Conveying system and method for mixing stacked articles
First Claim
1. A system for mixing different articles from respective homogeneous stacks of homogeneous layers, comprising:
- first and second working stations;
a first conveying path originating at said first working station and terminating at said second working station;
a second conveying path originating at said second working station;
said first working station having means for selectively moving successive homogeneous layers of articles from each of said respective stacks to said first conveying path;
said second working station receiving said articles from said first conveying path and distributing said articles into selected ones of a plurality of conveying and storage paths, said articles being supplied to said second conveying path from said conveying and storage paths in a predetermined sequence; and
,means for controlling said first and second working stations to establish said predetermined sequence, said controlling means tracking machine readable identifiers of said articles.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Homogeneous layers of articles are mixed in a conveying apparatus, and in accordance with a conveying method. A first conveying path originates at a first working station and terminates at a second working station. A second conveying path originates at the second working station. The first working station selectively moves successive homogeneous layers of articles from respective stacks to the first conveying path. The second working station receives the articles from the first conveying path and distributes the articles into selected ones of a plurality of vertical conveying and storage paths. The articles are supplied to the second conveying path from the vertical conveying and storage paths in a predetermined sequence. The predetermined sequence is established by defining control sequences for the moving, distributing and supplying performed in the work stations. The articles conveyed on the second conveying path can be arranged into groups related to the predetermined sequence.
69 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for mixing different articles from respective homogeneous stacks of homogeneous layers, comprising:
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first and second working stations; a first conveying path originating at said first working station and terminating at said second working station; a second conveying path originating at said second working station; said first working station having means for selectively moving successive homogeneous layers of articles from each of said respective stacks to said first conveying path; said second working station receiving said articles from said first conveying path and distributing said articles into selected ones of a plurality of conveying and storage paths, said articles being supplied to said second conveying path from said conveying and storage paths in a predetermined sequence; and
,means for controlling said first and second working stations to establish said predetermined sequence, said controlling means tracking machine readable identifiers of said articles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for mixing different articles from respective homogeneous stacks of homogeneous layers, comprising the steps of:
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selectively moving successive homogeneous layers of articles from each of said respective stacks to a first conveying path in an ordered sequence; distributing said articles conveyed on said first conveying path into different ones of a plurality of selectable conveying and storage paths; terminating said first conveying path at said conveying and storage paths; supplying said articles from said different conveying and storage paths to a second conveying path in a predetermined sequence; arranging said articles conveyed on said second conveying path into groups related to said predetermined sequence; and
,tracking machine readable identifiers of said articles during said arranging. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification