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Automatic object routing system

  • US 3,915,284 A
  • Filed: 11/23/1973
  • Issued: 10/28/1975
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1973
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A system for automatically directing items bearing destination coded labels to selected collection locations along a conveyor system, said conveyor system having a plurality of appropriately located input areas and at least one reading area and being configured so that all said input areas communicate with a reading area, said conveyor system also including a plurality of said collection locations and means for diverging items from said conveyor to said locations in accordance with data encoded on said labels;

  • said system for automatically directing including;

    means for scanning said labels located at each of said at least one reading area, said means for scanning including decoding means for generating decoded label data in accordance with the data encoded on said label;

    system controller means responsive to said decoded label data, said system controller means having storage means for storing an assignment schedule assigning said label encoded destinations to said collection locations, said system controller means generating a collection location identification signal in accordance with said decoded label data and said assignment schedule;

    timing means synchronized with the speed of said conveyor, said timing means receiving said collection location identification signal and generating a divert signal when the item bearing the decoded label reaches the assigned collection location, said means for diverting receiving said divert signal and diverting said item to said assigned collection location;

    first item sensing means in the proximity of said means for scanning, said item sensing means sensing the travel of said item past said means for scanning;

    said decoding means generating said decoded label data when a label is properly decoded when said item sensing means senses said item, and a no-read signal when a label is not properly decoded before said item sensing means ceases to sense said item; and

    second item sensing means located to receive items after said first item sensing means, said first and second item sensing means being separated by a preselected spacing chosen so that the sensing of two items by said first sensing means before the sensing of an item by the second sensing means indicates that the items are too closely spaced, and the sensing of an item by said second sensing means before said first sensing means ceases to sense the same item indicates that the item is too large for proper dimension.

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