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:
Apr. 18, 2006
Filed:
May. 25, 2004
Robert C. Beesley, Greenville, SC (US);
Gregory Bruns, Moore, SC (US);
Brian Merritt, Easley, SC (US);
Robert C. Beesley, Greenville, SC (US);
Gregory Bruns, Moore, SC (US);
Brian Merritt, Easley, SC (US);
Hartness International, Inc., Greenville, SC (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for diverting a stream of articles includes a first conveyor driven in a first direction and at a first speed around a first axle, and a second conveyor is driven in a second direction generally opposite of the first direction and at a second speed around a second axle, the first and second conveyors disposed generally parallel to each other. A diverter element extends at least partially across the first and second conveyors to divert articles conveyed on the first conveyor onto the second conveyor. A differential drive mechanism is operatively interconnected with and driven by the first and second axles in a direction responsive to a relative rotation speed difference between the first and second axles, the differential drive mechanism being located exterior to the first and second conveyors. An endless loop is operatively connected to the diverter element and the differential drive mechanism, the endless loop being driven by the differential drive mechanism to thereby move the diverter element in a path generally parallel to the first and second conveyors. Related structures, drives, and controls are also disclosed.