Automatic rotary sorter and cylindrical storage system

• US 5,441,141 A
• Filed: 09/13/1993
• Issued: 08/15/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bonnet, Henri
• Primary Examiner(s): SKAGGS JR, H GRANT
• Application Number:
  US08/121,147
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 209/586, 209/583, 209/584, 209/552, 209/606, 198/369, 198/463.3, 198/786, 198/372, 198/365, 414/278, 414/787, 414/283, 414/266-269, 271/298, 271/300, 271/302, 271/295
• US Class Current: 198/370.03
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/04 Drum-type sorting machines or having circularly arranged sorting compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/08 using arrangements of conveyors transport of sheets B65H; transport in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/71 the articles being discharged or distributed to several distinct separate conveyors or to a broader conveyor lane

Abstract

A system for sorting objects having a source for providing the object for sorting and a plurality of receivers, spaced apart horizontally and vertically, for receiving the object after sorting. The system includes object receiving and discharging wings for receiving the object from the source and transferring the object to the receiver. The object receiving and discharging wings move the object horizontally and vertically from the source to a selected receiver. The source and at least one of the receivers are vertically aligned. Also, a system for storing and retrieving objects having storage and retrieval conveyor for providing the object to the system for storage and for retrieving the object from the system after storage, and a plurality of object storage areas spaced apart horizontally and vertically. The system includes object receiving and discharging wings for receiving the object from the storage and retrieval conveyor and transferring the object to the storage area and for receiving the object from the storage area and transferring the object to the storage and retrieval conveyor. The object receiving and discharging wings have move the object horizontally and vertically from the storage and retrieval conveyor to a selected storage area. The object receiving and discharging wings further have move the object horizontally and vertically from the selected object storage area to the storage and retrieval conveyor.

Claims

1. A system for sorting a plurality of objects having object source means for providing said objects for sorting and a plurality of object receiving means for receiving said objects after sorting, wherein the individual object receiving means of said plurality of object receiving means are spaced apart both horizontally and vertically, comprising:

a plurality of object receiving and discharging means for receiving said objects from said object source means and transferring said objects to said object receiving means; and

,

each of said object receiving and discharging means having means for moving an object of said plurality of objects both horizontally and vertically from the vicinity of said object source means to the vicinity of a selected one of said horizontally and vertically spaced apart object receiving means to transfer said object to said selected object receiving means;

wherein said object source means and at least one of said object receiving means are vertically aligned, each of said object receiving and discharging means is coupled to a rotatable member which rotates about an axis of rotation, and said rotatable member rotates about said axis of rotation continuously.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said object source means comprises object transferring means for transferring said object from said object source means to said object receiving and discharging means.

3. The system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said object transferring means comprises an induction conveyor.

4. The system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said induction conveyor comprises a live roller.

5. The system in accordance with claim 4, wherein said live roller is lagged.

6. The system in accordance with claim 4, wherein said induction conveyor has a forward direction and said live roller is aligned at an angle with respect to said forward direction to urge said object toward a side of said induction conveyor.

7. The system in accordance with claim 4, wherein said induction conveyor is tapered.

8. The system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said induction conveyor is tapered.

9. The system in accordance with claim 8, wherein each object receiving and discharging means of said plurality of object receiving and discharging means is adapted to move along said rotatable member in positive and negative directions substantially parallel to said axis of rotation.

10. The system in accordance with claim 9, wherein each object receiving and discharging means of said plurality of object receiving and discharging means moves along said rotatable member in positive and negative directions independently of each remaining object receiving and discharging means of said plurality of object receiving and discharging means.

11. The system in accordance with claim 9, wherein each object receiving and discharging means of said plurality of object receiving and discharging means moves along said rotatable member in positive and negative directions simultaneously with each remaining object receiving and discharging means of said plurality of object receiving and discharging means.

12. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said object source means comprises:

a feed conveyor for providing said object for sorting; and

,

an induction conveyor for receiving said object from said feed conveyor and providing said object to said object receiving and discharging means.

13. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the shape of said object source means conforms with the shape of said object receiving and discharging means.

14. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said rotatable member rotates about said axis of rotation at a constant rate.

15. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said axis of rotation is aligned substantially vertically.

16. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said object receiving and discharging means is tapered.

17. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said object receiving and discharging means comprises a conveyor assembly.

18. The system in accordance with claim 17, wherein said conveyor assembly is reversible.

19. The system in accordance with claim 17, wherein said conveyor assembly comprises a live roller.

20. The system in accordance with claim 19, wherein said live roller is lagged.

21. The system in accordance with claim 19, wherein said conveyor assembly has a forward direction and said live roller is aligned at an angle with respect to said forward direction to urge said object toward a side of said conveyor assembly.

