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. 05, 2001
Filed:
Jul. 30, 1999
Dorian F. Steeber, Anderson, SC (US);
Hartness International, Inc., Greenville, SC (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for regulating and controlling the flow of articles between conveyors includes a first conveyor moving in a first direction and a second conveyor onto which the articles from the first conveyor are to be transferred. The second conveyor moves generally in the same direction and parallel to the first conveyor along a portion thereof defining a transfer point. A guide device defines an inlet on the first conveyor at the transfer point. The guide device is oriented so as to extend across and move articles from the first conveyor onto the second conveyor. The guide device defines the tortuous path that changes directions at least three times, for example, by three opposite radii of curvatures, such that the articles that are in direct end to end contact on the first conveyor are separated by the guide device.