Steerable diverter system
First Claim
1. A diverter system comprising:
- opposite sidewalls;
a plurality of wheels arranged between said opposite sidewalls, said wheels being selectively pivotable about respective generally vertical axes to divert or steer articles being conveyed therealong; and
a motorized roller having an internal motor operable to rotate a roller portion of said motorized roller relative to a shaft portion of said motorized roller, said motorized roller being positioned generally along said plurality of wheels and operable to rotatably drive said plurality of wheels via a plurality of drive members reeved around said motorized roller and respective ones of said wheels.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A diverter system for diverting articles being conveyed along the diverter system includes a plurality of diverter wheels arranged between opposite sidewalls of the diverter system. The diverter wheels are rotatably driven by a motorized roller and a plurality of drive members or bands reeved around the motorized roller and respective ones of the diverter wheels. The diverter wheels are steerable in response to pivotal or rotational movement of a drive gear that engages a gear plate of at least one of the wheels. The resulting pivotal movement of the at least one wheel causes a translational movement of a rack member extending along the row of diverter wheels which, in turn, causes a corresponding pivotal movement of the other wheels engaged with the rack member.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A diverter system comprising:
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opposite sidewalls; a plurality of wheels arranged between said opposite sidewalls, said wheels being selectively pivotable about respective generally vertical axes to divert or steer articles being conveyed therealong; and a motorized roller having an internal motor operable to rotate a roller portion of said motorized roller relative to a shaft portion of said motorized roller, said motorized roller being positioned generally along said plurality of wheels and operable to rotatably drive said plurality of wheels via a plurality of drive members reeved around said motorized roller and respective ones of said wheels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A diverter system comprising:
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opposite sidewalls; a plurality of wheels arranged in at least one row, said plurality of wheels being pivotally mounted to a base plate extending between said opposite sidewalls; and a steering system operable to selectively pivot or steer said wheels, said steering system comprising a rotatable drive gear and at least one rack member extending at least partially along said row of wheels, wherein rotation of said drive gear causes a corresponding translational movement of said rack member and wherein said corresponding translational movement of said rack member causes a corresponding pivotal movement of at least some of said wheels of said row. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for diverting articles that are being conveyed along a conveying surface, said method comprising:
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providing a conveyor section having a conveying surface operable to convey articles in a first direction of conveyance; providing a diverter system adjacent to said conveying surface, said diverter system having a plurality of wheels arranged in at least one row between opposite sidewalls and a motorized roller having an internal motor operable to rotate a roller portion of said motorized roller relative to a shaft portion of said motorized roller, said motorized roller being positioned generally along said plurality of wheels and being drivably connected to at least some of said wheels via respective drive members; conveying an article in said first direction of conveyance from said conveying surface onto said wheels of said diverter system; rotating said roller portion of said motorized roller via activation of said internal motor to rotationally drive said wheels of said diverter system via said drive members, whereby rotation of said wheels conveys the article over said diverter system; and pivoting said wheels of said diverter system about respective pivot axes to convey articles in a second direction of conveyance that is different from said first direction of conveyance. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification