Automated cart unloading/conveyor system

• US 6,997,666 B1
• Filed: 02/01/2002
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Greetings Corporation
• Original Assignee: American Greetings Corporation
• Inventors: Swafford, Christopher Wayne, Rodgers, Lowell Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Brahan, Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US10/061,115
• Time in Patent Office: 1,474 Days
• Field of Search: 414/395, 414/331.6, 414/331.7, 414/337, 414/265, 198/435, 198/599, 198/637
• US Class Current: 414/331.06
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/763 Fixed ploughs or transverse scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 67/24 Unloading land vehicles

Abstract

An automated cart unloading/conveyor system for automated unloading of articles from a transport vehicle or cart to one or more transfer surfaces, conveyors, or other platforms. A specially configured cart carries articles to be transferred upon shelves. The cart is engaged by a cart drive mechanism which propels the cart along a path which interfaces with one or more diverter arms configured to interface with the cart to transfer articles from the cart onto one or more conveyors. In one embodiment, the cart may have multiple shelves which interface with multiple conveyors along the cart drive path, and further each shelf of the cart may be divided with a diverter arm positioned to interface with each divided portion of each shelf of the cart.

Claims

1. A system for automated transfer of articles from a cart to a transfer surface, the system comprising:

a cart having a shelf for carrying articles and a fin over the shelf;

a cart drive mechanism located over the cart which contacts the fin to drive the cart along a driven cart path and past a stationary diverter arm;

the diverter arm extending laterally into the driven cart path and over the shelf of the cart to contact an object on the shelf and laterally divert the object off of the shelf on to a transfer surface.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the cart further comprises a flange which extends over a portion of the shelf, and a distal end of the diverter arm fits between the flange and the shelf as the cart passes the diverter arm.

3. A system for transfer of articles from a cart, the system comprising:

a cart having a shelf for carrying articles and a fin located over the shelf;

a cart drive mechanism located over the cart which contacts the fin to drive the cart along a cart path and past a stationary diverter arm;

the diverter arm extending laterally into the cart path and over the shelf of the cart to contact an object on the shelf and laterally divert the object off of the shelf.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the cart further comprises a flange which extends over a portion of the shelf, and a distal end of the diverter arm fits between the flange and the shelf as the cart passes the diverter arm.