Divider system
AssigneeMorrison Timing Screw Co.
InventorsNick Lynn Wilson, Mark Burk
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A divider system for diverting objects from an infeed lane into one or more discharge lanes includes a dividing screw set, a discharge screw set, and a diverting mechanism. The dividing screw set conveys a sequence of objects to an output end of the screw set where the objects are divided by rotation of the dividing screw set and outputted alternately to first and second discharge screws of the discharge screw set to form a first series of objects conveyed by the first discharge screw and a second series of objects conveyed by the second discharge screw. The divider system includes a diverting mechanism which can be selectively actuated to divert objects from one discharge screw to the other discharge screw to form a diverted group.
Claims20
A divider system operable to divide a sequence of objects into a first series of objects and a second series of objects, the divider system comprising:
- a screw set including a first screw and a second screw;
- wherein the first and second screws are rotatably mounted to define a channel therebetween;
- wherein the screw set is configured to receive, via the channel, a sequence of objects divided into a first series of objects received by the first screw and a second series of objects received by the second screw;
- a diverting mechanism comprising a first diverter;
- and
- wherein the first diverter is selectively actuable to divert objects received by the first screw from the first screw to the second screw.
A divider system operable to divide a sequence of objects into a first series of objects and a second series of objects, the divider system comprising:
- a screw set including a first screw and a second screw;
- wherein the first and second screws are rotatably mounted to define a channel therebetween;
- wherein the screw set is configured to receive, via the channel, a sequence of objects divided into a first series of objects received by the first screw and a second series of objects received by the second screw;
- a longitudinal axis defined by the channel;
- a first belt extending longitudinally along the channel and adjacent the first screw;
- a second belt extending longitudinally along the channel and adjacent the second screw;
- wherein the first belt is tilted at a first tilt angle relative to the longitudinal axis such that objects received by the first screw are tilted on the first belt toward the first screw;
- and
- wherein the second belt is tilted at a second tilt angle relative to the longitudinal axis such that objects received by the second screw are tilted on the second belt toward the second screw.
A method of dividing a sequence of objects into a first series of objects and a second series of objects, the method comprising:
- providing:
- a first screw;
- a second screw;
- a screw set including a first screw and a second screw;
- wherein the first and second screws are rotatably mounted to define a channel therebetween;
- receiving a sequence of objects via the channel such that objects of the sequence are divided into a first series of objects and a second series of objects;
- receiving the first series of objects to the first screw;
- receiving the second series of objects to the second screw;
- providing a diverting mechanism including a diverter;
- selectively actuating the diverter to divert objects from the first screw to the second screw.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.