IN-LINE ADJUSTABLE GATE

摘要

A conveyor run for moving goods to two or more destinations can be used to move a first fraction of the goods to a first destination and a second fraction of the goods to another destination. A drive motor coupled to a conveyor portion is reversible to enable the conveyor run to move goods in either direction along the conveyor run. An adjustable gate includes a rotatable sleeve with an opening that is positionable relative to conveyor portions between which the adjustable gate is connected. The rotatable sleeve rotates relative to the adjacent conveyor portions to position the opening to set the fraction of the goods that pass from an upstream conveyor portion to the downstream conveyor portion and to set the fraction of the goods that drop from the conveyor run through the opening.

主权项

1. An adjustable gate connectable between a conveyor first portion and a conveyor second portion of a conveyor run, the adjustable gate comprising:
a cage having a first end flange connectable to the first conveyor portion of conveyor run, and having a second end flange, opposite the first end flange, connectable to the second conveyor portion of the conveyor run; a rotatable sleeve having a circumference and an opening along a portion of its circumference, a first end movably coupled to the first end flange of the cage, a second end movably coupled to a second end flange of the cage to provide for rotation of the rotatable sleeve within the cage, and a gear having a plurality of teeth provided along an outer surface of the rotatable sleeve adjacent to the opening; a first spring-biased plunger assembly disposed intermediate the rotatable sleeve and the conveyor first portion; a second spring-biased plunger assembly disposed intermediate the rotatable sleeve and the conveyor second portion; and a motor connected to at least one of the cage, the conveyor first portion and the conveyor second portion and operable to rotate a drive gear engaged with the gear of the rotatable sleeve.