US Patent 10308442 Conveyed-object discharge device

A discharge device is constructed so that, when conveyance destinations for a preceding conveyed object and a closely spaced succeeding conveyed object are different, the objects can be conveyed without stopping the conveyance of the succeeding conveyed object. The device has: a) discharge members that extend and retract between a plurality of conveying bodies in a main conveying conveyor, come into contact with a conveyed object when the discharge members extend between the conveying bodies, and impart a conveying force to the conveyed object, the force being in a direction different from that of the conveying bodies; b) a base member that supports the discharge members; and c) a and base swinging unit that swings the base member. By swinging the base member, it is possible to make the discharge members on the upstream side and the downstream side in the conveyance direction individually extend and retract between the conveying bodies.