Conveyor system with article diverting mechanism

Claim 2

A belt mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each of said inner portions is connected to said belt by a hinge having a hinge pin.

Claim 3

A belt mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said belt carries a plurality of tabs projecting laterally from said belt, said hinges being attached to respective ones of said tabs.

Claim 4

A belt mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said tabs are fused to said belt.

Claim 5

A belt mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said inner portions are inclined so as to extend from said belt in an oblique direction.

Claim 6

A belt mechanism according to claim 5, wherein said paddle includes an elastically flexible wiper projecting outwardly beyond said outer portions of said plates.

Claim 7

A belt mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said inner portions of said plates of each paddle are inclined so as to extend from said belt in a mutually converging manner.

Claim 8

A belt mechanism according to claim 7, wherein each of said plates includes an intermediate portion extending outwardly from a respective inner portion, said intermediate portions of each paddle being oriented substantially parallel to one another.

Claim 9

A belt mechanism according to claim 8 including an elastically flexible wiper sandwiched between said outer portions of said plates, said wiper projecting outwardly beyond said plates.

Claim 10

A belt mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said paddle incudes an elastically flexible wiper projecting outwardly beyond said outer portions of said plates.

Claim 11

A belt mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each of said plates is formed of spring steel so as to be able to flex elastically about its out portion.

Claim 12

A conveying system comprising: a transport conveyor for transporting articles along a path of travel, and a diverter mechanism positioned above said transport conveyor for pushing selected articles transversely off said conveyor, said diverter mechanism comprising: an endless belt mounted on a plurality of pulleys rotatable about substantially parallel horizontal axes and such that said belt forms a first flight extending laterally across said transport conveyor, a plurality of paddles mounted on said belt and projecting outwardly therefrom, each paddle including first and second plates having inner portions connected to said belt at first and second locations, respectively, which are spaced part in a direction of belt travel, each of said inner portions being connected to said belt for swinging movement relative thereto about an axis oriented parallel to said pulley axes, said first and second plates including outer portions connected together to enable said inner portions to move toward and away from one another as its respective paddle traverses a pulley, and drive means for intermittently rotating said belt such that a paddle passes across said transport conveyor for pushing an article therefrom.

Claim 13

A belt mechanism according to claim 12, wherein each of said inner portions is connected to said belt by hinge having a hinge pin.

Claim 14

A belt mechanism according to claim 13, wherein said belt carries a plurality of tabs projecting laterally from said belt, said hinges being attached to respective ones of said tabs.

Claim 15

A belt mechanism according to claim 14, wherein said tabs are fused to said belt.

Claim 16

A belt mechanism according to claim 13, wherein said inner portions are inclined so as to extend from said belt in an oblique direction.

Claim 17

A belt mechanism according to claim 16, wherein said paddle includes an elastically flexible wiper projecting outwardly beyond said outer portions of said plates.

Claim 18

A belt mechanism according to claim 12, wherein said inner portions of said plates of each paddle are inclined so as to extend from said belt in a mutually converging manner.

Claim 19

A belt mechanism according to claim 18, wherein each plate includes an intermediate portion extending outwardly from a respective inner portion, said intermediate portions being oriented substantially parallel to one another.

Claim 20

A belt mechanism according to claim 19 including an elastically flexible wiper sandwiched between said outer portions of said plates of each paddle, said wiper projecting outwardly beyond said outer portions.

Claim 21

A belt mechanism according to claim 12, wherein each paddle comprises an elastically flexible wiper projecting outwardly beyond said outer portions of said plates.

Claim 22

A conveying system comprising: a transport conveyor for transporting articles along a path of travel, and a diverter mechanism positioned above said transport conveyor for pushing selected articles transversely off said conveyor, said diverter mechanism comprising: an endless belt mounted on a plurality of pulleys rotatable about substantially parallel horizontal axes and such that said belt forms a first flight extending laterally across said transport conveyor, a plurality of paddles mounted on said belt and projecting outwardly therefrom, each paddle including first and second plates having inner portions connected to said belt at first and second locations, respectively, which are spaced part in a direction of belt travel, each of said inner portions being connected to said belt by a hinge pin for swinging movement relative thereto about an axis oriented parallel to said pulley axes, said first and second plates including outer ends fixedly interconnected, said plates being formed of spring steel to enable said inner ends to move elastically toward and away from one another as a paddle traverses a pulley, an elastically flexible wiper sandwiched between said outer ends and projecting outwardly therefrom, and drive means for intermittently rotating said belt such that a paddle passes across said transport conveyor for pushing an article therefrom.