CROSS-BELT SYSTEM AND AUTOMATED ITEM DIVERSION

• US 20160039611A1
• Filed: 10/01/2014
• Published: 02/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solution Net Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Datalogic Adc, Inc. (Datalogic S.p.A.)
• Inventors: HOYNASH, PETER, VASSURA, STEFANO, SROKA, STANLEY
• Granted Patent: US 9,493,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/08 using arrangements of conveyors transport of sheets B65H; transport in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/04 Sorting according to size sorting devices as a component of the automatic supply and removal of workpieces B23Q7/12
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/34 Sorting according to other particular properties material testing per se G01N; quality control G07C3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/36 Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution sorting according to destination B07C3/003, B07C3/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/345 the surfaces being equipped with a conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2207/18 Crossing conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 43/08 Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed or discharged and controlling the discharging devices B65G47/42

Abstract

A sorting method, cross-belt system, and computer-storage media are provided for conveying and sorting items. The cross-belt system includes a plurality of interlocking palettes that form a conveyor belt. Each palette may be engaged by a series of rollers that are triggered to discharge items on the palettes to appropriate loading areas. The rollers are configured to move a belt of the palettes in one of at least two directions to a selected loading area that is positioned on either side of the cross-belt system.

Claims

1. A variable pitch cross-belt system, the system comprising:

a plurality of interlocking palettes that form a conveyor belt; and

one or more diverter components below the conveyor belt, wherein the diverter components include;

a series of rollers that lift to engage the palettes and divert items on the palettes to one or more loading areas, and

a controller to trigger one or more rollers in the series of rollers to engage the palettes.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the items are placed on the palettes.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the distance between items on the palettes varies.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the size of the items vary.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein two or more palettes are used for large-sized items.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein items are retails products.

7. The system of claim 2, further comprising a device for automatic item identification for item diversion.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the device for automatic item identification is selected from a scanner to scan images that encode information about the items, wherein the encoded information is processed by the controller to divert items to an appropriate loading area;

or a camera to capture images of the product information that is processed by the controller to divert the items to an appropriate loading area.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller sequences one or more rollers based on the size of the items on the palettes.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein the palettes unlock when curving under the cross-belt system.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein the rollers are angled to move the items off the palette.

12. The system of claim 2, wherein the rollers are angled at +45 degrees or −

45 degrees or some angle less than 45 degrees.

13. The system of claim 2, wherein the diverter component may have at least two series of one or more rollers.

14. The system of claim 2, wherein each of the series of one or more rollers diverts items on the palettes in either direction.

15. The system of claim 2, wherein each of the at least two series of one or more rollers diverts items on the palettes in alternate directions.

16. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the series of one or more rollers that divert items on the palettes is a back-up series of one or more rollers.

17. The system of claim 2, further comprising edge protectors that prevent items from falling into the cross-belt sorter at the sides.

18. The system of claim 2, further comprising finger guards that prevent objects from entering at the ends of the cross-belt system.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising a chain that engages the underside of the interlocking palettes.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a plurality of sprockets that engage the chain.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein movement of the chain causes palettes of the conveyor belt to move between the two ends of the conveyor belt.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein at least one sprocket set is motorized.

23. A method of sorting articles, comprising:

moving items on palettes to an offloading area, wherein the palettes carry one or more items;

obtaining information on the one or more items;

selecting an item for discharge based on size, temperature, expiration date, or required destination for the item; and

discharging the selected one or more items by engaging a series of rollers that are located below the palettes, wherein a processor triggers the rollers to engage with the palette.

24. A palette configured to form a conveyor belt:

the palette including a chamber that houses;

one or more crowned rollers,

a belt that surrounds the crowned rollers, and

one or more idler rollers that engages a bottom of the belt that surrounds the crowned rollers.

25. The palette of claim 24, further comprising a support member extending between adjacent palettes, said support member having an interlocking pattern that locks adjacent palettes together.

26. The palette of claim 24, wherein a plurality of the interlocked palettes are movable together along a conveying path.

27. The palette of claim 26, wherein the belt is moved to discharge an article from said conveyor belt to an offloading area that is nearly perpendicular to the conveying path.

28. The palette of claim 27, wherein the belt is moveable in at least two directions toward the selected offloading area.

29. A cross-belt system comprising:

an endless conveying path having a first side and a second side, said first side of said endless conveying path being generally opposite said second side and comprised of interlocking palettes;

a capturing component to proximate to the conveying path to obtain information on items, including expiration date, on the endless conveying path; and

a control, which is operable, to cause the palettes forming the endless conveying path to move the items along said conveying path and to discharge the items from said palettes as said palettes are continuously moved along said conveying path based on item attributes.

30. The cross-belt system of claim 29, wherein the palettes have belts that are moveable in at least two directions toward the selected offloading area, said palette belts being movable to discharge articles at said selected offloading area while said interlocking palettes maintain continuous movement along said conveying path.

31. The cross-belt system of claim 29, wherein the palettes'"'"' belts are moveable orthogonally to the conveying path.

32. The cross belt system of claim 29, wherein the palettes'"'"' belts are moveable by within the palette in response to lift that is received from a series of passive rollers below the palettes as the palettes travel along the conveying path.

