Directional transition module for use in conjunction with a roller-type conveyor

A bi-directional transition module for changing the translation direction of an article translating on a primary roller conveyor along a first axis by moving the article to a selected one of (i) a first secondary conveyor for translation along a second axis angularly disposed at a first angle with respect to the first axis and (ii) a second secondary conveyor for translation along a third axis angularly disposed at a second angle with respect to the first axis, the directional transition module comprising:

• a chassis;
• and
• first and second drive-member sets, each drive-member set including at least one endless flexible drive member supported by the chassis for cycling through a predetermined driver cycle having an upper cycle portion and a lower cycle portion, the upper cycle portion being such that, when the bi-directional transition module is installed for use in conjunction with the primary roller conveyor, the at least one flexible drive member is capable of cycling between first and second rollers of the primary roller conveyor, the at least one flexible drive member including a first segment and a second segment, the first segment having a profile sufficiently low such that, when the first segment cycles through the upper cycle portion, no section of the first segment extends above a plane defined by the tops of the first and second rollers, and the second segment having a profile sufficiently high such that, when the second segment cycles through the upper cycle portion, at least one section of the second segment extends above the plane defined by the tops of the first and second rollers,
• wherein (i) at least one of the least one flexible drive members of at least one of the first and second drive-members sets includes at least one tapered transition region that gradually increases in thickness between the first and second segments, (ii) the at least one flexible drive member of the first drive-member set is capable of cycling through the upper cycle portion in a direction orthogonal to the first axis, (iii) the at least one flexible drive member of the second drive-member set is capable of cycling through the upper cycle portion in a direction orthogonal to the first axis, (iv) the cycling of the at least one drive member in the first drive-member set is independent of the cycling of the at least one drive member in the second drive member set and (v) at least one of (a) the at least one flexible drive member of the first drive-member set and (b) the at least one flexible drive member of the second drive-member set is alternatively cyclable in each of a first cycling direction and a second cycling direction opposite the first cycling direction.

A directional transition module for moving an article translating on a primary roller conveyor having left and right sides and extending along a first axis to a secondary conveyor for translation along a second axis angularly disposed with respect to the first axis, the directional transition module comprising:

• a chassis;
• and
• a drive-member set including at least two endless flexible belts, each belt being supported by the chassis for cycling through a predetermined driver cycle having an upper cycle portion and a lower cycle portion, the upper cycle portion being such that, when the directional transition module is installed for use in conjunction with the primary roller conveyor, each of the at least two belts cycles between first and second rollers of the primary roller conveyor, at least one of the at least two belts including a first segment and a second segment, the first segment having a profile sufficiently low such that, when the first segment is capable of cycling through the upper cycle portion, no section of the first segment extends above a plane defined by the tops of the first and second rollers, and the second segment having a profile sufficiently high such that, when the second segment cycles through the upper cycle portion, at least one section of the second segment extends above the plane defined by the tops of the first and second rollers in order to engage the article for directional transition, wherein at least two of the at least two belts of the drive-member set are driven by a common drive shaft.