Diverter conveyor

A diverter conveyor configured to transport sheets along a main transport path in a downstream direction from an input end to a discharge end, the diverter conveyor comprising:

• a main conveyor including an upper deck and a lower deck,
• the upper deck including at least one first belt support at the input end and at least one second belt support downstream from the first belt support and a plurality of belts each extending from the first belt support to the second belt support, lower runs of the plurality of belts lying in a first plane or being bounded by the first plane, and
• the lower deck including a plurality of first lower shafts, an upstream-most one of the first lower shafts being located downstream from the first belt support, each of the first lower shafts supporting a plurality of contact elements, each of the contact elements having a contact surface movable around a closed path from a contact region to a non-contact region, the contact regions lying in a second plane or being bounded by the second plane;
• a nip support at the input end forming an entrance nip with the plurality of belts;
• a rejection support located beneath the main conveyor;
• a plurality of paddles mounted at a first gap between the nip support and the upstream-most one of the plurality of first shafts;
• and
• an actuator operably connected to the plurality of paddles and configured to shift the plurality of paddles from a first position outside the sheet transport path to a second position extending into the sheet transport path,
• wherein the main transport path of the diverter conveyor is defined by the lower runs of the belts and by the nip support and by the contact surfaces of the plurality of contact elements,
• wherein the diverter conveyor is configured such that the sheets make direct contact with the lower runs of the belts and make direct contact with the contact surfaces of the plurality of contact elements when the sheets move along the main transport path,
• wherein the plurality of paddles in the second position is configured to divert the sheets from the main transport path into a diverted path and onto the rejection support,
• wherein the at least one first belt support comprises a plurality of first pulleys,
• wherein the at least one second belt support comprises a plurality of second pulleys,
• wherein each of the plurality of belts extends from one of the first pulleys to one of the second pulleys, and
• wherein when the plurality of paddles are located in the second position the plurality of paddles extend between adjacent pairs of the plurality of belts.

A diverter conveyor configured to transport sheets along a main transport path in a downstream direction from an input end to a discharge end, the diverter conveyor comprising:

• a frame;
• a main conveyor including an upper deck supported by the frame and a lower deck supported by the frame,
• the upper deck including at least one first belt support at the input end and at least one second belt support downstream from the first belt support and a plurality of belts each extending from the first belt support to the second belt support, lower runs of the plurality of belts lying in a first plane or being bounded by the first plane, and
• the lower deck including a plurality of first lower shafts, an upstream-most one of the first lower shafts being located downstream from the first belt support, each of the first lower shafts supporting a plurality of first wheels having contact regions lying in a second plane or being bounded by the second plane;
• a second shaft beneath the first belt support supporting a plurality of second wheels, the second wheels forming an entrance nip with the plurality of belts;
• a rejection conveyor located beneath the main conveyor and supported by the frame;
• a plurality of paddles mounted at a first gap between the second shaft and the upstream-most one of the plurality of first shafts,
• at least one diverter plate at the first gap between the second lower shaft and upstream-most one of the first lower shafts, wherein the at least one diverter plate defines a boundary of the diverted path and is configured to divert the sheets toward the rejection conveyor;
• an actuator operably connected to the plurality of paddles and configured to shift the plurality of paddles from a first position outside the sheet transport path to a second position extending into the sheet transport path;
• and
• a controller operably connected to the actuator and configured to control the actuator,
• wherein the main transport path of the diverter conveyor is defined by the lower runs of the belts and by the nip support and by the contact surfaces of the plurality of contact elements in the contact region,
• wherein the diverter conveyor is configured such that the sheets make direct contact with the lower runs of the belts and make direct contact with the contact surfaces of the plurality of second wheels when the sheets move along the main transport path,
• wherein the plurality of paddles in the second position is configured to divert the sheets from the main transport path into a diverted path and onto the rejection conveyor,
• wherein when the plurality of paddles are located in the first position, the first plane is located between the plurality of paddles and the second plane, and
• wherein when the plurality of paddles are located in the second position the plurality of paddles extend between adjacent pairs of the plurality of belts.