# US 8,770,378 B2 · Apparatus for the supply of products > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,378 B2 - Document ID: US8770378B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/448,824 - Filed: 2012-04-17 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2011-04-18 - Assignees: Weber Maschinenbau GmbH Breidenbach - Applicants: Sigfrid Bauer - Inventors: Sigfrid Bauer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770378B2 ## CPC - B65G 47/647: {the axis being perpendicular to the conveying direction} - B65G 21/12: to allow adjustment of position of load-carrier or traction element as a whole - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## Abstract An apparatus for conveying products comprising at least one conveyor device being drivable by a drive shaft in order to supply the products to each of a plurality of output regions, wherein said conveyor device comprises a support structure which can be pivoted about an axis of rotation of said drive shaft for individually changing said output region. Said support structure is pivotably supported by a jointed arm arrangement at a support element spaced apart from said drive shaft such that, by moving said jointed arm arrangement, said support structure is pivotable about said axis of rotation of said drive shaft. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for conveying products comprising: at least one conveyor device which is drivable by a drive shaft in order to supply said products to one of a plurality of output areas; wherein said conveyor device comprises a support structure which is pivotable for individually changing said output regions about an axis of rotation of the drive shaft; and wherein said support structure is pivotably supported by a jointed arm arrangement at a support element spaced apart from said drive shaft such that, by moving said jointed arm arrangement, said support structure is pivotable about said axis of rotation of said drive shaft, wherein the jointed arm arrangement comprises parallel kinematics with two parallel levers pivotably connected to the support structure at linkage points spaced apart from each other. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there is no supporting connection between said support structure and said drive shaft. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said support element extends parallel to said drive shaft. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of conveyor devices are provided adjacent to one another which are drivable by a common drive shaft and which comprise respective support structures which can be pivoted independently of one another about the axis of rotation of said drive shaft, with each support structure being supported at said support element by a separate jointed arm arrangement. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a drive is associated with each jointed arm arrangement, with said drives being operable independently of each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each conveyor device is formed as at least one of a belt conveyor or strip conveyor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a conveyor belt or a conveyor belt arrangement revolves around said drive shaft and around a deflection roller supported at said respective support structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a pivot table with one or more guide surfaces or support surfaces for at least one of a conveyor belt or a conveyor strip arrangement. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the jointed arm arrangement comprises a four-part link, with said support element forming a fixed point of said four-part link. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the two parallel levers are of equal length. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of said parallel levers is movably supported at said support element via a displacement lever. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said two parallel levers are each pivotably connected to a coupling lever being in parallel to a connection line of said supporting structure linkage points. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said axis of rotation of said drive shaft, a pivot axis of said displacement lever and a pivot axis of said coupling lever lie in a common plane. ### Claim 14 A conveyor line comprising: at least one input conveyor; and at least one apparatus for conveying products, said apparatus comprising at least one conveyor device which is drivable by a drive shaft in order to supply said products to one of a plurality of output areas, wherein said conveyor device comprises a support structure which is pivotable for individually changing said output regions about an axis of rotation of the drive shaft, wherein said support structure is pivotably supported by a jointed arm arrangement at a support element spaced apart from said drive shaft such that, by moving said jointed arm arrangement, said support structure is pivotable about said axis of rotation of said drive shaft, wherein the jointed arm arrangement comprises parallel kinematics with two parallel levers pivotably connected to the support structure at linkage points spaced apart from each other, and at least one reception device or buffer device with a plurality of output regions for receiving said conveyed products. ### Claim 15 A production line comprising: at least one cutting device for slicing products; and at least one conveyor line comprising: at least one input conveyor; at least one apparatus for conveying products, said apparatus comprising at least one conveyor device which is drivable by a drive shaft in order to supply said products to one of a plurality of output areas, wherein said conveyor device comprises a support structure which is pivotable for individually changing said output regions about an axis of rotation of the drive shaft, wherein said support structure is pivotably supported by a jointed arm arrangement at a support element spaced apart from said drive shaft such that, by moving said jointed arm arrangement, said support structure is pivotable about said axis of rotation of said drive shaft, wherein the jointed arm arrangement comprises parallel kinematics with two parallel levers pivotably connected to the support structure at linkage points spaced apart from each other; and at least one reception device or buffer device with a plurality of output regions for receiving said conveyed products. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A production line according to claim 15, wherein said conveyor line is arranged upstream of a packaging device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A production line according to claim 16, wherein said packaging device comprises at least one of a robot unit and a packaging machine.