Guide device for transferring articles between conveyors
First Claim
1. An apparatus for regulating and controlling the flow of articles between conveyors, said device comprising:
- a first conveyor moving in a first direction, and a second conveyor onto which articles from said first conveyor are to be transferred, said second conveyor moving generally in the same direction and parallel to said first conveyor along at least a portion thereof defining a transfer point;
a pair of relatively constant height spaced apart guide members defining an inlet on said first conveyor at said transfer point, said guide members oriented transversely so as to extend across and move articles from said first conveyor onto said second conveyor; and
said guide members defining a tortuous path for the articles that changes direction at least three times before the articles are longitudinally aligned and spaced on said second conveyor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for regulating and controlling the flow of articles between conveyors includes a first conveyor moving in a first direction and a second conveyor onto which the articles from the first conveyor are to be transferred. The second conveyor moves generally in the same direction and parallel to the first conveyor along a portion thereof defining a transfer point. A guide device defines an inlet on the first conveyor at the transfer point. The guide device is oriented so as to extend across and move articles from the first conveyor onto the second conveyor. The guide device defines the tortuous path that changes directions at least three times, for example, by three opposite radii of curvatures, such that the articles that are in direct end to end contact on the first conveyor are separated by the guide device.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus for regulating and controlling the flow of articles between conveyors, said device comprising:
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a first conveyor moving in a first direction, and a second conveyor onto which articles from said first conveyor are to be transferred, said second conveyor moving generally in the same direction and parallel to said first conveyor along at least a portion thereof defining a transfer point;
a pair of relatively constant height spaced apart guide members defining an inlet on said first conveyor at said transfer point, said guide members oriented transversely so as to extend across and move articles from said first conveyor onto said second conveyor; and
said guide members defining a tortuous path for the articles that changes direction at least three times before the articles are longitudinally aligned and spaced on said second conveyor. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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2. An apparatus for regulating and controlling the flow of articles between conveyors, said device comprising:
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a first conveyor moving in a first direction, and a second conveyor onto which articles from said first conveyor are to be transferred, said second conveyor moving generally in the same direction and parallel to said first conveyor along at least a portion thereof defining a transfer point;
a pair of spaced apart guide members defining an inlet on said first conveyor at said transfer point, said guide members oriented transversely so as to extend across and move articles from said first conveyor onto said second conveyor;
said guide members defining a tortuous path for the articles that changes direction at least three times before the articles are longitudinally aligned and spaced on said second conveyor; and
wherein said guide members comprise a first section having a first radius of curvature, a second section adjacent said first section in a moving direction of the articles and having a second radius of curvature less than said first radius of curvature, and a third section adjacent said second section in a moving direction of the articles having a radius of curvature greater than said second radius of curvature. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
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8. An apparatus for regulating and controlling the flow of articles between conveyors, said device comprising:
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a first conveyor moving in a first direction, and a second conveyor onto which articles from said first conveyor are to be transferred, said second conveyor moving generally in the same direction and parallel to said first conveyor along at least a portion thereof defining a transfer point;
a guide device defining an inlet on said first conveyor at said transfer point, said guide device oriented transversely so as to extend across and move articles from said first conveyor onto said second conveyor; and
said guide device defining a substantially constant height tortuous path of three opposite radii of curvatures for the articles such that articles in direct end-to-end contact on said first conveyor are separated by said guide device. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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9. An apparatus for regulating and controlling the flow of articles between conveyors, said device comprising:
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a first conveyor moving in a first direction, and a second conveyor onto which articles from said first conveyor are to be transferred, said second conveyor moving generally in the same direction and parallel to said first conveyor along at least a portion thereof defining a transfer point;
a guide device defining an inlet on said first conveyor at said transfer point, said guide device oriented transversely so as to extend across and move articles from said first conveyor onto said second conveyor;
said guide device defining a tortuous path of three opposite radii of curvatures for the articles such that articles in direct end-to-end contact on said first conveyor are separated by said guide device; and
wherein said guide device comprises first contact surface having a first radius of curvature, a second contact surface opposite from said first contact surface and having a second radius of curvature less than said first radius of curvature, and a third contact surface having a radius of curvature greater than said second radius of curvature. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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14. An apparatus for regulating and controlling the flow of articles between conveyors, said device comprising:
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a first conveyor moving in a first direction, and a second conveyor onto which articles from said first conveyor are to be transferred, said second conveyor moving generally in the same direction and parallel to said first conveyor along at least a portion thereof defining a transfer point;
a guide device defining an inlet on said first conveyor at said transfer point, said guide device oriented transversely so as to extend across and move articles from said first conveyor onto said second conveyor;
said guide device defining a tortuous path of three opposite radii of curvatures for the articles such that articles in direct end-to-end contact on said first conveyor are separated by said guide device; and
wherein said guide device deposits the articles back onto said first conveyor from said second conveyor wherein the articles are longitudinally spaced apart on said first conveyor upon exiting said guide device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification