Article transfer mechanism

Abstract

A mechanism for rapidly transferring and changing the spacing of easily damaged articles between a multilane input conveyor and a single lane output conveyor. The mechanism includes a pair of diverging transfer conveyors with evenly spaced article receiving buckets pivoted thereon. Guide rails support the buckets of both transfer conveyors in positions inclined upwardly and toward the incoming articles when receiving articles from the input conveyor and permitting buckets to move to a horizontal position for acceptance by teflon coated arcuate shields which invert the buckets and articles therein and dump the articles from each transfer conveyor into the single lane output conveyor at a spacing different from the spacing of the articles on the input conveyor. In the event the drive to a wrapping machine and the output conveyor is interrupted, auxiliary drive means is provided to continue driving the transfer conveyor, and a by-pass gate is moved under the articles at the dumping position to prevent dumping of the articles from the buckets onto the conveyor and to retain the articles in the buckets until they fall through a chute into separate collecting means.