Abstract:
The present invention reveals a sorting device, positioned above and orientated across a plurality of conveyors, capable of diverting objects between the conveyors or removing objects entirely from the conveyors, based on the object's destination location or some other characteristic. To accomplish its purpose, the device comprises: a primary conveyor; a secondary conveyor; a monorail positioned above and orientated across the conveyors; a carriage that mounts the monorail; a linear actuator that drives the carriage side to side the length of the monorail; a paddle attached to the carriage that extends downward to contact the objects; a wiper located along the bottom edge of the paddle that is biased in contact with the conveyors; and a controller capable of positioning the carriage so the paddle contacts the object to be diverted and pushes it between conveyors or from conveyors to adjacent destination locations.
Abstract:
A package conveying system including an on-conveyor pushing assembly powered by an off-conveyor power source, with a "floating" power connection interface synchronized with the conveyor. This floating power connection interface can be provided by an endless air-filled "inner tube" having air ports thereon, can be provided by an endless belt having air-supplying nozzles thereon supplied with air from corresponding air supply tubes, or can be supplied by use of an endless belt having electrical contacts thereon.
Abstract:
An optically-guided indicia reader 10 system including a conveyor 12 carrying a parcel 14 bearing a destination address 20. An illumination source 24 defines a static area 26 to assist the positioning of the parcel 14 on the conveyor 12. A scanner 32 and a computer memory 42 of a character recognition system 40 are operated so as to store an image of a region defined with respect to the moving illuminated area 26. A sensor assembly 28, including a height sensor and reflectivity sensor, is located toward the downstream location of the illumination source 24. The scanner 32 is focused in response to height data from the height sensor, and the gain of the scanner 32 is adjusted in response to reflectivity data from the reflectivity sensor, so that the scanner 32 generates a clear image of the top of the parcel 14 as the parcel 14 passes beneath the scanner 32. A photo sensor 45 is positioned upstream from the scanner 32 to detect the presence of the parcel 14. The video data generated by the scanner 32 may be stored in the computer memory 42 only when the beam 50 of the photo sensor 45 is broken. A time delay may be imposed to account for the distance between the beam 50 and the scan line 34.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for ejecting packages from a conveyor belt. A pusher member is connected to two substantially parallel bellows so that upon actuation of the bellows, the pusher member will travel across the surface of a conveyor belt segment and push off the package located thereon. The conveyor belt is made up of plurality of conveyor segments. Each conveyor segment includes pusher member located thereon.
Abstract:
A conveyor sorter includes diverter stations for diagonally diverting parcels at high speed to either side of the conveyor, or passing the articles straight through without diversion. Each station provides two diverters interleaved or superimposed in the same space, the diverters providing diverting forces toward opposite sides of the conveyor These diverters can be cycled to provide a net motion straight through the diverter station, or operated individually to divert parcels off a selected side of the conveyor. The diverters can also be used to center parcels passing through a diverter station
Abstract:
A tilt tray sorting system with a high speed, reliable, mechanical actuator for tilting the trays, suitable for tilting trays carried on a belt conveyor. A plurality of tilt tray assemblies include an actuator, mounted for movement with a tilt tray and for movement relative to the tray. The actuator includes a trigger arm extending below the tray, preferably through an opening in a belt that carries the tray. A trip mechanism is selectively positioned in the path of the trigger arm to move the actuator and tilt the tray.
Abstract:
An extendible conveyor for conveying material to be loaded or unloaded from a trailer includes a telescoping boom supporting an endless conveyor belt for rotation about the telescoping boom at any extension length. A belt take-up is provided external to the telescoping boom for releasing or taking-up excess belt corresponding to the movement of the telescoping boom. A belt tension control arrangement which includes a control circuit and an extension sensor is provided to coordinate the release or take-up of excess conveyor belt corresponding to the telescoping boom movement while maintaining the conveyor belt at a desired belt tension. The extendible conveyor is pivotally supported for accommodating varying trailer bed heights and material loading conditions.
Abstract:
A conveyor diverter that is capable of engaging objects, such as packages of varying size and weight, traveling at high speed along a conveyor, without dataaging impact, and can reliably divert such objects off the conveyor to an output location without any decrease in conveyor speed. The diverter may include a frame pivotally mounted for rotation about an axis adjacent to the conveyor, a belt mounted about a pair of pulleys, one of which is movable against a spring. The belt deforms upon contact by the articles. After an article and the diverter come into engagement with each other, the swinging speed of the diverter, and, optionally, the speed of the diverter belt, may be accelerated to increase the exit speed of the article.
Abstract:
A method for loading and closing containers, such as bags, with flexible open ends employs a chute with an inflatable bladder at the open end, and an elastic closure device. A flexible open end of the container is placed around the end of the chute and the inflatable bladder. The elastic closure device is placed around the open end of the container. The bladder is inflated to secure the container to the chute. Material is delivered into the container through the chute. When a specified quantity of material is loaded into the container, the bladder is deflated causing the container to slide off the chute. When the container slides off the chute, the elastic closure device contracts and closes the flexible open end of container by constricting the size of the flexible open end of the container such that material will not fall out during shipment. Multiple chutes may be supported on a moveable support structure and operated to provide a semi-automatic container loading and closing apparatus and method. The chutes may have a circular cross-sectional shape, or, alternatively, may have a rectangular cross-sectional shape, and in particular, a square cross-sectional shape. An alternate closure device adapted to a container adjacent the open end, provides a spring closure assembly, which includes opposed wire springs, for causing the container open end to form a rectangular, including a square, container opening when opened. A container incorporating a spring closure assembly is particularly suited for use with a chute having a rectangular cross-sectional shape.
Abstract:
A method for loading and closing containers with flexible open ends employs a chute with an inflatable bladder at the open end, and an elastic closure device. A flexible open end of the container is placed around the end of the chute and the inflatable bladder. The elastic closure device is placed around the open end of the container. The bladder is inflated to secure the container to the chute. Material is delivered into the container through the chute. When a specified quantity of material is loaded into the container, the bladder is deflated causing the container to slide off the chute. When the container slides off the chute, the elastic closure device contracts and closes the flexible open end of container by constricting the size of the flexible open end of the container such that material will not fall out during shipment.