VERTICAL ACTION SORTER AND METHOD OF SORTING ARTICLES
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vertical action sorter comprising:
- at least one side frame;
a sorter module movably supported by said at least one side frame and operable to selectively discharge articles at (i) an upper discharge location when in a raised position, and (ii) a lower discharge location when in a lower position, said sorter module having a conveying surface, an intake end, a discharge end, and left and right side portions;
a support track at one of said sorter module and said at least one side frame, said support track having a track surface with a track surface shape;
an actuator member coupled to the other of said sorter module and said at least one side frame, said actuator member engaging said track surface of said support track and being movable between first and second positions along said track surface;
a linear actuator coupled to said actuator member, said linear actuator operable to move said actuator member along said track surface between said first and second positions; and
wherein said sorter module is movable to said raised position by said linear actuator moving said actuator member along said track surface to said first position for discharging articles at the upper discharge location, said sorter module is movable to said lowered position by said linear actuator moving said actuator member along said track surface to said second position for discharging the articles at the lower discharge location, and wherein the shape of said track surface affects the acceleration of said sorter module as it moves between said raised position and said lowered position.
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Abstract
A vertical action sorter is provided along a transport conveyor for selectively diverting articles from the conveyor to a different location, such as a bin or another conveyor. Each sorter includes a sorter module that is selectively raised and lowered in response to an actuator, such as a linear actuator, that drives actuator members along respective tracks associated with the sorter module. Each track includes a contoured surface that controls the rate at which the sorter module will be raised and lowered in response to the linear actuator. A cross member may be provided for evenly supporting the sorter module as it is raised and lowered.
14 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A vertical action sorter comprising:
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at least one side frame; a sorter module movably supported by said at least one side frame and operable to selectively discharge articles at (i) an upper discharge location when in a raised position, and (ii) a lower discharge location when in a lower position, said sorter module having a conveying surface, an intake end, a discharge end, and left and right side portions; a support track at one of said sorter module and said at least one side frame, said support track having a track surface with a track surface shape; an actuator member coupled to the other of said sorter module and said at least one side frame, said actuator member engaging said track surface of said support track and being movable between first and second positions along said track surface; a linear actuator coupled to said actuator member, said linear actuator operable to move said actuator member along said track surface between said first and second positions; and wherein said sorter module is movable to said raised position by said linear actuator moving said actuator member along said track surface to said first position for discharging articles at the upper discharge location, said sorter module is movable to said lowered position by said linear actuator moving said actuator member along said track surface to said second position for discharging the articles at the lower discharge location, and wherein the shape of said track surface affects the acceleration of said sorter module as it moves between said raised position and said lowered position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A vertical action sorter comprising:
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at least one side frame; a plurality of sorter modules arranged in tandem, each of said sorter modules pivotably supported by said at least one side frame and operable to selectively discharge articles at either of an upper discharge location and a lower discharge location, said sorter module having a conveying surface, an intake end, a driven roller at said intake end, and a discharge end, said conveying surface for selectively conveying articles along the vertical action sorter and diverting articles off of the vertical action sorter at said discharge end of said sorter module; an endless drive belt supported at said at least one side frame, and a drive for driving said drive belt, said endless drive belt being operable to continuously drive said driven rollers of said sorter modules when said sorter module is positioned to discharge articles at the upper discharge location and when said sorter module is positioned to discharge articles at the lower discharge location. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24)
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21. A vertical action sorter comprising:
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at least one side frame; a sorter module movably supported by said at least one side frame and operable to selectively discharge articles at either of an upper discharge location and a lower discharge location, said sorter module having a conveying surface, an intake end, a discharge end, and left and right side portions; a left support track at said left portion of said sorter module, said left support track having a left contoured surface, and a right support track at said right portion of said sorter module, said right support track having a right contoured surface; a movable cross member disposed below said sorter module, said movable cross member having left and right end portions and a longitudinal axis that is generally perpendicular to said at least one side frame; a left actuator member in movable engagement with said left contoured track surface, and a right actuator member in movable engagement with said right contoured track surface, each of said left and right actuator members coupled to a respective one of said left and right end portions of said movable cross member, wherein said left and right actuator members are movable between first and second positions along said respective left and right contoured track surfaces; a linear actuator coupled between said movable cross member and said at least one side frame, said linear actuator operable to move said left and right actuator members simultaneously along said respective left and right contoured track surfaces between said first and second positions, wherein said cross member is movable in a direction that is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and is movable substantially without changing the orientation of said longitudinal axis, so that said left and right actuator members move along said respective left and right contoured track surfaces in a synchronized manner; and wherein said sorter module is movable to a raised position by said linear actuator moving said left and right actuator members simultaneously along said track surfaces to said first position for discharging articles at the upper discharge location, said sorter module is movable to a lowered position by said linear actuator moving said left and right actuator members simultaneously along said track surfaces to said second position for discharging the articles at the lower discharge location.
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25. A method of sorting articles on a conveyor, said method comprising:
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positioning a sorter module at a side frame, said sorter module having a conveying surface, an intake end, a discharge end, and a support track having a contoured track surface, said sorter module comprising at least one driven pulley operable to convey articles along said conveying surface from said intake end to said discharge end, said sorter module being pivotable between a raised position and a lowered position to raise and lower at least said discharge end of said sorter module; coupling a linear actuator between said at least one side frame and a movable actuator member that is in supportive contact with said contoured track surface of said support track; conveying an article along said conveying surface from said intake end toward said discharge end; before the article reaches said discharge end of said sorter module, actuating said linear actuator to move said actuator member from a first position along said contoured track surface to a second position along said contoured surface to pivot said sorter module by lowering at least said discharge end of said sorter module; and discharging the article from said discharge end of said sorter module while said sorter module is at said lowered position.
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Specification