System, method, and program for sorting objects
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for sorting objects comprising:
- a control unit, a first conveyor sorting matrix, a second conveyor sorting matrix located below said first sorting matrix, said first and second sorting matrices are each adapted to receive and transport one or more objects to be sorted, wherein said first matrix includes one or more primary discharge apertures for discharging said objects to said second matrix, and wherein said second matrix includes one or more primary discharge locations for discharging said objects to one or more collection areas.
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Abstract
An object sorting system (100) includes a first sorting matrix (300), a second sorting matrix (200) crossing said first sorting matrix (300), and a control system (120) for directing the sorting of objects (110) to one of a plurality of sort destinations (501).
65 Citations
56 Claims
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1. A system for sorting objects comprising:
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a control unit, a first conveyor sorting matrix, a second conveyor sorting matrix located below said first sorting matrix, said first and second sorting matrices are each adapted to receive and transport one or more objects to be sorted, wherein said first matrix includes one or more primary discharge apertures for discharging said objects to said second matrix, and wherein said second matrix includes one or more primary discharge locations for discharging said objects to one or more collection areas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system for sorting objects comprising:
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an induction assembly adapted to receive objects for sorting;
an upper sorting circuit adjacent to the induction assembly and adapted to receive objects therefrom;
a lower sorting circuit crossing under said upper sorting circuit and adapted to receive objects therefrom;
a destination assembly adapted for receiving objects from the upper and lower sorting circuits;
one or more sensor assemblies mounted to gather data on the one or more objects; and
a control apparatus connected to the induction assembly, the upper sorting circuit, the lower sorting circuit, and the one or more sensor assemblies and adapted to receive input information therefrom and to send output commands thereto to facilitate the delivery of each input object to the destination assembly. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. An apparatus for receiving and discharging objects to be sorted by a sorting system, the apparatus comprising:
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a pair of spaced apart side pieces, a slanted floor portion sandwiched between the side pieces, and a gate portion movably attached to the floor portion and extending outwardly away therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A system for sorting objects comprising:
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an elevated induction line comprising a longitudinally extending row of conveyor cells adapted to receive and transport from one cell to the next ,one or more objects to be sorted, said induction-line conveyor cells including one or more accumulation cells, one or more information-gathering cells, one or more divert cells, and a discharge cell, a plurality of longitudinally extending, upper sorting ellipses positioned adjacent to said induction line and lower in elevation relative thereto, a plurality of transversely extending, lower sorting ellipses which are oriented beneath said upper sorting ellipses and generally perpendicular thereto, a plurality of sort destinations positioned generally beneath the upper and lower ellipses and configured to receive objects therefrom, a control apparatus comprising a control unit and a plurality of sensor arrays, said information-gathering cell being configured with one of said sensor arrays adapted to determine an object'"'"'s particular sort information including its delivery information, its outer dimensions and its weight, said sort information-gathering cell sensor array comprising a label reader, a dimensioner, and a scale, said upper sorting ellipses and said lower sorting ellipses each comprising a plurality of receptacles adapted to receive said objects and transport them to their respective sort destinations said receptacles comprising a pair of spaced apart, upwardly extending sides, a slanted floor portion sandwiched between the spaced-apart sides, a gate portion movably attached to the floor portion and extending outwardly away therefrom at substantially a right angle thereto, wherein said information-gathering cell sensor array sends said sort information to said control apparatus for processing and the determination of a path of travel for each object from the induction line to one of the final destinations.
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56. A method of sorting objects comprising the steps of:
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providing a control unit to control the sort process, providing a first sorting matrix, providing a second sorting matrix located below said first sorting matrix, providing a plurality of collection destinations, transferring an object to be sorted from the first matrix to the second matrix, transferring said transferred object from the second matrix to one of the collection destinations, providing for one or more divert destinations in the event an object cannot be transferred from the first matrix to the second matrix, and providing for one of more divert destinations in the event an object cannot be transferred from the second matrix to the collection destination.
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Specification