Singulator Conveyor System for Rigid Parcels and Large Bags of Small Parcels

• US 20150122613A1
• Filed: 10/21/2014
• Published: 05/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fives Intralogistics Corp.
• Original Assignee: Fives Intralogistics Corp.
• Inventors: Schroader, Steven Vann, Grant, Patrick H.
• Application Number:
  US14/121,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20150122613A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/443
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 1/00 Measures preceding sorting according to destination
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 1/04 Forming a stream from a bulk; Controlling the stream, e.g. spacing the articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 13/10 Switching arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/256 removing incorrectly orientated articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/32 Applications of transfer devices such devices per se B65G47/74
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/684 with recirculation of articles forming a buffer

Abstract

A singulator conveyor system having conveyors arranged in adjacent parallel configuration for separating and orienting side-by-side packages having unequal loading, different sized packages (e.g., boxes, flats and softpacks), partially filled bags, long and slender articles, and packages having an offset center of gravity. Two of more small items abreast of one another are separated while permitting large items to pass thorough the singulator even when the item is a large bag of small items. A first conveyor lane includes a high friction surface for conveying articles forward along a vertical side wall. A second conveyor adjacent thereto has a low friction surface including both forward and lateral conveying forces urging parcels forward and away from the first conveyor and side wall toward a third conveyor having a high friction conveying surface wherein the longitudinal edge of the second conveyor is below the first conveyor and above the third conveyor.

Claims

1. A singulator conveying system comprising:

at least three driven conveyors arranged in an adjacent parallel configuration;

a first conveyor having a high friction surface for conveying articles forward along a vertical side wall where incoming items are positioned there along;

a second conveyor having a low friction surface disposed adjacent said first conveyor at a lower elevation, said second conveyor comprising a series of driven rollers having rotary axes skewed relative to a longitudinal direction of travel so that the packages are conveyed simultaneously longitudinally forward and laterally outwardly away from said first conveyor and said vertical side wall, said second conveyor being transversely inclined and angled upward forming an elevated outer longitudinal edge;

said second conveyor having an outer longitudinal edge disposed at a higher level than an outer longitudinal edge of an adjacent third conveyor; and

said third conveyor having a high friction surface adjacent said second conveyor for conveying articles forward, said high friction surface having an inner longitudinal edge at a lower elevation than an outer longitudinal edge of said second conveyor.

2. The singulator conveying system of claim 1, wherein said first conveyor and said second conveyor are in a horizontal plane.

3. The singulator conveying system of claim 2, wherein said first conveyor and said second conveyor are in the same horizontal plane.

4. The singulator conveying system of claim 1, wherein said second conveyor is angled upward in a range of from 1 to 30 degrees relative to a horizontal plane.

5. The singulator conveying system of claim 1, wherein said second conveyor is angles upward in a range of from 5 to 25 degrees relative to a horizontal plane.

6. The singulator conveying system of claim 1, further including a feed conveyor having a low friction surface and a series of driven rollers whose rotary axes are skewed relative to a longitudinal direction of travel for conveying packages simultaneously longitudinally forward and laterally inwardly toward said first conveyor.

7. The singulator conveying system of claim 1, further including a downstream conveyor.

8. The singulator conveying system of claim 1, wherein said first, second, and third, conveyors are selected from the group consisting of endless belt conveyors, endless roller conveyors, and combinations thereof.

9. The singulator conveying system of claim 1, wherein said high friction surface comprises a plastic, an elastomer, a rubber, a coating, and combinations thereof.

10. The singulator conveying system of claim 1 wherein said low friction surface comprises a metal, a plastic, a graphite material or a TEFLON material.

11. The singulator conveying system of claim 1, wherein said first conveyor high friction surface comprises a belt, said second conveyor low friction surface comprises rollers, and said third conveyor high friction surface comprises a belt.