33. A system for diverting one or more items of a transaction to a receiving area designated for said transaction, the system comprising:

a feed component configured to transport the one or more items to an identification device and to a diversion belt;

an identification device configured to identify each of the one or more items comprising the transaction and to select one of a plurality of receiving areas for the transaction, wherein the selected receiving area is available;

a diversion belt configured to transport each of the one or more items to the selected receiving area; and

a plurality of receiving areas, wherein each of the plurality of receiving areas may be selected by the identification device for separate transactions.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the system is modular such that the diversion belt may be extended by one or more predefined lengths, and one or more preconfigured receiving areas may be added to the one or more predefined lengths of the diversion belt.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the identification device identifies each of the one or more items using a barcode, dimensions, label(s), logo(s), weight, color, packaging, shape, size, or a combination thereof.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the identification device is configured to select an exception area for receipt of one of the one or more items upon occurrence of a failure to identify the one item, a requirement of input prior to diverting the one item to a receiving area, a determination the one item is unfit for sale, an indication the one item has a security feature, or a combination thereof.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the diversion belt is further configured to transport the one item to the exception area in response to selection of the exception area by the identification device.

38. The system of claim 37, further comprising a user interface configured to receive user input comprising verification of a purchaser'"'"'s age, verification of a purchaser'"'"'s identity, identification of the one item, confirmation of disposal of the one item, confirmation of inactivation of a security feature, or a combination thereof.

39. The system of claim 33, wherein the plurality of receiving areas include a configuration of more than three receiving areas located near the terminus of the diversion belt.

40. The system of claim 33, wherein the identification device selects at least one of the plurality of receiving areas based on the number of items comprising the transaction.

41. The method of claim 33, wherein the identification device is further configured to select more than one of the plurality of receiving areas, wherein the more than one receiving areas are adjacent to each other, and wherein the selection is based on a total number of the one or more items comprising the transaction, an item type of the one or more items comprising the transaction, a number of available receiving areas within the plurality of receiving areas, or a combination thereof.

42. A check-out apparatus for automated sorting of goods corresponding to a purchase transaction, the apparatus comprising:

a first belt for receiving goods and having a first barrier for separating the first belt from a merge belt, wherein the first barrier controls the flow of goods from the first belt to the merge belt;

a second belt for receiving goods and having a second barrier for separating the second belt from the merge belt, wherein the second barrier controls the flow of goods from the second belt to the merge belt;

one or more sensors configured to detect goods received by one or more of the first belt and the second belt;

a merge belt for receiving goods from the first belt when the first barrier is set to an open position, receiving goods from the second belt when the second barrier is set to an open position, and transporting the goods to an identification zone;

an identification device configured to automatically identify goods when said goods are in the identification zone and for selecting a receiving bay to receive the goods;

a third belt for receiving the goods from the merge belt and for diverting goods to the selected receiving bay; and

one or more receiving bays for selection by the identification device and for receiving the goods from the third belt.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the third belt is a cross-belt configured to transport goods in at least three directions.

44. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to measure a speed of goods received on the first belt and a speed of goods received on the second belt, compare the speed of goods received on the first belt to the speed of goods received on the second belt;

and wherein the apparatus is configured to select the belt having the fastest speed and manipulate the corresponding barrier in order to allow the flow of goods to the merge belt.

45. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the one or more sensors measure the presence and distance of goods received on the first belt and the presence and distance of goods received on the second belt and wherein the apparatus selects to manipulate the barrier that corresponds to the feed belt having the shortest distance in order to allow the flow of goods to the merge belt.

46. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein when the one or more sensors determines that no goods remain on a feed belt, the apparatus selects to manipulate the barrier corresponding to said belt in order to stop the flow of goods to the merge belt.

47. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the receipt of goods by the merge belt alternates between the first belt and the second belt for separate transactions.

48. The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising a fourth belt for receiving goods and having a corresponding barrier for separating the fourth belt from the merge belt, wherein the corresponding barrier is configured to control the flow of received goods from the fourth belt to the merge belt.

49. A method for diverting items in a transaction to a receiving area, the method comprising:

transporting one or more items received on a feed belt, the one or more items comprising one purchase transaction;

identifying the one or more items comprising the purchase transaction during transport;

processing purchase of each of the one or more items comprising the purchase transaction upon identification;

determining to dispatch the one or more items comprising the purchase transaction to a selected receiving area; and

dispatching the one or more items to the selected receiving area.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising determining to dispatch one of the one or more items to an exception area separate from the selected receiving area, the determination based on an inability to automatically identify the one item, detection of damage to the one item, determining the one item has met an expiration date, determining that verification is required for the purchase of the one item, or a combination thereof.

51. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

receiving a request for a purchase transaction comprising at least one item, and corresponding to a customer shopping list; and

receiving, for fulfillment of the purchase transaction request, one or more items that are the same or similar to the at least one item of the purchase request.

52. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

identifying, among the one or more items, an item unfit for purchase,

dispatching the unfit item for disposal; and

updating the processed purchase of the unfit item to reflect the disposal of the unfit item.