Slat driven positive displacement sorter
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An article sorter, comprising:
- a web defined by a plurality of interconnected laterally elongated slats, an upper portion of said web defining a longitudinally extending conveying surface, each of said slats having a generally planar upper surface forming a portion of said conveying surface;
a pair of wheel assemblies, one at each lateral side of said web;
said wheel assemblies interconnecting said slats to form said web and moveably supporting said web;
a plurality of pusher shoes travelling laterally of said conveying surface to laterally displace articles on said conveying surface, each of said pusher shoes travelling along one of said slats and having at least one portion between that one of said slats and an adjacent one of said slats; and
a drive assembly, said drive assembly including a sprocket and a motor, said motor rotating said sprocket, said sprocket engaging said slats to propel said web.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An article sorter is made up of a web defined by a plurality of interconnected, laterally elongated, slats. An upper portion of the web defines a longitudinally extending conveying surface. Each of the slats has a generally planar upper surface forming a portion of the conveying surface. A plurality of pusher shoes travel laterally of the conveying surface to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. A drive assembly is provided. The drive includes at least one sprocket and a motor. The motor is adapted to rotate the sprocket(s). The sprocket(s) engage the slats to propel the web.
48 Citations
39 Claims
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1. An article sorter, comprising:
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a web defined by a plurality of interconnected laterally elongated slats, an upper portion of said web defining a longitudinally extending conveying surface, each of said slats having a generally planar upper surface forming a portion of said conveying surface; a pair of wheel assemblies, one at each lateral side of said web; said wheel assemblies interconnecting said slats to form said web and moveably supporting said web; a plurality of pusher shoes travelling laterally of said conveying surface to laterally displace articles on said conveying surface, each of said pusher shoes travelling along one of said slats and having at least one portion between that one of said slats and an adjacent one of said slats; and a drive assembly, said drive assembly including a sprocket and a motor, said motor rotating said sprocket, said sprocket engaging said slats to propel said web. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An article sorter, comprising:
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a web defined by a plurality of interconnected laterally elongated slats, an upper portion of said web defining a longitudinally extending conveying surface, each of said slats having a generally planar upper surface forming a portion of said conveying surface; a plurality of pusher shoes travelling laterally of said conveying surface to laterally displace articles on said conveying surface; and a drive assembly, said drive assembly including a sprocket and a motor, said motor rotating said sprocket; and complementary surface portions defined between said sprocket and said slats to propel said web, wherein said complementary surface portions comprising an extension of said sprocket or said slats engaging a recess in the other of said sprocket or said slats, wherein said complimentary surface portions further comprising a sloped leading surface portion of said extension engaging a leading surface portion of said recess and a sloped trailing surface portion of said extension engaging a trailing surface portion of said recess to provide smooth engagement between said extension and said recess. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An article sorter, comprising:
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a web defined by a plurality of interconnected laterally elongated slats, an upper portion of said web defining a longitudinally extending conveying surface, each of said slats having a generally planar upper surface forming a portion of said conveying surface; a plurality of pusher shoes travelling laterally of said conveying surface to laterally displace articles on said conveying surface; a drive assembly, said drive assembly including a sprocket and a motor, said motor rotating said sprocket, said sprocket engaging said slats to propel said web; and a track assembly, said track assembly including an upper track portion and an end track portion, said upper track portion supporting said upper portion of said web, said end track portion supporting an end portion of said web at said sprocket, wherein said end portion of said web is guided by a combination of said end track portion and said sprocket to reduce vibration and noise while propelling said web. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An article sorter, comprising:
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a web defined by a plurality of interconnected laterally elongated slats, an upper portion of said web defining a longitudinally extending conveying surface, each of said slats having a generally planar upper surface forming a portion of said conveying surface and a lower surface opposite said upper surface; a plurality of pusher shoes adapted to travel laterally of said conveying surface to laterally displace articles on said conveying surface; a drive assembly, said drive assembly propelling said web, said drive assembly including at least one sprocket and a motor, said motor rotating said at least one sprocket, said lower surface defined by a first protrusion and a second protrusion spaced from said first protrusion, wherein said at least one sprocket engaging said lower surface of said slats in a void between said first and second protrusions in order to propel the slats. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. An article sorter, comprising:
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a web defined by a plurality of interconnected laterally elongated slats, an upper portion of said web defining a longitudinally extending conveying surface, each of said slats having a generally planar upper surface forming a portion of said conveying surface and a lower surface opposite said upper surface; a plurality of pusher shoes adapted to travel laterally of said conveying surface to laterally displace articles on said conveying surface; a drive assembly, said drive assembly propelling said web, said drive assembly including at least one sprocket and a motor, said motor rotating said at least one sprocket, said at least one sprocket engaging said lower surface of said slats, wherein said pusher shoes are at a first lateral end portion of said web when in a non-diverted state and a second opposite lateral end portion of said web when in a diverted state, said pusher shoes traveling between said first and second lateral end portions to divert an article, wherein said at least one sprocket comprises at least two sprockets, wherein all of said at least two sprockets engage said slats laterally inward of said first and second lateral end portions of said web thereby allowing said pusher shoes to be adjacent respective lateral edges of said conveying surface in said non-diverted state and diverted state without interference between said pusher shoes and each of said at least two sprockets to provide guidance of an article until that article is diverted from said conveying surface. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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Specification