Stop apparatus for palletizers and the like

In conveyor apparatus comprising:

• A. a series of spaced rollers defining thereover a travel path for articles;
• and
• B. stop means comprising an article stop located adjacent and downstream with respect to one of said rollers and movable between an extended position in which said article stop extends into said travel path, thereby to obstruct passage of articles from said roller, and a retracted position in which said article stop is spaced from said travel path, thereby to permit passage of articles from said roller;
• the improvement comprising a roller stop operatively connected to said article stop for movement when said article stop moves, a portion of said roller stop being configured and dimensioned to engage the downstream side of said roller and exert thereon a component of force acting parallel to said travel path and against said roller when said article stop is in said extended position;
• whereby said component of force resists any tendency of the articles to carry said roller downstream therewith.

In conveyor apparatus comprising

• A. a series of spaced rollers defining thereover a travel path for articles;
• B. stop means comprising an article stop located adjacent and downstream with respect to one of said rollers and movable between an extended position in which said article stop extends into said travel path, thereby to obstruct passage of articles from said roller, and a retracted position in which said article stop is spaced from said travel path, thereby to permit passage of articles from said roller;
• and
• C. an abutment located adjacent and downstream with respect to said article stop;
• the improvement comprising a roller stop operatively connected to said stop means, movable when said article stop moves, and including a pair of bearing surfaces, an upstream one of said bearing surfaces extending upstream of said article stop and a downstream one of said bearing surfaces extending downstream of said article stop, said bearing surfaces being operatively disengaged from said roller and said abutment respectively when said article stop is in said retracted position and being operatively engaged with said roller and said abutment respectively when said article stop is in said extended position, whereby said abutment assists in maintaining the bearing of said roller stop against said roller to inhibit rotation of said roller and thus reduce the momentum with which an article engages said article stop.