Tilt tray mechanism

An assembly for use with a tilt tray, comprising:

• a frame having a pair of first and second opposing, spaced-apart base plates;
• a pair of first and second opposing, spaced-apart tilt plates disposed intermediate the pair of base plates and rotatably connected to the frame at the pair of base plates to define a common axis of rotation, each tilt plate having a track formed therein, a reference plane passing through the common axis of rotation and having a first side and a second side;
• wherein the first and second tilt plates operatively support the tilt tray;
• a pivot member rotatably connected to the frame at the pair of first and second base plates, the pivot member having an upper end and a lower end;
• a first mechanism associated with the first tilt plate, the first mechanism comprising:
• a first link having a first end and a second end, the first link pivotally connected at the first end thereof to the pivot member at the upper end thereof,
• a first pivot arm having a pivot joint, a cam joint, and a rotary joint located on the first side of the reference plane and defining an axis of rotation,
• wherein the first pivot arm is rotatably connected at the rotary joint thereof to the first base plate, and the first pivot arm is pivotally connected at the pivot joint thereof to the first link at the second end thereof, and
• a first cam follower disposed at the cam joint of the first pivot arm, the first cam follower movable within the track of the first tilt plate during operable rotation of the first pivot arm in a first direction to induce a rotary displacement of the first tilt plate;
• and
• a second mechanism associated with the second tilt plate, the second mechanism comprising:
• a second link having a first end and a second end, the second link pivotally connected at the first end thereof to the pivot member at the upper end thereof,
• a second pivot arm having a pivot joint, a cam joint, and a rotary joint located on the second side of the reference plane and defining an axis of rotation,
• wherein the second pivot arm is rotatably connected at the rotary joint thereof to the second base plate, and the second pivot arm is pivotally connected at the pivot joint thereof to the second link at the second end thereof, and
• a second cam follower disposed at the cam joint of the second pivot arm, the second cam follower movable within the track of the second tilt plate during operable rotation of the second pivot arm in a second direction opposite the first direction to induce a rotary displacement of the second tilt plate.

An assembly for use with a tilt tray, comprising:

• a frame having a pair of first and second opposing, spaced-apart base plates;
• a rotary shaft configured to connect the pair of base plates;
• a pair of first and second opposing, spaced-apart tilt plates rotatably supported by the rotary shaft to define a common axis of rotation, each tilt plate having a track formed therein, a generally vertical reference plane passing through the common axis of rotation and having a first side and a second side;
• wherein the first and second tilt plates operatively support the tilt tray;
• a connection member configured to connect the pair of tilt plates to enable tandem rotation thereof;
• a pivot member rotatably connected to the frame at the pair of first and second base plates, the pivot member having an upper end and a lower end;
• a detent mechanism configured to releasably maintain the pivot member in a centered orientation;
• a first mechanism associated with the first tilt plate, the first mechanism comprising:
• a first link having a first end and a second end, the first link pivotally connected at the first end thereof to the pivot member at the upper end thereof,
• a first pivot arm having a pivot joint, a cam joint, and a rotary joint located on the first side of the vertical reference plane and defining an axis of rotation,
• wherein the first pivot arm is rotatably connected at the rotary joint thereof to the first base plate, and the first pivot arm is pivotally connected at the pivot joint thereof to the first link at the second end thereof, and
• a first cam follower disposed at the cam joint of the first pivot arm, the first cam follower movable within the track of the first tilt plate during operable rotation of the first pivot arm in a first direction to induce a rotary displacement of the first tilt plate;
• and
• a second mechanism associated with the second tilt plate, the second mechanism comprising:
• a second link having a first end and a second end, the second link pivotally connected at the first end thereof to the pivot member at the upper end thereof,
• a second pivot arm having a pivot joint, a cam joint, and a rotary joint located on the second side of the vertical reference plane and defining an axis of rotation,
• wherein the second pivot arm is rotatably connected at the rotary joint thereof to the second base plate, and the second pivot arm is pivotally connected at the pivot joint thereof to the second link at the second end thereof, and
• a second cam follower disposed at the cam joint of the second pivot arm, the second cam follower movable within the track of the second tilt plate during operable rotation of the second pivot arm in a second direction opposite the first direction to induce a rotary displacement of the second tilt plate.