Bilateral sorter
First Claim
1. A system for sorting objects, comprising:
- an upstream and a downstream conveyor positioned to sequentially receive and convey an object along a first path, said conveyors defining a gap transverse to the first path;
an elongate sorting member positioned in said transverse gap, said sorting member including an elongate carrier strip defining at least one diverter section comprising a plurality of flexible, spaced apart projections extending upwardly from said carrier strip, and at least one generally planar section adjacent to said diverter section; and
an actuator connected selectively to move said projections against and under an object travelling across said sorting member to carry the object off the conveyors, and selectively to position said planar section in the path of an object to allow the object to pass over the sorting member without being diverted.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for sorting objects includes an upstream and a downstream conveyor positioned to sequentially receive and convey an object along a first path, and a sorting conveyor belt positioned transversely in a gap between the upstream and downstream conveyors. The sorting conveyor is tilted with respect to the plane of the other conveyors, and carries flexible projections that lift one edge of the object and push it The operation of the sorting belt reduces static friction between the object and the main conveyors as the object is pushed. The system also includes a measuring device operatively linked to provide dimensions and position information about the object to a sorting conveyor controller.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A system for sorting objects, comprising:
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an upstream and a downstream conveyor positioned to sequentially receive and convey an object along a first path, said conveyors defining a gap transverse to the first path;
an elongate sorting member positioned in said transverse gap, said sorting member including an elongate carrier strip defining at least one diverter section comprising a plurality of flexible, spaced apart projections extending upwardly from said carrier strip, and at least one generally planar section adjacent to said diverter section; and
an actuator connected selectively to move said projections against and under an object travelling across said sorting member to carry the object off the conveyors, and selectively to position said planar section in the path of an object to allow the object to pass over the sorting member without being diverted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for sorting objects, comprising:
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an upstream and a downstream conveyor positioned to sequentially receive and convey an object along a first path, said conveyors defining a gap transverse to said first path;
a measuring device positioned to determine a transverse position on said upstream conveyor of a side edge of the object opposite a side of said conveyor to which the object is to be diverted;
an elongate sorting member positioned in said transverse gap, said sorting member including at least one projection extending upwardly from said carrier strip;
an actuator connected selectively to move said projection adjacent to the path of said side edge of the object prior to the object reaching the sorting member; and
to move said projection to engage the object and move the object off the conveyors when the object is over the sorting member, and selectively to allow the object to pass over the sorting member without being diverted.- View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for sorting objects, comprising:
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an upstream and a downstream conveyor positioned to sequentially receive and convey an object along a first path, said conveyors defining a gap transverse to said first path;
an elongate member positioned in said transverse gap, said elongate member including a generally planar portion sloping upwardly from said upstream conveyor across said gap toward said downstream conveyor, such that a leading portion of the object is raised above said upstream conveyor as the object crosses said gap;
a diverter movable to intersect the object moving along said first path; and
an actuator connected selectively to move said diverter to move the object off the conveyors, and selectively to allow the object to pass over the gap without being diverted. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method for sorting objects, comprising:
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moving an object along a first path;
determining whether the object should be sorted;
if the object is to be sorted, then measuring the transverse position of the object relative to the first path;
pre-positioning a sorting device based on the transverse position of the object;
sorting the object with the sorting device by lifting an edge of the object and pushing the object along a sort direction away from said first path;
if the object is not to be sorted, then moving the object across the sorting device onto a third path; and
moving the object along the third path away from said first path. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
measuring a velocity of the object along the first path based on detection of the leading and trailing edges; and
timing the pushing of the object based on the velocity of the object.
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24. A system for sorting objects, comprising:
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a first conveyor positioned to convey an object along a first direction toward a sorting position, said object having a pair of peripheral points transverse to said first direction;
a second conveyor positioned to receive said object from said first conveyor in a selected portion of said second conveyor, a measuring device positioned to detect at least one of said peripheral points of said object on said first conveyor; and
a controller configured to adjust a speed of at least one of said conveyors in response to said detected peripheral points to cause said object to be delivered to said selected portion of said second conveyor. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification