The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 13, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 23, 1999
John J Douglas, Lynch Station, VA (US);
Simplimatic Engineering Company, Lynchburg, VA (US);
Abstract
An inverter for flipping articles traveling on a conveyor system is provided. The inverter includes a flipping member which has a plurality of substantially parallel lanes defined by side walls. The flipping member is attached to a frame member such that the flipping member is rotatable with respect to the frame member about an axis substantially perpendicular to the lanes. A pair of belts circulates around a pair of belt paths on each of the side walls defining the lanes, each of the belt paths being defined by a plurality of rollers mounted on one of the side walls. Each pair of belts defines an article conveying channel for securing therebetween one of the side edges of the article being conveyed. One of the rollers defining one of the belt paths of each pair of belt paths is operatively attached to one of a pair of cooperating gears, the other of which is operatively attached to one of the rollers defining the other belt path of the pair of belt paths such that if one belt of a pair of belts is driven, the other belt of the pair of belts is driven at substantially the same velocity, but in an opposite direction. A plurality of drive motors are mounted on the flipping member, each of the drive motors driving one belt of each pair of belts.