Automatic sorting conveyor systems

• US 4,031,998 A
• Filed: 03/04/1976
• Issued: 06/28/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rapistan Corp.
• Original Assignee: Rapistan Corp.
• Inventors: Suzuki, Shin, Uesugi, Masami, Sekine, Michi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoffman, Drayton E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rolla, Joseph J.
• Application Number:
  US05/663,853
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 209/73, 209/122, 209/124, 198/38, 198/154, 198/155, 198/185, 198/187, 198/195, 198/365, 198/796, 198/802, 214/11 R, 214/62 R, 214/62 A
• US Class Current: 198/370.04
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/962 tilting about an axis substantially parallel to the conveying direction

Abstract

In an automatic conveyor system, a plurality of independently operable carrier or transport structures are interconnected in closed loop configuration. Each carrier includes plural sheets of overlapping slats, each supported by a carriage which allows the slat to pivot for differential vertical flight level movement and tilting to either side for deposition of articles onto selected receiving stations. A plurality of carriages and slats form an independently operable unit to complement the article size structure with one of the slat supporting carriages in each unit having actuating elements in the form of a horizontal arm to each side with a roller which can be deflected for tilting. The single tilting of this arm causes all of the associated slats in that unit to tilt in unison as a result of their overlapping nature.

Claims

1. In an automatic sorting conveyor system including a plurality of support structures to support articles for movement along said conveyor, said support structures being adapted to move in endless fashion along a predetermined path formed by first guide means in said conveyor to thereby receive articles and deposit same at predetermined sorting stations along said path, and driving means for urging said supporting structures along said path, the improvement comprising:

said first guide means being formed centrally along said predetermined path;

each said supporting structure forming an independent article supporting surface including a plurality of slat elements, said slat elements in each said supporting structure being disposed in overlapping relationship;

each said supporting structure including a plurality of carriage means, each said carriage means individually supporting an associated one of said slat elements for movement along said path, said carriage means being supported in said first guide means for movement along said predetermined path;

pivot means on each said carriage means for each of said plurality of slat elements in each said support structure whereby said plurality of overlapping slat elements in each of said support structures can be pivoted about said pivot means and shifted in unison between a level position and a tilted position independently of the position of adjacent upstream and downstream support structures;

actuating means connected to at least one of said carriage means in each of said support structures to cause same to pivot about said pivot means;

second guide means for said actuating means, said second guide means being arranged along said predetermined path on opposite sides of said first guide means and adapted to receive and guide said actuating means to normally maintain said plurality of slats in said level position;

switching means associated with said second guide means, said switching means being disposed proximate said sorting stations along said path, said switching means being adapted for cooperative operation with said actuating means and said second guide means to shift said support structure to said tilted position at said sorting station to thereby deposit articles carried on said support structure at said sorting station.

2. The automatic sorting conveyor system of claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises an arm member fixed to said carriage means and extending generally perpendicular thereto;

roller means on the outwardly extending end of said arm member, said second guide means including a channel-like track member, said roller means being adapted to follow along said track member, said switching means including a deflector element selectively positionable between first and second positions in said track member, said switching means when in said first position forming a continuation of said track member and in said second position urging said roller means out of engagement with said track member to thereby cause said arm and said slat associated therewith to assume a tilted position.

3. The automatic sorting conveyor system of claim 2 wherein said deflector element is pivotally mounted in said track member and extends therealong, and further including actuator means connected to said deflector element for pivoting same between said first and second positions.

4. An automatic sorting conveyor system comprising:

a plurality of independently operable transport structures interconnected in closed loop configuration for movement along a predetermined path;

each said transport structure including a plurality of overlapping slat elements, said overlapping slat elements cooperatively forming an article receiving surface;

carriage means individually supporting an associated one of said slat elements, said carriage means being mounted in track means generally centrally located along said conveyor for movement along said predetermined path;

support means connecting each said slat element with the associated carriage means, each said support means including first and second members, said first member being fixed to said slat element and said second member being fixed to said carriage;

pivot means joining said first and second members intermediate said slat element and said carriage means whereby said slat elements may be tilted in unison with respect to said carriage;

an actuating member fixed to said first member of at least one of said support means and extending outwardly therefrom in a direction transverse to said predetermined path;

guide means positioned on opposite sides of said track means for receiving said actuating member, said guide means and said actuating member cooperatively normally holding said plurality of slat elements in a level article carrying position;

switching means disposed along said predetermined path at selected sorting stations, said switching means being operatively connected to said guide means to selectively release said actuating member from said guide means whereby said plurality of slat elements will tilt in unison from said level position whereby articles carried on said transport structure will be deposited at said sorting station.

5. The automatic sorting conveyor system of claim 4 wherein said actuating member comprises an arm member fixed to said first member and extending generally perpendicular thereto;

roller means on the outwardly extending end of said arm member, said guide means including a channel-like track member, said roller means being adapted to follow along said track member, said switching means including a deflector element selectively positionable between first and second positions in said track member, said switching means when in said first position forming a continuation of said track member and in said second position urging said roller means out of engagement with said track member to thereby cause said arm and said slat associated therewith to assume a tilted position.

6. The automatic sorting conveyor system of claim 5 wherein said deflector element is pivotally mounted in said track member and extends therealong, and further including actuator means connected to said deflector element for pivoting same between said first and second positions.