Device for transferring articles between oppositely running conveyors

An apparatus for controlling the flow of articles, comprising:

• a first conveyor driven in a first direction to convey articles thereon in said first direction, and a second conveyor driven in a second direction opposite to said first direction to convey articles thereon in said second direction;
• said first and second conveyors extending side-by-side and parallel with a space defined therebetween;
• a carriage member having a drive wheel engaged with drive lugs on each of said conveyors so that said carriage member moves along said conveyors depending on a speed differential between said conveyors causing said carriage member to move in the direction of the faster of said conveyors;
• a longitudinally extending deformable rail member attached to said carriage member so as to move therewith relative to said conveyors, said rail member disposed between said conveyors and having an upper surface generally flush with an upper surface of each of said conveyors;
• and
• an article transfer member carried by said carriage member and extending across at least a portion of said first conveyor so that articles on said first conveyor are deflected by said transfer member over said rail member and onto said second conveyor.