Diverter gate with wear attachment

Abstract

A flat article handling system diverter gate includes a wear attachment. The wear attachment is easily replaceable without having to remove the diverter gate from the flat article handling system, or without having to shut down the system for extended periods of time. The wear attachment may be provided as an add-on to a conventional diverter gate, or as a replaceable diverter panel of the diverter gate.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A diverter gate for a flat article handling system, the diverter gate comprising: 
 a diverter gate member; and    a wear attachment coupled to the diverter gate member.    
     
     
         2 . The diverter gate of  claim 1 , wherein the wear attachment is replaceable.  
     
     
         3 . The diverter gate of  claim 1 , wherein the diverter gate member and the wear attachment are coupled by a coupling device.  
     
     
         4 . The diverter gate of  claim 3 , wherein the coupling device includes a lock arm extension adapted to engage the diverter gate member.  
     
     
         5 . The diverter gate of  claim 3 , wherein the coupling device includes at least one positioning member adapted to engage the diverter gate member.  
     
     
         6 . The diverter gate of  claim 3 , wherein the coupling device includes a threaded fastener.  
     
     
         7 . The diverter gate of  claim 3 , wherein the coupling device includes a first part of a male-female coupling on the wear attachment and a second part of the male-female coupling on the diverter gate member.  
     
     
         8 . The diverter gate of  claim 7 , wherein the male-female coupling includes a dovetail connection.  
     
     
         9 . The diverter gate of  claim 1 , wherein the wear attachment covers a diverter panel of the diverter gate member.  
     
     
         10 . The diverter gate of  claim 1 , wherein the wear attachment forms a diverter panel of the diverter gate member.  
     
     
         11 . The diverter gate of  claim 1 , wherein the diverter gate member includes at least one diverter panel support adapted to be moved into a path of a flat article by a mover.  
     
     
         12 . The diverter gate of  claim 11 , wherein the diverter gate member includes two diverter panel supports coupled by a support member.  
     
     
         13 . The diverter gate of  claim 11 , wherein the mover is an electric motor.  
     
     
         14 . A diverter gate for a flat article handling system, the diverter gate comprising: 
 means for selectively diverting a flat article; and    means for preventing wear of the means for selectively diverting.    
     
     
         15 . A diverter gate for a flat article handling system including: 
 a diverter gate member;    a replaceable wear attachment for the diverter gate member; and    a coupling device for coupling the wear attachment to the diverter gate member.    
     
     
         16 . The diverter gate of  claim 15 , wherein the wear attachment covers a diverter panel of the diverter gate member.  
     
     
         17 . The diverter gate of  claim 15 , wherein the wear attachment forms a diverter panel of the diverter gate member.  
     
     
         18 . The diverter gate of  claim 15 , wherein the diverter gate member includes at least one diverter panel support adapted to be moved into a path of a flat article by a mover.  
     
     
         19 . The diverter gate of  claim 18 , wherein the diverter gate member includes two diverter panel supports coupled by a support member.  
     
     
         20 . The diverter gate of  claim 18 , wherein the mover is an electric motor.