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:
May. 15, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 07, 1999
Dorian F. Steeber, Anderson, SC (US);
Olivier P. Duterte, Greer, SC (US);
Robert C. Beesley, Greenville, SC (US);
Hartness International, Greenville, SC (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for controlling the flow of articles between a first conveyor driven in a first direction and a second conveyor driven in a second direction includes a movable transport member disposed across and movable along a space between the conveyors. The transport member includes a drive member drivingly engaged simultaneously by the first and second conveyors so as to rotate if either of the conveyors is moving and to travel linearly along the space between the conveyors if a relative speed difference exists between the conveyors. The transport member includes an article transfer device or member disposed so as to contact and transfer articles from the first conveyor to the second conveyor along a transfer path. The article transfer member includes an endless drive belt disposed along the transfer path so as to contact and move the articles therealong. The drive belt runs in an endless path between the drive member and the article transfer member and is drivingly engaged by a belt drive wheel that is driven by the drive member.