SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SORTING ITEMS
First Claim
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1. A sorting and sequencing system for mass-produced, customized objects, each of the objects being marked with a code that includes group data and sequence data indicating a sequence within a group, the system comprising:
- a code-reading mechanism operable to read the code on each of the objects and to associate each of the objects with the group data and the sequence data for that object;
a sorting mechanism responsive to the code-reading mechanism and operable to direct each of the objects into one of a plurality of buffer locations based on the group data of the object, thereby sorting the objects into a plurality of groups by buffer location; and
a sequencing mechanism responsive to the code-reading mechanism and operable to place each of the objects in each of the groups into a sequence based on the sequence data of the object.
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Abstract
A system and associated method is provided for sorting parts, which includes a conveyor system for receiving and circulating a plurality of randomly presented parts, a sorting buffer for accumulating selected parts from the plurality of randomly presented parts in an assigned buffer location, and a sequencing system for sequencing the accumulated selected parts.
5 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A sorting and sequencing system for mass-produced, customized objects, each of the objects being marked with a code that includes group data and sequence data indicating a sequence within a group, the system comprising:
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a code-reading mechanism operable to read the code on each of the objects and to associate each of the objects with the group data and the sequence data for that object; a sorting mechanism responsive to the code-reading mechanism and operable to direct each of the objects into one of a plurality of buffer locations based on the group data of the object, thereby sorting the objects into a plurality of groups by buffer location; and a sequencing mechanism responsive to the code-reading mechanism and operable to place each of the objects in each of the groups into a sequence based on the sequence data of the object. - 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)
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24. A method for sorting and sequencing mass-produced, customized objects, each of the objects being marked with a code including group data and sequence data indicating a sequence within a group, the system comprising:
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reading the code on each of the objects and associating each of the objects with the group data and the sequence data; sorting the objects into groups by directing each of the objects into one of a plurality of buffer locations based on the group data of the object, thereby sorting the objects into a plurality of groups by buffer location; and sequencing the objects by placing the objects in each of the groups into a sequence based on the sequence data of the object. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification