Conveyor system

In a conveyor system for formatting one or more product streams, the conveyor system including first and second strip conveyors, the first and second strip conveyors comprising:

• a common carriage assembly defining an input end common to both of the first and second strip conveyors;
• a lateral drive operable to dynamically drive the common carriage assembly laterally in a reciprocating manner to receive product from the one or more product streams at one or more predetermined lateral positions with respect to the first and second strip conveyors;
• a first output carriage assembly terminating the output of the first strip conveyor;
• a second output carriage assembly terminating the output of the second strip conveyor;
• a lateral adjustment assembly for laterally adjusting the first and second output carriage assemblies independent of one another to static lateral positions at which the first and second output portions remain during formatting operations.

In a conveyor system including first and second strip conveyors, the first and second strip conveyors having an output end, the output end comprising:

• a first output carriage assembly terminating the output of the first strip conveyor and including at least one transversely extending support;
• a second output carriage assembly terminating the output of the second strip conveyor and including at least one transversely extending support;
• a lateral adjustment assembly for laterally adjusting the first and second output carriage assemblies independent of one another, the lateral adjustment assembly comprising a first laterally extending rod having a threaded portion and a non-threaded portion, the threaded portion threadably engaging the at least one transversely extending support of the first output carriage assembly, rotation of the first laterally extending rod resulting in lateral movement of the first carriage assembly, the threaded portion defining limits of lateral motion of the first carriage assembly;
• a second laterally extending rod having a threaded portion and a non-threaded portion, the threaded portion threadably engaging the at least one transversely extending support of the second output carriage assembly, rotation of the second laterally extending rod resulting in lateral movement of the second carriage assembly, the threaded portion defining limits of lateral motion of the second carriage assembly.

In a conveyor system including first and second strip conveyors, the first and second strip conveyors having an output end, the output end comprising:

• a first output carriage assembly terminating the output of the first strip conveyor and including at least one drive roller having an axis of rotation;
• a second output carriage assembly terminating the output of the second strip conveyor and including at least one drive roller, the at least one drive roller of the first output carriage assembly having an axis of rotation that is coaxial with the axis of rotation of the at least one drive roller of the second output carriage assembly;
• a common drive shaft extending along the axes of the drive rollers of the first and second output carriage assemblies, the common drive shaft having a keyed cross-section along a substantial length thereof;
• a motor connected t o rotate the common drive shaft;
• and
• a lateral adjustment assembly for laterally adjusting the first and second output carriage assemblies independent of one another.