Granted Patent B2

US 8,561,781 · App. 13/253,667 · Granted Oct 22, 2013

Abstract

Claims (22)

1. A diverter swing arm for diverting articles from a conveying surface, comprising:

a central body having a unitary construction and including a pusher portion that has an external face for engaging and diverting a particular article from the conveying surface, and a linkage arm that facilitates connection to an actuator; and

a pivot pin received in an opening defined by the central body, said pivot pin defining a pivot axis for rotation of the diverter swing arm relative to the conveying surface;

wherein the linkage arm terminates in a clevis, which includes upper and lower clevis ears that each define an opening for receiving a connection pin for operably connecting the linkage arm to the actuator;

wherein the linkage arm has a generally triangular shape, increasing in width from the clevis ears to where the linkage arm connects to the pusher portion; and

wherein a rear edge of the linkage arm intersects a rear surface of the pusher portion substantially at a midpoint along the rear surface of the pusher portion.

2. The diverter swing arm as recited in claim 1 , wherein the central body is molded from a polymer material.

3. The diverter swing arm as recited in claim 1 , wherein the pusher portion of the central body includes multiple recesses positioned opposite the external face.

4. The diverter swing arm as recited in claim 3 , in which each of the multiple recesses has a triangular shape.

5. The diverter swing arm as recited in claim 3 , wherein the multiple recesses are separated by a combination of one or more upright ribs and one or more diagonal braces.

6. A diverter swing arm for diverting articles from a conveying surface, comprising:

a central body molded from a polymer material and having no internal skeleton, said central body including a pusher portion that has an external face for engaging and diverting a particular article from the conveying surface, and a linkage arm that facilitates connection to an actuator; and

a pivot pin received in an opening defined by the central body, said pivot pin defining a pivot axis for rotation of the diverter swing arm relative to the conveying surface;

wherein the linkage arm terminates in a clevis, which includes upper and lower clevis ears that each define an opening for receiving a connection pin for operably connecting the linkage arm to the actuator;

wherein the linkage arm has a generally triangular shape, increasing in width from the clevis ears to where the linkage arm connects to the pusher portion; and

wherein a rear edge of the linkage arm intersects a rear surface of the pusher portion substantially at a midpoint along the rear surface of the pusher portion.

7. A diverter swing arm for diverting articles from a conveying surface, comprising:

a central body having a unitary construction and including a pusher portion that has an external face for engaging and diverting a particular article from the conveying surface, and a linkage arm that facilitates connection to an actuator; and

a pivot pin received in an opening defined by the central body, said pivot pin defining a pivot axis for rotation of the diverter swing arm relative to the conveying surface;

wherein the linkage arm defines one or more openings at a terminal end for receiving a connection pin for operably connecting the linkage arm to the actuator;

wherein the linkage arm has a generally triangular shape, increasing in width from the terminal end to where the linkage arm connects to the pusher portion; and

wherein a rear edge of the linkage arm intersects a rear surface of the pusher portion substantially at a midpoint along the rear surface of the pusher portion.

Assignments (13)