12. A singulator conveying system comprising:

a driven first conveyor having a high friction surface for conveying articles along in a forward direction in a generally horizontal plane forming a first conveying lane;

a vertical side wall extending along an outer longitudinal edge of said first conveyor;

a driven second conveyor positioned adjacent to an inner longitudinal edge of said first conveyor, said second conveyor having a lower longitudinal edge positioned below said first conveyor extending upward therefrom at a selected angle forming an inclined plane and at a selected distance therefrom, said second conveyor having a low friction surface and a series of driven rollers whose rotary axes are skewed relative to a longitudinal direction of travel for conveying packages simultaneously longitudinally forward and laterally outwardly away from said first conveyor and said vertical side wall;

a driven third conveyor having a high friction surface for conveying articles along in a forward direction in a generally horizontal plane forming a third conveying lane disposed adjacent a second edge of said second conveyor;

a transition zone formed between said second conveyor transversely inclining upward from said first conveyor to said third conveyor, said second conveyor having an upper longitudinal edge extending toward an inside longitudinal edge of said third conveyor, said upper longitudinal edge of said second conveyor elevated at a selected distance below said inside edge of said third conveyor for guiding, rotating, aligning and urging said articles upwardly toward and into engagement with said third conveyor having an adjacent edge disposed at a lower level; and

a drop off zone situated adjacent an outer edge of said third conveyor for receiving packages or bags which fall from said third conveyor.

13. The singulator conveying system of claim 12, further including a feed conveyor having a low friction surface and a series of driven rollers whose rotary axes are skewed relative to a longitudinal direction of travel for conveying packages simultaneously longitudinally forward and laterally inwardly toward said first conveyor.

14. The singulator conveying system of claim 12, wherein said angle of inclination is from 1 to 30 degrees relative to horizontal.

15. The singulator conveying system of claim 12, further including a downstream conveyor.

16. The singulator conveying system of claim 12, wherein said first, second, and third, conveyors are selected from the group consisting of endless belt conveyors, endless roller conveyors, and combinations thereof.

17. The singulator conveying system of claim 12, wherein said high friction surface comprises a plastic, an elastomer, a rubber, a coating, and combinations thereof.

18. The singulator conveying system of claim 12 wherein said low friction surface comprises a metal, a plastic, a graphite material or a TEFLON material.

19. The singulator conveying system of claim 12, wherein said first conveyor high friction surface comprises a belt, said second conveyor low friction surface comprises rollers, and said third conveyor high friction surface comprises a belt.

20. The method of conveying articles, the method utilizing at least three driven conveyors arranged in an adjacent parallel configuration, a first conveyor having a high friction surface for conveying articles forward along a vertical side wall where incoming items are positioned there along, a second conveyor having a low friction surface disposed adjacent said first conveyor at a lower elevation, said second conveyor comprising a series of driven rollers having rotary axes skewed relative to a longitudinal direction of travel so that the packages are conveyed simultaneously longitudinally forward and laterally outwardly away from said first conveyor, said second conveyor being transversely inclined and angled upward, a drop off zone situated adjacent an outer edge of said first conveyor and said second conveyor for receiving packages which fall therefrom, a third conveyor having a high friction surface adjacent said second conveyor for conveying articles forward having a longitudinal edge at a higher elevation than said second conveyor, the method comprising the steps of:

a) conveying in a forward direction;

articles contacting only the first conveyor high friction surface conveying lane, and articles contacting both the first and second low friction surface conveying lane; and

b) moving, laterally away from said first conveyor high friction surface conveying lane, articles contacting said second conveying lane and being out of contact with said first conveying lane upward and over a longitudinal edge extending below a third conveyor having a high friction surface lane conveying in a forward direction moving said articles forward and laterally until the center of gravity of said articles extends over said third conveyor where said articles are aligned in a single file thereon.

21. The method of conveying articles of claim 20, further comprising the step of rotating said articles onto said third conveyor.

22. The method of conveying articles of claim 20, wherein an longitudinal edge of said second conveyor extends below a longitudinal edge of said third conveyor.