Sorting conveyor system

• US 8,087,510 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2007
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Univeyor A/S
• Original Assignee: Univeyor A/S
• Inventors: Christensen, Torben
• Primary Examiner(s): HESS, DOUGLAS A
• Application Number:
  US12/302,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20090139835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,694 Days
• Field of Search: 198/369.1, 198/369.5, 198/370.06, 198/436, 198/575, 198/587
• US Class Current: 198/587
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/648 about a vertical axis

Abstract

A conveyor system for sorting items that are supplied in a random sequence via a conveyor including a plurality of conveyor sections 4, and including individual sorting means arranged in a row for directing the items to specific receiving positions at least one side of the sorting means. The sorting means are constituted by relatively short individually driven belt conveyor sections which are pivotably suspended on mainly vertical turning shafts (8), and which at a foremost end part (5) project in over a next belt conveyor section (4) in the row. By means of simple technical measures it is possible to counteract the drawbacks of corresponding prior art conveyor systems and to achieve further advantages that are very essential and new.

Claims

1. A conveyor system for sorting items supplied in random sequence comprising:

a conveyor for directing the items through a plurality of pivotable conveyor sections, a plurality of the pivotable conveyor sections each including means for sorting and arranged in a row for directing the items from moving along the pivotable conveyor section to a receiving position at least one side of each of the means for sorting of the pivotable conveyor sections; and

wherein the means for sorting are pivotably suspended on vertical turning shafts and an end part of a plurality of pivotable conveyor sections projects over a next conveyor section along the conveyor.

2. A conveyor system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of pivotable sections at an end part thereof each has a height determined by a diameter of a reversing roller at the end part.

3. A conveyor system according to claim 2, wherein each of the pivotable conveyor sections includes an electric drive motor which accelerates the pivotable conveyor section at least when turned laterally outwards in relation to a longitudinal center axis for moving the items out to the receiving position.

4. A conveyor system according to claim 1, wherein the vertical turning shaft of a plurality of pivotable conveyor sections each is disposed at an end of the conveyor section and is provided with a pivot control mechanism which extends rearwardly and which interacts with a control arm connected to a pivot motor.

5. A conveyor system according to claim 4, wherein the pivot control mechanism includes parallel spaced apart guides for receiving guide rollers of the control arm and wherein the spacing between the guide rollers is the same as spacing between the guides.

6. A conveyor system according to claim 5, wherein the guide rollers each engage the guide sections when the control arm is transversely disposed in relation to a longitudinal dimension of each of a plurality of the pivotable conveyor sections when each pivotable conveyor section is not turned outwards.

7. A conveyor system according to claim 6, wherein the engagement between the guide rollers of the control arm and the guides is such that a left one of the guide rollers engages a left one of the guides when the control arm is turned, corresponding to the pivotable conveyor sections are turned outwards to a left side in relation to the longitudinal dimension.

8. A conveyor system according to claim 7, wherein the engagement between the guide rollers of the control arm and the guides is such that a right one of the guide rollers engages a right one of the guides when the control arm is turned, corresponding to the pivotable conveyor sections turned outwards to a right side in relation to the longitudinal dimension.

9. A conveyor system according to claim 8, wherein the pivot control mechanism includes a position control including sensors mounted in slots, and which interact with position guide members.

10. A conveyor system according to claim 4, wherein the pivot control mechanism includes sensors mounted in slots which interact with position guide members to control pivoting of the plurality of pivotable conveyor sections.

11. A conveyor system according to claim 4, wherein each of the pivotable conveyor sections includes an electric drive motor which accelerates the pivotable conveyor section at least when turned laterally outwards in relation to a longitudinal center axis for moving the items out to the receiving position.

12. A conveyor system according to claim 5, wherein the pivot control mechanism includes a position control including sensors mounted in slots, and which interact with position guide members to control pivoting of the plurality of conveyor sections.

13. A conveyor system according to claim 5, wherein each of the pivotable conveyor sections includes an electric drive motor which accelerates the pivotable conveyor section at least when turned laterally outwards in relation to a longitudinal center axis for moving the items out to the receiving position.

14. A conveyor system according to claim 6, wherein the engagement between the guide rollers of the control arm and the guides is such that a right one of the guide rollers engages a right one of the guides when the control arm is turned, corresponding to the pivotable conveyor sections are turned outwards to a right side in relation to the longitudinal dimension.

15. A conveyor system according to claim 14, wherein the pivot control mechanism includes a position control including sensors mounted in slots, and which interact with position guide members.

16. A conveyor system according to claim 6, wherein the pivot control mechanism includes a position control including sensors mounted in slots which interact with position guide members to control pivoting of the plurality of conveyor sections.

17. A conveyor system according to claim 6, wherein each of the pivotable conveyor sections includes an electric drive motor which accelerates the pivotable conveyor section at least when turned laterally outwards in relation to a longitudinal center axis for moving the items out to the receiving position.

18. A conveyor system according to claim 7, wherein the pivot control mechanism includes a position control including sensors mounted in slots, and which interact with position guide members.

19. A conveyor system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the pivotable conveyor sections include a pivot control mechanism including sensors mounted in slots which interact with position guide members to control pivoting of the plurality of pivotable conveyor sections.

20. A conveyor system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the conveyor sections include an electric drive motor which accelerates the pivotable conveyor sections at least when turned laterally outwards in relation to a longitudinal dimension of the conveyor section for moving the items out to the receiving position.