Diverting conveyor with bidirectional assist roller
First Claim
1. A conveyor comprising:
- a diverting conveyor extending longitudinally in a conveying direction and laterally in width from a first side to a second side and including means for selectively diverting articles toward the first side;
an exit conveyor positioned adjacent the first side to receive articles diverted by the diverting conveyor;
a bidirectional roller disposed between the first side of the diverting conveyor and the exit conveyor and having an axis of rotation parallel to the conveying direction;
wherein the bidirectional roller is rotated in a first direction to transfer articles diverted to the first side over the bidirectional roller and onto the exit conveyor and in an opposite second direction to prevent articles at the first side from transferring over the bidirectional roller to the exit conveyorwherein the conveyor further comprises an actuator raising and lowering the bidirectional roller between a lowered position when the bidirectional roller is rotated in the first direction and a raised position when the bidirectional roller is rotated in the second direction to block articles at the first side of the diverting conveyor from transferring onto the exit conveyor.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sorting conveyor including a diverting conveyor and a bidirectional assist roller to help sort articles over the side of the diverting conveyor. The diverting conveyor includes, in one version, a conveyor belt with diverting rollers selectively actuated to push articles toward a side of the diverting conveyor. The bidirectional assist roller rotates on an axis parallel to the main conveying direction. As articles to be diverted reach the side of the diverting conveyor, the bidirectional roller rotates in a direction to assist articles over the side of the diverting conveyor and the bidirectional roller and onto an exit conveyor. When the diverting rollers are not actuated, the bidirectional roller rotates in the opposite direction to prevent articles from exiting the side of the diverting conveyor. In some instances, the bidirectional roller can be raised above the level of the diverting rollers to further block articles not selected for sorting from exiting over the side and onto the exit conveyor.
20 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A conveyor comprising:
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a diverting conveyor extending longitudinally in a conveying direction and laterally in width from a first side to a second side and including means for selectively diverting articles toward the first side; an exit conveyor positioned adjacent the first side to receive articles diverted by the diverting conveyor; a bidirectional roller disposed between the first side of the diverting conveyor and the exit conveyor and having an axis of rotation parallel to the conveying direction; wherein the bidirectional roller is rotated in a first direction to transfer articles diverted to the first side over the bidirectional roller and onto the exit conveyor and in an opposite second direction to prevent articles at the first side from transferring over the bidirectional roller to the exit conveyor wherein the conveyor further comprises an actuator raising and lowering the bidirectional roller between a lowered position when the bidirectional roller is rotated in the first direction and a raised position when the bidirectional roller is rotated in the second direction to block articles at the first side of the diverting conveyor from transferring onto the exit conveyor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17)
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11. A conveyor comprising:
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a conveyor belt extending laterally in width from a first side to a second side and having a plurality of diverting rollers supporting conveyed articles; a drive driving the conveyor belt in a direction of belt travel; a diverting-roller actuator coupled to the diverting rollers to selectively actuate the diverting rollers to rotate and divert articles atop the diverting rollers laterally across the width of the conveyor belt toward the first side; an exit conveyor positioned adjacent the first side to receive articles diverted over the first side of the conveyor belt; a bidirectional roller disposed between the first side of the conveyor belt and the exit conveyor and having an axis of rotation parallel to the direction of belt travel; wherein the bidirectional roller is rotated in a first direction to transfer articles diverted to the first side over the bidirectional roller and onto the exit conveyor and in an opposite second direction to prevent articles at the first side from transferring over the bidirectional roller to the exit conveyor wherein the conveyor further comprises an actuator raising and lowering the bidirectional roller between a lowered position when the bidirectional roller is rotated in the first direction and a raised position above the level of the diverting rollers when the bidirectional roller is rotated in the second direction to block articles on the conveyor belt from transferring onto the exit conveyor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification