High speed smart diverter for a conveyor sorter
First Claim
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1. An article transferring apparatus, comprising:
- a conveyor positioned to carry articles in the direction of a longitudinal axis of said conveyor;
said conveyor including a diverter station, comprising;
a first diverter aligned to carry said articles at a first acute angle to said longitudinal axis of said conveyor in a first diverting direction leading off one side of said conveyor;
a second diverter aligned to carry said articles at a second acute angle to said longitudinal axis of said conveyor in a second diverting direction leading off the opposite side of said conveyor; and
a controller selectively operative to (a) operate said first diverter to transfer an article off said one side of said conveyor, (b) operate said second diverter to transfer an article off said opposite side of said conveyor, and (c) alternate operation of said first and second diverters sufficiently rapidly to carry said articles effectively along said longitudinal axis of said conveyor.
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Abstract
A conveyor sorter includes diverter stations for diagonally diverting parcels at high speed to either side of the conveyor, or passing the articles straight through without diversion. Each station provides two diverters interleaved or superimposed in the same space, the diverters providing diverting forces toward opposite sides of the conveyor These diverters can be cycled to provide a net motion straight through the diverter station, or operated individually to divert parcels off a selected side of the conveyor. The diverters can also be used to center parcels passing through a diverter station
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An article transferring apparatus, comprising:
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a conveyor positioned to carry articles in the direction of a longitudinal axis of said conveyor; said conveyor including a diverter station, comprising; a first diverter aligned to carry said articles at a first acute angle to said longitudinal axis of said conveyor in a first diverting direction leading off one side of said conveyor; a second diverter aligned to carry said articles at a second acute angle to said longitudinal axis of said conveyor in a second diverting direction leading off the opposite side of said conveyor; and a controller selectively operative to (a) operate said first diverter to transfer an article off said one side of said conveyor, (b) operate said second diverter to transfer an article off said opposite side of said conveyor, and (c) alternate operation of said first and second diverters sufficiently rapidly to carry said articles effectively along said longitudinal axis of said conveyor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for diverting articles entering said apparatus in an initial direction of motion, comprising:
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a first diverter aligned to carry said articles at a first acute angle to said initial direction of motion in a first diverting direction leading to a first output destination; a second diverter aligned to carry said articles at a second acute angle to said initial direction of motion in a second diverting direction leading to a second output destination; and a controller selectively operative to (a) operate said first diverter to transfer an article to said first output destination, (b) operate said second diverter to transfer an article to said second output destination, and (c) alternate operation of said first and second diverters sufficiently rapidly to carry said articles effectively in said initial direction. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. An article transferring apparatus, comprising:
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a conveyor positioned to carry articles in the direction of a longitudinal axis of said conveyor; said conveyor including a diverter station, comprising; first diverter means for selectively carrying said articles in a first diverting direction leading off one side of said conveyor at an acute angle; second diverter means for selectively carrying said articles in a second diverting direction leading off an opposite side of said conveyor at an acute angle; and control means for selectively alternating the operation of said first and second diverter means sufficiently rapidly to carry said articles effectively along said longitudinal axis of said conveyor.
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13. A method of transferring articles, comprising the steps of:
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conveying said articles in a primary direction into a diverting mechanism; and in said diverting mechanism, selectively (a) moving said articles in a first diverting direction leading off one side of said conveyor at an acute angle, (b) moving said articles in a second diverting direction leading off an opposite side of said conveyor at an acute angle, or (c) alternately moving said articles in said first and second diverting directions at a cycle rate sufficiently rapid to carry said articles effectively in said primary direction. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification