Apparatus for turning product at right angles

A conveyor drop turn system for reorienting product through redirection of product flow at a substantially perpendicular angle includes a first product supply conveyor that, with the assistance of a vacuum control system, delivers product to a second conveyor that is substantially perpendicular to the first product supply conveyor. In accordance with an aspect of the drop turn system, a third spreader conveyor is interposed between the first product supply conveyor and the second conveyor that can be adjusted to cause product to separate in a conveyance direction defined by the second conveyor. More specifically, the third spreader conveyor includes a plurality of endless belts that can be terminated to a variety of positions on a pair of cylindrical pulleys. Through an appropriate arrangement of the belts on the pulleys, product flow can be delivered directly or an offset can be introduced by angling the belts between the pulleys. This offset allows the spreader conveyor to begin separating the product in the direction defined by the second conveyor before the product is transferred to the second conveyor. In accordance with another aspect of the drop turn system, the vacuum control system maintains the product in a stable stream until an individual unit is ready for transfer, in its entirety, to the second conveyor.