PARCEL SORTING CONVEYOR SYSTEM

• US 3,662,874 A
• Filed: 10/12/1970
• Issued: 05/16/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald C. Muller
• Original Assignee: Donald C. Muller
• Inventors: Muller, Donald C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sroka, Edward A.
• Application Number:
  US05/079,928
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 198/38,155 214/11R,11AST
• US Class Current: 198/370.04
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/962 tilting about an axis substantially parallel to the conveying direction

Abstract

An endless parcel sorting conveyor system embodying a plurality of contiguous parcel receiving receptacles movable through a predetermined orbit. Deflecting means associated with each of said parcel receiving receptacles including track elements. Said deflecting means is activatable upon command to tilt said receptacles from a normal parcel receiving position to the right or left of the line of travel in said orbit discharging by gravity parcels thereon at predetermined positions. The parcel sorting conveyor system also includes reset deflector means selectively positioned therealong adapted to return said parcel receiving receptacles to said normal parcel receiving position.

Claims

1. An endless conveyor means adapted to receive and move parcels therealong and selectively discharge said parcels normal to the line of travel of said conveyor means comprising:

an endless drive means;

motor means associated with said drive means and adapted to be energized to move said endless drive means;

a plurality of contiguous parcel receptacle means each having a portion fixed to said endless drive means, and a tiltable parcel receiving portion pivotally mounted thereon normally riding in a horizontal position relative to the line of travel;

guide means paralleling said endless drive means and spaced therefrom, said guide means engageable by said portion of said parcel receptacle means fixed to said endless drive means whereby said portion is stabilized during movement;

reset means positioned generally parallel with said guide means;

actuator means riding in said reset means and secured to said parcel receiving portion of said receptacle means;

single direction deflecting means selectively positioned in said reset means adapted to vertically shift said actuator means and pivot said parcel receiving portion in said desired direction normal to the line of travel whereby a parcel thereon will be gravitationally discharged therefrom and further vertically shift said actuator means to return said parcel receiving portion to said generally horizontal position after said discharge wherein said single direction deflecting means includes gates positioned in said reset means which normally are stabilized in a horizontal position to form a continuation of said reset means but which may be moved from said horizontal position in a vertical plane relative thereto to effect a tilting of said parcel receiving portion and return to said horizontal position relative to the line of travel.

2. An endless conveyor means as defined in claim 1 wherein said single direction deflecting means adapted to vertically shift said actuator means returning said parcel receiving portion to said generally horizontal position includes a ramp communicable with said reset means and wherein said ramp is pivotable and includes a counterweight to maintain said ramp in a horizontal position;

said ramp adapted to yieldably pivot when said counterweight is momentarily overcome by the weight of said actuator means to engage said reset means and cause the vertical shifting of said actuator means.

3. An endless conveyor means as defined in claim 1 wherein said gates include deflector actuator means which may be selectively energized to effect movement of said gates.

4. An endless conveyor means as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuator means includes an actuator arm pivotally connected to said portion of said parcel receptacle means fixed to said endless drive means and a roller mounted on said arm remote from said pivotal connection riding in said reset means and a coNnecting rod extending between said parcel receiving portion and said actuator arm.

5. An endless parcel sorting conveyor system adapted to receive and move parcels normal to the line of travel of said system comprising:

a frame, a plurality of contiguous parcel receptacle means movably mounted on said frame, and each of said receptacle means including a parcel receiving portion pivotally mounted thereon and independently tiltable with respect to another parcel receiving portion, said parcel receiving portion normally riding in a horizontal position relative to the line of travel;

an endless drive means including motor means to energize said drive means, and each of said parcel receptacle means fixed to said drive means for movement;

guide means on said frame paralleling said endless drive means, and engageable by said receptacle means whereby said receptacle means is stabilized during movement, reset track means on said frame generally parallel with said guide means;

actuator tie means secured to and extending from said parcel receiving portion outwardly of said pivot and having a portion riding in said reset track means whereby said parcel receiving portion remains horizontal;

deflecting means selectively positioned in said reset means and adapted to interrupt said reset track means and upon engagement, channel said actuator tie means portion riding in said reset track means above or below said reset track means causing said actuator tie means to shift vertically and tyingly impart direct pivoting of said parcel receiving means normal to the line of travel whereby a parcel thereon will be gravitationally discharged, and maintaining said means in said tiltable condition, and another deflecting means adapted to return said actuator tie means portion back to said reset track means and vertically shift said actuator tie means and tyingly pivot said parcel receiving portion to said generally horizontal position.

