POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT SORTER WITH PARALLEL DIVERT AND DIAGONAL DISCHARGE
First Claim
1. A positive displacement sorter, comprising:
- a conveying surface configured to convey articles in a longitudinal direction;
at least one diagonal take-away lane, extending diagonally from said conveying surface to receive articles being diverted from said conveying surface;
a plurality of pushers configured to move together in a lateral direction to displace an item on said conveying surface to said diagonal take-away lane; and
a rotational system that is configured to rotate a leading portion of a diverted article in the direction of the take-away lane.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A positive displacement sorter and method of diverting articles includes a conveying surface configured to convey articles in a longitudinal direction and at least one diagonal take-away lane, extending diagonally from the conveying surface to receive articles being diverted from said conveying surface. A plurality of pushers are configured to move together in a lateral direction in order to displace an item on the conveying surface to the diagonal take-away lane. A rotational system is configured to rotate a leading portion of a diverted article in the direction of the take-away lane. A belt drive system is provided for driving live roller conveyors about a curved section of a roller conveyor of the sorter. The drive belt is guided along a single conical drive plane that maintains the orientation of the drive belt relative to the single conical drive plane and limits twisting and stress in the drive belt.
11 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A positive displacement sorter, comprising:
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a conveying surface configured to convey articles in a longitudinal direction; at least one diagonal take-away lane, extending diagonally from said conveying surface to receive articles being diverted from said conveying surface; a plurality of pushers configured to move together in a lateral direction to displace an item on said conveying surface to said diagonal take-away lane; and a rotational system that is configured to rotate a leading portion of a diverted article in the direction of the take-away lane. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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2. A positive displacement sorter, comprising:
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a conveying surface configured to convey articles in a longitudinal direction; at least one diagonal take-away lane, extending diagonally from said conveying surface to receive articles being diverted from said conveying surface; a plurality of pushers configured to move together in a lateral direction to displace an item on said conveying surface to said diagonal take-away lane; and a rotational system that is configured to rotate a diverted article in the direction of the take-away lane, said rotation system being a portion of the take-away lane. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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19. A method of diverting articles with a positive displacement sorter, said method comprising:
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the positive displacement sorter having a conveying surface configured to convey articles in a longitudinal direction, at least one diagonal take-away lane, extending diagonally from said conveying surface to receive articles being diverted from said conveying surface; and
a plurality of pushers configured to move together in a lateral direction to displace an item on said conveying surface to said diagonal take-away lane; androtating a leading portion of a diverted article in the direction of the take-away lane. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification