System for sorting articles
First Claim
1. A system for sorting articles, comprising:
- a track defining a route starting at at least one loading point, continuing onto a plurality of destination points, and arriving back at said at least one loading point;
at least one tray for conveying an article from said at least one loading point to a selected one of said destination points, said at least one tray having a leading end and a trailing end;
wherein said track includes first means for momentarily tilting said leading end of said at least one tray upward relative to said trailing end of said at least one tray, and second means for laterally tilting said at least one tray at an angle, said first and second means for selectively maneuvering an article loaded in said at least one tray to a bottom corner thereof prior to said at least one tray reaching said selected one of said destination points in order to substantially reduce the jarring of the article during the discharge thereof at said selected one of said destination points.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for sorting articles, the system having a track which defines a route starting at at least one loading point, the route continuing on to a plurality of destination points and arriving back at the loading point. The system also has at least one tray for conveying an article from the loading point to a selected one of the destination points. The track includes a first segment for momentarily tilting a leading end of the tray upward relative to a trailing end of the tray and possibly downward again, and a second segment for laterally tilting the tray at an angle. The first and second segments selectively maneuver an article loaded in the tray to a bottom corner thereof prior to the tray reaching the selected destination point in order to substantially reduce the jarring of the article during the discharge thereof at the selected destination point. A scanner is provided for scanning an identification-code disposed on the article. The scanner is coupled to a controller which determines the selected destination point using the information obtained by the scanner from the identification-code disposed on the article.
102 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A system for sorting articles, comprising:
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a track defining a route starting at at least one loading point, continuing onto a plurality of destination points, and arriving back at said at least one loading point; at least one tray for conveying an article from said at least one loading point to a selected one of said destination points, said at least one tray having a leading end and a trailing end; wherein said track includes first means for momentarily tilting said leading end of said at least one tray upward relative to said trailing end of said at least one tray, and second means for laterally tilting said at least one tray at an angle, said first and second means for selectively maneuvering an article loaded in said at least one tray to a bottom corner thereof prior to said at least one tray reaching said selected one of said destination points in order to substantially reduce the jarring of the article during the discharge thereof at said selected one of said destination points. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for sorting articles, comprising:
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a track defining a route starting at at least one loading point, continuing on to a plurality of destination points, and arriving back at said at least one loading point; at least one tray for conveying an article from said at least one loading point to a selected one of said destination points, said at least one tray having a leading end and a trailing end; wherein said track includes at least a first segment for orienting said at least one tray in a horizontal position in order that said at least one tray can be loaded with an article at said at least one loading point, at least a second segment for momentarily tilting said leading end of said at least one tray upward relative to said trailing end of said at least one tray, and at least a third segment for laterally tilting said at least one tray at an angle from said horizontal position, said second and third segments of said track selectively maneuvering the article loaded in said at least one tray to a bottom corner thereof prior to said at least one tray reaching said selected one of said destination points in order to substantially reduce the jarring of the article during the discharge thereof at said selected one of said destination points. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system for sorting articles, comprising:
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a track defining a route starting at at least one loading point, continuing on to a plurality of destination points, and arriving back at said at least one loading point; at least one tray for conveying an article having an identification code disposed thereon, from said at least one loading point to a selected one of said destination points; photosensor means for determining whether said article is disposed within said at least one tray; scanning means for scanning the identification-code disposed on the article loaded in said at least one tray; and controller means for determining said selected one of said destination points using the identification-code disposed on the article, wherein said track includes first means for momentarily tilting a leading end of said at least one tray upward relative to a trailing end of said at least one tray, and second means for laterally tilting said at least one tray at an angle, said first and second means selectively maneuvering an article loaded in said at least one tray to a bottom corner thereof prior to said at least one tray reaching said selected one of said destination points in order to substantially reduce the jarring of the article during the discharge thereof at said selected one of said destination points. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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Specification