Article conveyor system with automatic ejection of fallen and tipped articles

摘要

An article conveyor system for conveying a singulated row of articles includes an upstream belt conveyor, a downstream belt conveyor spaced apart from the upstream belt conveyor by an air gap, and an air conveyor bridging the air gap from the upstream belt conveyor to the downstream belt conveyor. The air conveyor receives upright articles from the upstream belt conveyor and conveys them over the air gap to the downstream belt conveyor. Tipped or fallen articles on the upstream belt conveyor are not received by the air conveyor and fall into the air gap, thereby being ejected from the article conveyor system.

主权项

1. An article conveyor for conveying articles in a downstream direction along a conveyor path, the article conveyor comprising:
a first belt conveyor, a second belt conveyor, and an air conveyor; the first belt conveyor extending along and defining an upstream portion of the conveyor path, the second belt conveyor extending along and defining a downstream portion of the conveyor path, the air conveyor extending along and defining an intermediate portion of the conveyor path between the upstream and downstream conveyor paths; the first belt conveyor being spaced apart from the second belt conveyor by an air gap being disposed between the first belt conveyor and the second belt conveyor, the air gap being sufficient to separate the upstream conveyor path and the downstream conveyor path; the air conveyor bridging the gap between the first belt conveyor and the second belt conveyor, the air conveyor connecting the upstream conveyor path and the downstream conveyor path, the air conveyor being disposed to receive upright articles being conveyed by the first belt conveyor and not receive tipped articles being conveyed by the first belt conveyor whereby tipped articles fall into the gap and are ejected from the article conveyor.