Transfer system

摘要

An improved rejector for selectively transferring articles from a conveyor or conveyor-like device, to a delivery region such as a second conveyor based upon one or more signals which may be associated with any of the articles to be so transferred. The system utilizes a further conveyor-like device running substantially parallel to the conveyor carrying the articles to be transferred, the conveyor-like device having a plurality of pusher members substantially transverse to the direction of motion of the conveyor-like device, and slideable by a guide between a normally withdrawn position and an extended position passing over the conveyor carrying the articles to be transferred so as to transfer an article therefrom to the delivery device. The system includes apparatus for determining the relative position along the conveyors of an article to be transferred and the closest pusher members so that one pusher member may be extended to centrally engage the article to be rejected, or two members may be extended to engage each side of the article being rejected. High speed operation is accommodated by using a plurality of actuators to initiate the motion of the pusher members so that the system may be operated at a speed greater than the capability of any single actuator used for that purpose. The system further includes apparatus for advancing and retarding the initiation of actuation of the actuators controlling the pusher members so as to compensate for the fixed actuation time requirement of the actuators for different systems and particularly high speed system operation. Various other aspects of the invention are disclosed.