6. A parcel sorting conveyor adapted to receive parcels and convey them to a selected position where they are discharged from said conveyor comprising:

an endless drive means;

motor means connected to said endless drive means and adapted to be energized to move said endless drive means;

a plurality of contiguous parcel receptacle means each having a carriage assembly including guide wheels, said assembly being fixed to said endless drive means and a parcel receiving tray pivotally mounted on said carriage assembly riding generally horizontal yet adapted to be tilted to either side of the line of travel;

guide track means mounted parallel to and vertically spaced from at least a portion of said endless drive means, and said guide wheels engageable with said guide track whereby the movement of said carriage assembly is stabilized;

reset track means mounted parallel to said guide track means and adapted to cooperatively maintain said tray generally horizontal;

actuator means riding in said reset track means and secured to said parcel receiving tray;

single direction deflecting means selectively positioned in said reset track means adapted to be activated to vertically shift said actuator means and pivot said parcel receiving tray from the horizontal in said single direction normal to the line of travel whereby a parcel thereon will be gravitationally discharged therefrom, and counterbalance deflector means adapted to vertically shift said actuator means to said reset means to return said tray to said generally horizontal position.

7. A parcel sorting conveyor as defined in claim 6 wherein said actuator means is secured to said tray outward of said pivotal connection of said tray to said carriage assembly.

8. A parcel sorting conveyor as defined in claim 6 wherein said single direction deflecting means includes at least one pivotable gate formed in said reset track means adapted to be pivoted vertically upward interrupting said reset track;

a left-hand track section mounted above said reset track;

said gate when pivoted upward mating with said left-hand tRack causing said actuator means to be moved vertically upward tilting said tray to the left of the line of travel, and said gate being returnable to continue said reset track upon passage therethrough of said actuator means.

9. A parcel sorting conveyor as defined in claim 6 wherein said single direction deflecting means includes at least one pivotable gate formed in said reset track adapted to be pivoted vertically downward interrupting said reset track;

a right-hand track section mounted below said reset track;

said gate when pivoted downwardly mating with said right-hand track causing said actuator means to be moved vertically downward tilting said tray to the right of the line of travel, and said gate being returnable to continue said reset track upon passage therethrough of said actuator means.

10. A parcel sorting conveyor as defined in claim 8 wherein said counterbalance deflecting means includes a pivotally mounted yieldable ramp in said left-hand track section including a counterweight to maintain said ramp as a continuation of said left-hand track section, said ramp being yieldable when said counterweight is momentarily overcome by the weight of said actuator means thereby causing said ramp to pivot downwardly and engage said reset track causing said actuator means to vertically shift downward and return said tray to said generally horizontal position.

11. A parcel sorting conveyor as defined in claim 8 wherein said counterbalance deflecting means includes a fixed ramp extending upward between said right-hand track section and said reset track means, a pivotally mounted yieldable ramp formed in said reset track above said fixed ramp including a counterweight maintaining said pivotally mounted ramp in a horizontal position;

said actuator means engaging said fixed ramp and in turn engaging said pivotally mounted ramp pivoting the same upwardly allowing said actuator means to move into said reset means and the same vertically shift upwardly to return said tray to said generally horizontal position.

12. A parcel sorting conveyor as defined in claim 6 wherein said single direction deflector means are each activated for movement by a deflector actuator which includes a plunger united with said single direction deflector means adapted to stroke outwardly or inwardly in the alternative to effect movement of said single direction deflector means.

13. A parcel sorting conveyor as defined in claim 12 wherein said plunger is united with said single direction deflector means by a cam race assembly.

14. A parcel sorting conveyor as defined in claim 6 wherein said actuator means includes an actuator arm pivotally connected to said carriage assembly and a roller mounted on said arm remote from said pivotal connection;

said roller riding in said reset track means and a connecting rod extending between said tray and said actuator arm.