Sorting device and quality inspection apparatus using the same

• US 20020060174A1
• Filed: 10/31/2001
• Published: 05/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ishida Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ishida Company Limited
• Inventors: Nakajima, Masayoshi
• Application Number:
  US09/984,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20020060174A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 209/644
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/362 Separating or distributor mechanisms switches for postal sorting B07C3/065; particular discharging devices for B65G47/74
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/366 during free fall of the articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/525 using fluid jets

Abstract

A sorting device in which a nozzle (31) having a flat tip portion (31a) for blowing air to a predetermined article X transported by a pair of transport belts (23, 23) is covered with a nozzle cover (32) whose forward-oriented and rearward-oriented end portions in the direction of air blowing are open and whose forward opening (32a) is located forward of the tip portion (31a) of the nozzle (31). Then, by covering above the transport belts (23, 23) with an upper cover (8), as well as providing a sorting cover (33) whose upper forward and lower rear end portions are open at a position opposed to the nozzle cover (32) with these transport belts (23, 23) provided therebetween, a continuous air path from the nozzle cover (32) to the sorting cover(33) is formed.

Claims

1. A sorting device for discharging a predetermined article to the sideway of a carrying path by blowing air to an article being transported by a conveyer, comprising a nozzle provided on the side of the carrying path of said article for blowing air to said article and a nozzle cover for covering the nozzle whose forward-oriented and rearward-oriented end portions in the air blowing direction are open and whose forward opening is located forward of a tip of the nozzle.

2. The sorting device according to claim 1, wherein an upper cover is provided at a position where at least the nozzle cover is disposed and above the carrying path so as to be continuous with an upper surface of said nozzle cover.

3. The sorting device according to claim 1, wherein a sorting cover for covering surroundings of a sorted article is provided at a position opposed to the nozzle cover with the carrying path provided therebetween.

4. The sorting device according to claim 2, wherein a sorting cover for covering surroundings of a sorted article is provided at a position opposed to the nozzle cover with the carrying path provided therebetween.

5. The sorting device according to claim 1, wherein an air supply opening of the nozzle is formed to be flat whose length in the direction parallel to the carrying path is long.

6. The sorting device according to claim 2, wherein an air supply opening of the nozzle is formed to be flat whose length in the direction parallel to the carrying path is long.

7. The sorting device according to claim 3, wherein an air supply opening of the nozzle is formed to be flat whose length in the direction parallel to the carrying path is long.

8. A quality inspection apparatus using a sorting device for discharging a predetermined article to the sideway of a carrying path by blowing air to the article being transported by a conveyer, comprising a nozzle provided on the side of the carrying path of said article for blowing air to said article and a nozzle cover for covering the nozzle whose forward-oriented and rearward-oriented end portions in the air blowing direction are open and whose forward opening is located forward of a tip of the nozzle.