Container storage and delivery system

• US 20040191031A1
• Filed: 03/14/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: System Logistics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Vertique Incorporated
• Inventors: Stingel, Frederick J. III, Stingel, Jeffrey W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,007,791 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/268
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/08 the articles being fed by gravity braking arrangements for roller-ways B65G13/075; separating or stopping elements B65G47/88
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 11/086 for articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2205/04 where the stop device is not adaptable
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2205/06 Cushioned or damping stop devices, e.g. using springs or other mechanical actions
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/82 Rotary or reciprocating members for direct action on articles or materials, e.g. pushers, rakes, shovels means for pushing glass articles onto a conveyor C03B9/453
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/8869 stopping or lifting all articles from a conveyor

Abstract

A container directing apparatus for directing containers carried by a conveyor, includes a lifting device for lifting the containers off of the conveyor. A moving apparatus moves the container off of the lifting device. The lifting device can include a lifting surface which can be inclined upward in the direction of container travel, such that containers move up onto the lifting surface. The lifting surface can then be leveled prior to moving the containers off of the lifting device. A container storage and delivery system and a method for storing and delivering containers are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A container directing apparatus for directing containers carried by a conveyor, comprising:

a lifting device for lifting said containers off of said conveyor; and

a moving apparatus for moving said containers off of said lifting device.

2. The container directing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said conveyor moves in a direction of travel and said lifting device comprises a lifting surface, said lifting device inclining said lifting surface upward in said direction of travel.

3. The container directing apparatus of claim 2, wherein said lifting device, after inclining said lifting surface, substantially levels said lifting surface.

4. The container directing apparatus of claim 3, wherein said lifting device comprises a stop for stopping the movement of said containers on said lifting surface.

5. The container directing apparatus of claim 4, wherein said stop is operatively connected to said lifting surface, whereby lifting of said stop will incline said lifting surface.

6. The container directing apparatus of claim 3, wherein said moving apparatus directs containers off of said lifting surface when said lifting surface is substantially level.

7. The container directing apparatus of claim 3, wherein said lifting device comprises at least one solenoid for inclining said lifting surface and for substantially leveling said lifting surface.

8. The container directing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said conveyor comprises first and second substantially parallel conveyor tracks, and said lifting surface is dimensioned to fit between said tracks.

9. The container directing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said moving apparatus comprises a push plate and means for moving said push plate over said lifting device, wherein said push plate will contact said containers and move said containers off of said lifting device.

10. The container directing apparatus of claim 9, wherein said moving apparatus is capable of directing containers of said lifting surface in at least two directions.

11. A container storage and delivery system, comprising:

a conveyor for conveying containers;

at least one container storage station; and

a container directing apparatus comprising a lifting device for lifting said containers off of said conveyor and a moving apparatus for moving said containers off of said lifting device and into said station.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said conveyor moves in a direction of travel and said lifting device comprises a lifting surface, said lifting device inclining said lifting surface upward in said direction of travel.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said lifting device, after inclining said lifting surface, substantially levels said lifting surface.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said lifting device comprises a stop for stopping the movement of said containers on said lifting surface.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said stop is operatively connected to said lifting surface, whereby lifting of said stop will incline said lifting surface.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein said moving apparatus directs containers off of said lifting surface when said lifting surface is substantially level.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein said lifting device comprises at least one solenoid for inclining said lifting surface and for substantially leveling said lifting surface.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein said conveyor comprises first and second substantially parallel conveyor tracks, and said lifting surface is provided between said tracks.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said conveyor tracks are chain conveyors.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein said moving apparatus comprises a push plate and means for moving said push plate over said lifting device, wherein said push plate will contact said containers and move said containers off of said lifting device.

21. The system of claim 11, wherein said storage station comprises a vertically accumulating storage and delivery apparatus.

22. A container conveying system, comprising:

a conveyor for conveying containers, said conveyor having spaced apart conveyor tracks;

a container directing apparatus comprising a lifting device for lifting said containers off of said conveyor tracks and a moving apparatus for moving said containers off of said lifting device and into said station.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said conveyor moves in a direction of travel and said lifting device comprises a lifting surface, said lifting device inclining said lifting surface upward in said direction of travel.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said lifting device, after inclining said lifting surface, substantially levels said lifting surface.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said lifting device comprises a stop for stopping the movement of said containers on said lifting surface.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said stop is operatively connected to said lifting surface, whereby lifting of said stop will incline said lifting surface.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein said moving apparatus directs containers off of said lifting surface when said lifting surface is substantially level.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein said conveyor tracks are chain conveyors.

29. The system of claim 22, wherein said moving apparatus comprises a push plate and means for moving said push plate over said lifting device, wherein said push plate will contact said containers and move said containers off of said lifting device.

30. The system of claim 22, wherein said storage station comprises a vertically accumulating storage and delivery apparatus.

31. A method of storing and delivering containers, comprising the steps of:

conveying said containers on at least one conveyor having spaced apart conveyor tracks;

directing said containers from said conveyor by lifting said containers off of said conveyor tracks with a lifting device and moving said containers off of said lifting device with a moving apparatus.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said lifting step comprises providing a lifting surface, and inclining said lifting surface upward in the direction of conveyor travel such that containers move upward on said lifting surface.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of leveling said lifting surface after said containers have moved onto said lifting surface, said moving step being performed after said lifting surface has been substantially leveled.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein said containers are directed into a container storage and delivery apparatus.