Diverting arrangements for example in conveying devices

Claim 2

Conveyor apparatus for selectively diverting articles along a selected one of a plurality of available paths comprising, conveyor means having a first surface along which the articles are transported and also a second opposite surface, a spherical member disposed in major part opposite said first surface but having a minor portion thereof which protrudes through an aperture defined in said conveyor means so as to frictionally contact the articles propelled along said conveyor means, support means for said spherical member permitting its free rotation, and drive means for said spherical member for rotating said spherical member selectively about at least two different axes, whereby said spherical member selectively diverts the articles along respectively different paths as said articles come into frictional contact with said spherical member dependent upon the axis of rotation of said spherical member as selected by said drive means.

Claim 3

The conveyor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveyor means is horizontal and said spherical member is disposed in major portion underneath said first surface.

Claim 4

The conveyor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises at least two pairs of rollers disposed on opposite sides of said spherical member and further includes means for rotating at least one of said oppositely disposed rollers in either pair of rollers.

Claim 5

The conveyor apparatus of claim 3 which includes means for spring biasing at least one of said oppositely disposed rollers against said spherical member.

Claim 6

The conveyor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said drive means frictionally engages said spherical member, said drive means being so positioned relative to said spherical member as to cause any translational forces acting on said spherical member to urge said spherical member awaY from said first surface to thereby prevent frictional contact between said member and the portion of said conveyor means which defines said aperture.

Claim 7

An article diverting arrangement comprising, a horizontal article-supporting member, a spherical member projecting partially above said article-supporting member, means for supporting said spherical member for rotation about a selected horizontal axis, rotation means for rotating said spherical member about said selected horizontal axis, said rotation means comprising a first roller having a horizontal axis of rotation and means for urging said roller against said spherical member, and a second roller having a horizontal axis of rotation and being provided at right angles to said first roller, and drive means being selectively applicable to at least one of said first and second rollers, said spherical member being supported by a mounting means which enables said spherical member to rotate about its said selected horizontal axis and also about a vertical axis, the axis of rotation of each roller being vertically higher than the horizontal axis of rotation of said spherical member, whereby said spherical member selectively diverts the articles along respectively different paths as said articles come into frictional contact with said spherical member dependent upon the axis of rotation of said spherical member as selected by said drive means.

Claim 8

An article diverting arrangement comprising, a horizontal article-supporting member, a spherical member projecting partially above said article-supporting member, means for supporting said spherical member for rotation about a selected horizontal axis, rotation means for rotating said spherical member about said selected horizontal axis, said rotation means comprising a first roller having a horizontal axis of rotation and means for urging said roller against said spherical member, and a second roller having a horizontal axis of rotation and being provided at right angles to said first roller, and drive means being selectively applicable to at least one of said first and second rollers, said spherical member being supported by a mounting means which enables said spherical member to rotate about its said selected horizontal axis and also about a vertical axis, the axis of rotation of each roller being vertically higher than the horizontal axis of rotation of said spherical member, whereby said spherical member selectively diverts the articles along respectively different paths as said articles come into frictional contact with said spherical member dependent upon the axis of rotation of said spherical member as selected by said drive means.

Claim 9

An article-diverting arrangement according to claim 6 wherein said first and second rollers are selectively rotatable at different speeds from each other to cause said spherical member to rotate about its horizontal axis in said predetermined direction with reference to the vertical axis in dependence on the relative rotational speeds of said rollers.

Claim 10

An article-diverting arrangement according to claim 6 wherein the drive means to said first and second rollers is selectively actuated to cause said spherical member to rotate about said selected horizontal axis.

Claim 11

An article diverting arrangement comprising, a horizontal article-supporting surface, a spherical member projecting partially above said article-supporting member, means for supporting said spherical member for rotation about a predetermined horizontal axis, two sets of opposed rotatable members each comprising a roller having a horizontal axis of rotation and means for pressing said rollers in frictional engagement with said spherical member, drive means for rotating a roller of at least one of said sets of opposed rollers to drive said spherical member for rotation about said selected horizontal axis, the axes of the rollers of each set being arranged on diametrically opposite sides of said spherical member and at right angles to the axis of the rollers in the other set, the spherical member being supported in a mounting means which enables said spherical member to rotate about said horizontal axis and about a vertical axis and with the axis of rotation of the rollers being vertically higher than the horizontal axis about which said spherical member rotates, whereby said spherical member selectively directs articles along respectively different paths as said articles come into frictional engagement with said spherical member dependent on the axis of rotation of said spherical member as selected by said drive means.

Claim 12

An article diverting arrangement comprising, a horizontal article-supporting surface, a spherical member projecting partially above said article-supporting member, means for supporting said spherical member for rotation about a predetermined horizontal axis, two sets of opposed rotatable members each comprising a roller having a horizontal axis of rotation and means for pressing said rollers in frictional engagement with said spherical member, drive means for rotating a roller of at least one of said sets of opposed rollers to drive said spherical member for rotation about said selected horizontal axis, the axes of the rollers of each set being arranged on diametrically opposite sides of said spherical member and at right angles to the axis of the rollers in the other set, the spherical member being supported in a mounting means which enables said spherical member to rotate about said horizontal axis and about a vertical axis and with the axis of rotation of the rollers being vertically higher than the horizontal axis about which said spherical member rotates, whereby said spherical member selectively directs articles along respectively different paths as said articles come into frictional engagement with said spherical member dependent on the axis of rotation of said spherical member as selected by said drive means.

Claim 13

An article-diverting arrangement according to claim 9 wherein said drive means rotates a roller of one said set of rollers at a different speed from that of a roller in the other set of rollers to cause the spherical member to rotate about its horizontal axis in a predetermined direction with reference to the vertical axis.

Claim 14

An article-diverting arrangement according to claim 9 wherein said drive means operates continuously and the drive to said spherical member is selectively interrupted by means for controlling the frictional engagement of the rotatable member against said spherical member.