US Patent 7673732 Transfer plate and method of interfacing to a belt

An apparatus according to the present invention is a transfer plate used in conveying manufactured product or raw materials onto or off from a conveyor belt. Generally, the transfer plate includes a support member and a transfer extension depending from the support member to interface to a predetermined conveyor belt. The support member may be coupled to a support structure to allow multidirectional flotation, or acceptable operational movement, of the plate due to incidental movement of the conveyor belt. The support member is preferably manually couplable to the support structure, thereby preventing the need for tools during repair or replacement. The transfer interface may include fingers or a modular interface plate.