Sorting system

• US 3,955,678 A
• Filed: 08/09/1974
• Issued: 05/11/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: American Chain & Cable Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: American Chain & Cable Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Moyer, Ernest P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reeves, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rolla, Joseph J.
• Application Number:
  US05/496,316
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 209/73, 209/74 R, 209/74 M, 209/111.7, 198/38, 198/34, 214/11 R, 214/11 A, 214/11 C, 250/223 R
• US Class Current: 209/564
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/50 according to destination signals stored in separate systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/934 Moving items to sorting means in spaced relation lengthwise of feed path

Abstract

In accordance with the invention, a control system is provided for maximizing flow rate and sorting rate by minimizing the spacing between articles of varying length. The system measures the length of the articles and controls their movement into the sortation system so as to minimize spacing between the articles. The system permits maximizing the rate of sortation while taking into account conveyor speed, length of time for diverting to zones, length of the articles and spacing between them. In addition, the system is arranged to prevent false signals due to tags and the like.

Claims

1. In a conveyor sorting system, the combination comprising

a conveyor for moving objects along a predetermined path,

a plurality of means for diverting objects at longitudinally spaced points along the conveyor,

induction means for introducing objects to one portion of the conveyor for movement by the conveyor to said diverter means,

means for sensing objects moving along said conveyor,

synchronizing means producing clocked pulses at a rate corresponding to the surface displacement of the conveyor,

and control means responsive to said sensor means and said synchronizing means for producing a timing pulse thereby indicating the location of said object relative to said induction means and said diverter means, and for producing a signal for activating said induction means to introduce another object to the conveyor,

said control means producing said signal for activating said induction means at a time corresponding to the trailing edge of the longest object being sorted.

2. In a conveyor sorting system, the combination comprising

a conveyor for moving objects along a predetermined path,

a plurality of means for diverting objects at longitudinally spaced points along the conveyor,

induction means for introducing objects to one portion of the conveyor for movement by the conveyor to said diverter means,

means for sensing objects moving along said conveyor,

synchronizing means producing clocked pulses at a rate corresponding to the surface displacement of the conveyor,

and control means for receiving a code and a plurality of pulses from said synchronizing means and actuated by said sensor means to provide signals for energizing the appropriate diverter means and the induction means at a rate such that a minimum distance is maintained between successive objects,

said control means including an address code storage means for receiving a code,

address code transfer means associated with said address code storage means,

a recirculating memory means associated with said address code transfer means,

and a computing device associated with said address code transfer means and said recirculating memory,

said recirculating memory producing said signal for said diverter means,

and said computing device producing said signal for said induction means.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said computer device comprises binary means for receiving a signal from said sensor means and said synchronizing means,

a first gate for receiving a signal from said sensor means and said synchronizing means,

a second gate for receiving a signal from said first gate and said binary means,

and a clock circuit connected to the output of said second gate.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 including second binary means for receiving the output of said clock circuit.

5. In the method of sorting of objects wherein objects are introduced onto a conveyor and then diverted at predetermined points along the conveyor, the steps comprising

sensing the movement of an object past a fixed point on the conveyor,

producing a plurality of pulses proportional to the surface displacement of the conveyor,

initiating a count of said pulses as the article moves past the fixed point,

initiating a second count of said pulses simultaneously with the termination of said first count at a second rate,

terminating said counts at a time corresponding to the movement of an object of the maximum length being sorted past a predetermined point.

6. In the method of sorting articles, the steps comprising

positioning a sensor at a point along a conveyor spaced from the point of induction of articles to the conveyor in accordance with the formula vc + 1/2 d wherein v is the velocity of the conveyor, c is the cycle time of the diverter, or the time that it is in actual interference with the flow of goods, and d is the effective length of the diverter along the path of flow.

7. In a conveyor sorting system, the combination comprising

a conveyor for moving objects along a predetermined path,

a plurality of means for diverting objects at longitudinally spaced points along the conveyor,

induction means for introducing objects to one portion of the conveyor for movement by the conveyor to said diverter means,

means for sensing objects moving along said conveyor,

synchronizing means producing clocked pulses at a rate corresponding to the surface displacement of the conveyor,

and control means for receiving a code and a plurality of pulses from said synchronizing means and actuated by said sensor means for energizing the appropriate diverter means and the induction means at a rate such that a minimum distance is maintained between successive objects,

said control means functioning to activate the induction means such that the distance between the center of two consecutive objects placed on the conveyor is defined by L_e = VC + 1/2 (d + L) wherein V is the velocity of the conveyor, C is the cycle time of the diverter, or the time that it is in actual interference with the flow of goods, d is the effective length of the diverter along the path of flow, and L is the length of the object next in line.

8. In a conveyor sorting system, the combination comprising

a conveyor for moving objects along a predetermined path,

a plurality of means for diverting objects at longitudinally spaced points along the conveyor,

induction means for introducing objects to one portion of the conveyor for movement by the conveyor to said diverter means,

means for sensing objects moving along said conveyor,

synchronizing means producing clocked pulses at a rate corresponding to the surface displacement of the conveyor,

and control means for receiving a code and a plurality of pulses from said synchronizing means and actuated by said sensor means for energizing the appropriate diverter means and the induction means at a rate such that a minimum distance is maintained between successive objects,

said sensor means being positioned adjacent said induction means and at a distance therefrom corresponding to L_min = VC + 1/2 (d - L_max) wherein V is the velocity of the conveyor, C is the cycle time of the diverter, or the time that it is in actual interference with the flow of goods, d is the effective length of the diverter along the path of flow, and L_max is the maximum length of the object next in line.