Selective article director multiposition gate

Claim 2

A gate mechanism for directing articles advancing to and beyond said mechanism comprising a gate member, means movably supporting said member to permit the same to be shifted into any of three different article directing positions, means to actuate said member between such positions comprising a walking beam having electromagnet relays operatively connected to the respective ends of the walking beam, connector means operatively connecting the walking beam intermediate its ends to the gate, and means for selectively energizing the relays.

Claim 3

The gate mechanism defined in claim 1, wherein the relays comprise two pairs of relays, the members of each of said pairs being positioned in mutuaL alignment and having oppositely acting armatures, the armatures of one of said relay pairs being commonly connected to one end of the walking beam and the armatures of the other of said relay pairs being commonly connected to the opposite end of said walking beam.

Claim 4

The gate mechanism defined in claim 2, wherein the connector means comprises a crank arm connected to the gate member for tilting the same and connected to the walking beam for rocking the crank arm by shifting of the walking beam in accordance with selective energization of the relays.

Claim 5

In a photoprint and similar article conveyor system comprising infeed conveyor means for the articles, three offbear receiving means for the articles generally aligned with said infeed conveyor means and branching in relatively different directions therefrom, and article directing gate means including a member pivotally mounted in general alignment with said infeed conveyor means ahead of said offbear receiving means and movable angularly into any of three positions to direct the articles selectively to any of said offbear receiving means, said gate means including a plurality of electromagnet relays operatively connected to the gate member and arranged by selective energization of selected combinations of said relays to move the gate member selectively from any of such three positions to either of the other positions.

Claim 6

In a photoprint and similar article conveyor system comprising infeed conveyor means for the articles, three offbear receiving means for the articles generally aligned with said infeed conveyor means and branching in relatively different directions therefrom, and article directing gate means including a member pivotally mounted in general alignment with said infeed conveyor means ahead of said offbear receiving means and movable angularly into any of three positions to direct the articles selectively to any of said offbear receiving means, said gate means including a plurality of electromagnet relays operatively connected to the gate member and arranged by selective energization of selected combinations of said relays to move the gate member selectively from any of such three positions to either of the other positions.

Claim 7

The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein there are four such relays arranged in mutually aligned pairs spaced apart in parallel relationship and with the members of one pair having armatures interconnected by a walking beam with the armatures of the members of the other pair, said walking beam being operatively connected intermediate its ends to the gate member for actuating the same between positions.