Apparatus for diverting the movement of cylindrical bodies

A conveying apparatus for use in moving cylindrical bodies from one location to other locations comprising:

• an air conveyor for moving cylindrical bodies in a generally horizontal path;
• said air conveyor having a top wall portion through which air is directed onto said cylindrical bodies, a pair of opposite sidewall portions for guiding said cylindrical bodies and a generally horizontal open bottom wall portion formed by a pair of spaced apart track means for supporting said cylindrical containers during said movement thereof;
• a portion of said pair of spaced apart track means forming said bottom wall portion being cut away to form an opening therein through which said cylindrical bodies can pass;
• a diversion gate mounted for reciprocal movement in generally vertical directions between a first location and a second location;
• said diversion gate, when in said first location, having a generally horizontal support section located in said cut away portion for cooperating with said spaced apart track means in supporting said cylindrical bodies during said movement in said generally horizontal path;
• said diversion gate, when in said second location, having an arcuate guide section for contacting said cylindrical bodies and diverting said cylindrical bodies out of said generally horizontal path and into another path;
• moving means for moving said diversion gate between said first and second locations;
• and wherein
• said generally horizontal support section comprises a pair of generally horizontal, spaced apart rods;
• and
• said arcuate guide section comprises a first pair of arcuate, spaced apart rods and a second pair of arcuate, spaced apart rods located a distance from said first pair of arcuate, spaced apart rods to form an arcuate passageway for said cylindrical bodies, said arcuate passageway having an entrance portion and an exit portion.