CONVEYING SYSTEM

摘要

A transfer apparatus includes an infeed conveyor (12), a wedge profile conveyor (14), and a mass flow conveyor (16). Infeed conveyor (12) carries articles (18) in an infeed direction. Mass flow conveyor (16) carries articl es (18) in an outflow direction. Wedge profile conveyor (14) intersects the pat h of articles (18) travelling the infeed direction on infeed conveyor (12). Wedge profile conveyor (14) includes wedge belt (40) that loops about drive wheel (44) and idle wheel (46) such that interface region (48) of wedge belt (40) intersects the path of articles (18). Interface region (48) occurs approximately where wedge belt (40) is straight and faces mass flow conveyor (16). Wedge profile conveyor (14) includes a number of wedges. The length of each wedge approximates the maximum length of a group (24) to be selected by the wedge and is slightly less than the width of mass flow conveyor (16). Ea ch wedge includes a pushing face and fingers of different lengths.