Side discharge conveyor assembly

Abstract

A conveyor assembly follows a pathway defined by a supporting framework, wherein the pathway may include serpentine portions. The framework supports a transport mechanism for movement along the pathway, and a belt assembly is carried by the transport mechanism. The belt assembly includes a continuous belt having flexible convolutions permitting the belt to follow serpentine portions of the pathway and also permitting the belt to locally laterally tilt for side discharge without requiring the transport mechanism to similarly tilt. A pivotal member between the transport mechanism and belt assembly permits the belt to tilt laterally, such as on a hinge point laterally offset from the center of the conveyor pathway. An actuator causes a selected portion of the belt to tilt on the hinge point. A suitable actuator includes a camming member located on the opposite lateral side of the supporting framework from the hinge point, and the belt assembly may include a tiltable arm extending over the camming member for interacting contact. The camming member may be longitudinally movable for varying the longitudinal position of discharge and also be vertically movable for varying the degree of tilt imparted to the arm and, in turn, to the belt assembly. The inverted return run is provided with a retaining rail to prevent the belt assembly from tilting under force of gravity.