22. The system in accordance with claim 17, wherein said conveyor assembly is tapered.

23. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein four of said object receiving and discharging means are provided.

24. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the shape of each of said object receiving and discharging means conforms to the shape of said horizontally and vertically spaced apart object receiving means.

25. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said horizontally and vertically spaced apart object receiving means comprises means for receiving said object from said object receiving and discharging means.

26. The system in accordance with claim 25, wherein each of said means for receiving said object from said object receiving and discharging means is a transverse conveyor.

27. The system in accordance with claim 26, wherein said receiving means comprises a live roller.

28. The system in accordance with claim 27, wherein said live roller is lagged.

29. The system in accordance with claim 27, wherein said receiving means is tapered.

30. The system in accordance with claim 1, comprising sixteen of said horizontally and vertically spaced apart object receiving means arranged in three spaced apart substantially horizontal rows, each of said horizontal rows having at least four of said horizontally spaced apart object receiving means.

31. A method for sorting an object of a plurality of objects in a system having object source means for providing said object for sorting and a plurality of object receiving means for receiving said object after sorting, wherein the object receiving means of said plurality of object receiving means are spaced apart both horizontally and vertically, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing said object for sorting by said object source means;

(b) transferring said object from said object source means to object distribution means;

(c) simultaneously moving said object horizontally and vertically by said object distribution means from said object source means to a selected one of said plurality of object receiving means; and

,

(d) transferring said object from said object distribution means to said selected object receiving means;

wherein said object source means and at least one of said object receiving means are vertically aligned, wherein;

said movement of said object by said object distribution means comprises rotating movement applied to said object by rotation of said object distribution means about an axis of rotation; and

said rotation of said object distribution means about said axis of rotation is continuous.

32. The method in accordance with claim 31, wherein said rotation of said object distribution means about said axis of rotation is at a constant rate.

33. The method in accordance with claim 31, wherein said vertical movement of said object by said object distribution means comprises motion of said object distribution means in the positive and negative vertical directions.

34. The method in accordance with claim 31, wherein said horizontal and vertical movement of said object by said object distribution means comprises both horizontal rotation of said object distribution means about an axis of rotation and vertical motion of said object distribution means substantially parallel to said axis of rotation.

35. The method in accordance with claim 34, wherein said object distribution means comprises a plurality of receiving and discharging means having means for moving vertically along said axis of rotation independently of each other substantially parallel to said axis of rotation.

36. The method in accordance with claim 35, wherein said vertical movements of individual receiving and discharging means of said plurality of receiving and discharging means occur simultaneously with each other.

37. The method in accordance with claim 34, wherein said objects are sorted at a maximum rate in accordance with a predetermined number of receiving and discharging means forming said object distribution means.

38. A system for sorting an object of a plurality of objects having object source means for providing said object for sorting and a plurality of object receiving means for receiving said object after sorting, wherein the individual object receiving means of said plurality of object receiving means are spaced apart both horizontally and vertically, comprising:

object receiving and discharging means for receiving said object from said object source means and transferring said object to said object receiving means; and

said object receiving and discharging means having means for moving said object both horizontally and vertically from the vicinity of said object source means to the vicinity of a selected one of said horizontally and vertically spaced apart object receiving means to transfer said object to said selected object receiving means, wherein

a first end of said object receiving and discharging means is coupled to a rotatable member which rotates continuously about an axis of rotation;

said object receiving and discharging means is tapered wherein said first end of said object receiving and discharging means is narrower than a second end of said object receiving and discharging means; and

said second end of said object receiving and discharging means is alternately positioned adjacent to said object source means and said object receiving means during said continuous rotation of said rotatable member.

39. The system in accordance with claim 38, wherein the shape of said object source means conforms with the shape of said object receiving and discharging means.

40. The system in accordance with claim 38, comprising a plurality of said object receiving and discharging means, wherein each of said object receiving and discharging means is coupled to said rotatable member.

41. The system in accordance with claim 38, wherein said rotatable member rotates about said axis of rotation at a constant rate.

42. The system in accordance with claim 38, wherein the shape of said object receiving and discharging means conforms to the shape of said horizontally and vertically spaced apart object receiving means.

