Feeding system and method for placing a plurality of objects on a tray of an automated sorting system
First Claim
1. A sorting system for the automated sorting of objects comprisinga conveying device for transporting and distributing a series of objects from at least one feeding station to a plurality of unloading stations and having a plurality of designated destination areas thereon, a feeding system at said feeding station for loading objects onto said designated destination areas of said conveying device, a data input device for indicating a destination and a dimension of each of said objects to be loaded by said feeding system, and a programmable controller for said conveying device and said feeding system and being connected to said data input device for receipt of said destination and dimension data therefrom, said controller being responsive to said destination and dimension data to determine when two or more objects sharing a common destination will fit within a single destination area of said conveying device and causing said feeding system to load said two or more objects onto said single destination area of said conveying device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A feeding system and method for placing a plurality of objects within a single designated destination area of a sorting system to increase the throughput rate of the system. The disclosed sorting system includes a plurality of carriages movable under the control of a programmable controller between the loading and unloading stations of the sorting system, each carriage carrying a tilt tray. The geographic destination of each of the objects to be placed on a tray, as well as a dimension of each of the objects to be placed on a tray, is determined by an optical scanner and a measuring device. The controller uses the dimension information to determine whether more than one object having the same geographic destination may be placed on the same tray. The invention is adaptable for use with other types of sorting systems.
156 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A sorting system for the automated sorting of objects comprising
a conveying device for transporting and distributing a series of objects from at least one feeding station to a plurality of unloading stations and having a plurality of designated destination areas thereon, a feeding system at said feeding station for loading objects onto said designated destination areas of said conveying device, a data input device for indicating a destination and a dimension of each of said objects to be loaded by said feeding system, and a programmable controller for said conveying device and said feeding system and being connected to said data input device for receipt of said destination and dimension data therefrom, said controller being responsive to said destination and dimension data to determine when two or more objects sharing a common destination will fit within a single destination area of said conveying device and causing said feeding system to load said two or more objects onto said single destination area of said conveying device.
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9. A method for placing a plurality of objects on a conveying device of a sorting system adapted to transport and distribute a series of objects from loading stations to unloading stations of the sorting system, said method comprising the steps of:
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reading destination information from said objects;
measuring a dimension of said objects;
at a first loading station, loading a first object onto said conveying device within a designated destination area;
determining whether a second object having the same destination as said first object will fit within said designated destination area with said first object; and
if said second object will fit within said designated destination area with said first object, loading said second object onto said designated destination area. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A feeding system for use with a sorting system of the type having a plurality of trays movable under the control of a programmable controller to transport and distribute a series of objects from at least one feeding station to a plurality of unloading stations, said feeding system comprising:
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a scanner adapted to read address information from said objects;
an optical sensor adapted to determine a width of said objects in a feeding direction;
said scanner and said optical sensor being connected to provide to said programmable controller data indicating a destination and a dimension of each of said objects; and
at least two feed conveyors positioned to load said objects onto said trays;
said controller being responsive to said destination and dimension data to determine when two objects sharing a common destination will fit within a single tray, and to operate said feed conveyors to load said two objects onto said single tray, one from each of said feeding conveyors.
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17. A feeding system for use with a sorting system of the type having a conveying device movable under the control of a programmable controller to transport and distribute a series of objects from at least one feeding station to a plurality of unloading stations, said feeding system comprising:
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a data input device connected to provide to said programmable controller data indicating a destination and a dimension of each of said objects;
and at least two feed conveyors positioned at said feeding station to load said objects onto designated destination areas of said conveying device;
said controller being responsive to said destination and dimension data to determine when two objects sharing a common destination will fit within a single designated destination area of said conveying device, and to operate said feed conveyors to load said two objects onto said designated destination area, one from each of said feeding conveyors. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A sorting system, comprising:
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a conveying device movable between at least one loading station and a plurality of unloading stations;
said loading station including a feeding system for placing a plurality of objects on said conveying device, comprising;
a data input device;
a programmable controller connected to receive from said data input device data indicating a destination and a dimension of each of said objects; and
one or more feed conveyors positioned to load said objects onto designated destination areas of said conveying device;
said controller being responsive to said destination and dimension data to determine when two or more objects sharing a common destination will fit within a single designated destination area of said conveying device, and to operate said one or more feed conveyors to load said two or more objects onto said designated destination area. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification