Sorting system for multiple conveyor belts
First Claim
1. A method of processing workpieces conveyed on a conveyor system by a workpiece processor, comprising:
- (a) initially loading the workpieces on the conveyor system;
(b) obtaining one or more physical parameters of the workpieces;
(c) obtaining an updated distribution of one or more physical parameters for a population of workpieces;
(d) obtaining an updated loading on the conveyor system;
(e) obtaining the processing capacity of the workpiece processor;
(f) obtaining one or more processing parameters indicating the amount of processing of the workpieces required by the workpiece processor;
(g) obtaining the speed that the conveyor system conveys the workpieces; and
(h) processing the information obtained from steps (b)–
(g) by a computer system to determine which workpieces should remain on the conveyor system and which workpieces should be removed from the conveyor system to optimize the level of workpiece processing achieved.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and a method for sorting workpieces (204) includes multiple conveyors (201, 202), a scanner (208), an offloading device (216), a workpiece processor (218), and a computer (210). The computer has instructions for carrying out a method for sorting that includes obtaining the physical parameters of the workpiece by scanning the workpiece, obtaining an updated distribution of a physical parameter of a population of workpieces, obtaining an updated loading on each conveyor, obtaining the workpiece processor'"'"'s capacity, obtaining a processing parameter indicating the required amount of workpiece processing to be performed, and obtaining each conveyor'"'"'s speed. This information is used to place the workpiece on a conveyor in a manner that is calculated to utilize the optimum amount of workpiece processor capacity, while at the same time maintaining an even belt loading. The computer is in communication with conveyor speed drivers (250, 252) and the offloader to adjust retention time and/or conveyor loading.
36 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of processing workpieces conveyed on a conveyor system by a workpiece processor, comprising:
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(a) initially loading the workpieces on the conveyor system; (b) obtaining one or more physical parameters of the workpieces; (c) obtaining an updated distribution of one or more physical parameters for a population of workpieces; (d) obtaining an updated loading on the conveyor system; (e) obtaining the processing capacity of the workpiece processor; (f) obtaining one or more processing parameters indicating the amount of processing of the workpieces required by the workpiece processor; (g) obtaining the speed that the conveyor system conveys the workpieces; and (h) processing the information obtained from steps (b)–
(g) by a computer system to determine which workpieces should remain on the conveyor system and which workpieces should be removed from the conveyor system to optimize the level of workpiece processing achieved. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification