor along a transfer path; and

    wherein said article transfer member further comprises an endless drive belt disposed along said transfer path so as to contact and move articles therealong, said drive belt running in an endless path between said drive wheel and said article transfer member and drivingly engaged by a belt drive wheel mounted on and driven by said drive wheel.

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