Abstract:
In an apparatus and method for retrieving articles from a conveyor, a carriage member moves bidirectionally along a column member between an upper position and a lower position. In the upper position, the carriage member receives an article released from the conveyor, while in the lower position, the article is manually removed from the carriage member. Upper and lower proximity sensors control movement of the carriage member in response to this receipt and removal of the article.
Abstract:
A sorting conveyor system is disclosed having a computer controlled first sort conveyor stage and a final sort conveyor stage. Articles to be sorted are identified and loaded onto a first sort conveyor which sorts the articles into groups and routes each group to one or more holding rails coupled via a transfer rail to one or more final sort conveyors. As a complete group of articles is assembled on one or more holding rails, the group of articles is transferred to a final sort conveyor. Identification information for each article transferred to the final sort conveyor is also transferred to the final sort conveyor. The final sort conveyor then performs a final sort on each group of articles transferred thereto.
Abstract:
A high-speed loader loads garments onto a conveyor using two metering devices, each controlled by a computer. The second metering device is located closer to the conveyor than the first, holds only one hanger at a time and can easily be cleared to allow garments on the conveyor to pass unimpeded. The metering devices allow the computer to triple-buffer the hangers by dividing the loader into three distinct sections. The first buffer is located before the first metering device and can hold several garments physically far enough away from the conveyor to allow garments to pass. Hangers are released by the first metering device one at a time to a second buffer, which is between the first and second metering device. The second metering device is a simple air stop positioned close to the conveyor. The location of the second metering device minimizes the length and uncertainty of the transit time of the hanger from the loader to the conveyor. The third section of the loader is a load ramp that conveys the hanger from the second metering device directly to the conveyor, which third buffer also holds only one garment. The hanger on the load ramp is removed by the motion of the conveyor, at which time the second metering device will release the hanger in the secondary buffer to the load ramp. At this time, the first metering device releases a single hanger to the second metering device.
Abstract:
An inflatable travel aid having an inflatable arrangement having a hole for supporting at least a periphery of a face of a user and an additional through hole for the inflatable arrangement, the hole for supporting at least the periphery of the face of the user intersecting with the additional through hole, and a least one inflation device configured to provide air to the inflatable arrangement, the inflation device also configured to remove air from the inflatable arrangement.
Abstract:
A computer controlled powered storage rail for use as a bridge between conveyor systems comprises a motor driven chain that is shaped to receive hangers bearing articles of clothing from a first conveyor, and transports them to a second conveyor. A hanger metering device located between the rail and the second conveyor enables the hangers to be fed to the second conveyor singly, and a control system provides that this occurs only when a suitable space is available on the second conveyor for receipt of the hanger. The rail itself may further serve as a temporary storage buffer for articles in transit between conveyors.