Lane brake assembly

Claim 1

Apparatus comprising means defining an inclined lane having sides and a discharge end along which containers are to be located for singular discharge at said end, said lane including at least two runners for contact with containers in said lane, means defining a support for said runners, a release mechanism at the discharge end of said lane, said mechanism being movable from a blocking position to a release position, a brake means positioned upstream from said mechanism for selectively retarding movement of a second container in the lane when said release mechanism is in its release position, said brake means including a roller mounted between said runners for rotation about its longitudinal axis, the upper surface of said roller being at an elevation above the elevation of an adjacent portion of said runners, a brake pad mounted for pivotable movement toward and away from said roller, spring means biasing said pad toward said roller for contact therewith, a flexible wire-like member extending between said release mechanism and said brake pad, said wire-like member being responsive to movement of said release mechanism so that said brake pad is ineffective when the release mechanism is in a blocking position and the brake pad applies a braking force under the bias of said spring means to prevent rotation of said roller when the release mechanism is in its release position.