43. A method for sorting an object of a plurality of objects in a system having object source means for providing said object for sorting and a plurality of object receiving means for receiving said object after sorting, wherein the object receiving means of said plurality of object receiving means are spaced apart both horizontally and vertically, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing said object for sorting by said object source means;

(b) transferring said object from said object source means to object distribution means;

(c) horizontally and vertically moving said object by said object distribution means from said object source means to a selected one of said plurality of object receiving means; and

,

(d) transferring said object from said object distribution means to said selected object receiving means;

wherein said object source means and at least one of said object receiving means are vertically aligned, wherein

said movement of said object by said object distribution means comprises rotating movement applied to said object by rotation of said object distribution means about an axis of rotation, and

said rotation of said object distribution means about said axis of rotation is continuous.

44. The method in accordance with claim 43, wherein said rotation of said object distribution means about said axis of rotation is at a constant rate.

45. The method in accordance with claim 43, wherein said object distribution means comprises a plurality of receiving and discharging means having means for moving vertically along said axis of rotation independently of each other substantially parallel to said axis of rotation.

46. The method in accordance with claim 45, wherein said vertical movements of individual receiving and discharging means of said plurality of receiving and discharging means occur simultaneously with each other.

47. A system for storing and retrieving an object of a plurality of objects having object storage and retrieval conveyor means for providing said object to said system for storage and for retrieving said object from said system after storage, and a plurality of object storage means for receiving said object for storage and discharging said object after storage, wherein the individual object storage means of said plurality of object storage means are spaced apart both horizontally and vertically, comprising:

object receiving and discharging means for receiving said object from said object storage and retrieval conveyor means and transferring said object to said object storage means and for receiving said object from said object storage means and transferring said object to said object storage and retrieval conveyor means; and

said object receiving and discharging means having means for moving said object both horizontally and vertically from the vicinity of said object storage and retrieval conveyor means to the vicinity of a selected one of said horizontally and vertically spaced apart object storage means to transfer .said object from said object storage and retrieval conveyor means to said selected object storage means for storage; and

said object receiving and discharging means having means for moving said object both horizontally and vertically from the vicinity of said selected object storage means to the vicinity of said object storage and retrieval conveyor means to transfer said object from said selected object storage means to said object storage and retrieval conveyor means for retrieval, wherein

a first end of said object receiving and discharging means is coupled to a rotatable member which rotates continuously about an axis of rotation;

said object receiving and discharging means is tapered wherein said first end of said object receiving and discharging means is narrower than a second end of said object receiving and discharging means; and

said second end of said object receiving and discharging means is alternately positioned adjacent to said object storage and retrieval conveyor means and said object storage means during said continuous rotation of said rotatable member.

48. The system in accordance with claim 47, wherein the shape of said object storage and retrieval conveyor means conforms with the shape of said object receiving and discharging means.

49. The system in accordance with claim 47, comprising a plurality of said object receiving and discharging means, wherein each of said object receiving and discharging means is coupled to said rotatable member.

50. The system in accordance with claim 49, wherein each object receiving and discharging means of said plurality of object receiving and discharging means is adapted to move along said rotatable member in positive and negative directions substantially parallel to said axis of rotation and independently of each remaining object receiving and discharging means of said plurality of object receiving and discharging means.

51. The system in accordance with claim 47, wherein the shape of said object receiving and discharging means conforms to the shape of said horizontally and vertically spaced apart object storage means.

52. A method for storing and retrieving an object of a plurality of objects in a system having object conveyor means for providing said object to said system for storage and object conveyor means for retrieving said object from said system after storage, and a plurality of object storage means for receiving said object for storage and discharging said object after storage, wherein the object storage means of said plurality of object storage means are spaced apart both horizontally and vertically, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing said object for storage by said object conveyor means for providing said object;

(b) transferring said object from said object conveyor means for providing said object to object distribution means;

(c) horizontally and vertically moving said object by said object distribution means from said object conveyor means for providing said object to a selected one of said plurality of object storage means;

(d) transferring said object from said object distribution means to said selected object storage means;

(e) transferring said object from said selected object storage means to said object distribution means;

(f) horizontally and vertically moving said object by said object distribution means from said selected object storage means to said object conveyor means for retrieving said object; and

(g) transferring said object from said object distribution means to said object conveyor means for retrieving said object, wherein

said movement of said object by said object distribution means comprises rotating movement applied to said object by rotation of said object distribution means about an axis of rotation, and

said rotation of said object distribution means about said axis of rotation is continuous.

53. The method in accordance with claim 52, wherein said object distribution means comprises a plurality of receiving and discharging means having means for moving vertically along said axis of rotation independently of each other substantially parallel to said axis of rotation.

54. The method in accordance with claim 53, wherein said vertical movements of individual receiving and discharging means of said plurality of said receiving and discharging means occur simultaneously with each other.