Bi-directional transfer mechanism

A bi-directional transfer mechanism for use with a live roller line shaft conveyor having a drive shaft comprising:

• frame means;
• first and second independently displaceable lift tables mounted for vertical movement on said frame means, each of said lift tables having means for guiding an endless elastomeric conveying member mounted thereon;
• said endless elastomeric conveying member being driven by the drive shaft of the conveyor and operatively engaging said guide means of said first and second lift tables, said endless elastomeric conveying member being reeved around said guide means and said drive shaft such that the portion of said conveying member operatively associated with said guide means of said first lift table is driven in one direction on said guide means of said first lift table and the portion of said conveying member operatively associated with the guide means of said second lift table is driven in a different direction on said guide means of said second lift table;
• means for selectively positioning said first and second lift tables with respect to each other between respective article transfer and non-transfer positions, whereby one of said lift table guide means is located in said article transfer position such that the portion of said endless elastomeric conveying member operatively engaging said one of said lift table guide means is raised above the conveying surface of said conveyor, while the other of said lift table guide means is located in said article non-transfer position such that the portion of said endless elastomeric conveying member operatively engaging said other of said lift table guide means is positioned below said conveying surface.

A conveyor system comprising:

• first conveyor means for transporting and accumulating a plurality of articles along a first pass line, said first conveyor means having a drive shaft;
• second conveyor means for transporting and accumulating a plurality of articles along a second pass line different from said first pass line;
• a bi-directional transfer mechanism for transferring said articles between said first conveyor means and said second conveyor means;
• said transfer mechanism comprising:
• frame means;
• first and second lift tables mounted for vertical movement on said frame means, each of said lift tables having means for guiding an endless conveying member mounted thereon;
• said endless conveying member being driven by said drive shaft and operatively engaging said guide means of said first and second lift tables, said endless conveying member being reeved around said guide means and said drive shaft such that the portion of said conveying member operatively associated with said first lift table is driven in one direction on said guide means of said first lift table and the portion of said conveying member operatively associated with said second lift table is driven in a different direction on said guide means of said second lift table during operation of said first conveyor means;
• means for selectively positioning said first and second lift tables with respect to each other between respective article engaging and non-engaging positions, whereby one of said lift table guide means is located in said article engaging position such that the portion of said endless conveying member operatively engaging said one of said lift table guide means is raised above the conveying surface of said first conveyor means, while the other of said lift table guide means is located in said article non-engaging position such that the portion of said endless conveying member operatively engaging said other of said lift table guide means is positioned below said conveying surface of said first conveyor means.