Weighing and sorting system and method

• US 9,415,938 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2014
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jesus R. Oropeza
• Original Assignee: Jesus R. Oropeza
• Inventors: Oropeza, Jesus R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Joseph C
• Application Number:
  US14/492,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20150008100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 19837003-37005
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 13/04 according to size
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/36 Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution sorting according to destination B07C3/003, B07C3/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 15/30 Belts or like endless load-carriers co-operating with rails or the like B65G21/22; co-operating with rollers B65G39/20
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 15/42 having ribs, ridges, or other surface projections
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 15/62 Guides for sliding belts
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/065 the load carrying surface being formed by plates or platforms attached to a single traction element
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/16 comprising individual load-carriers which are pivotally mounted, e.g. for free-swinging movement guides inverting or tilting load-carriers for emptying B65G47/38; B65G17/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/32 Individual load-carriers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/38 by dumping, tripping, or releasing load carriers by flexing or tilting travelling structures B65G47/94
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/962 tilting about an axis substantially parallel to the conveying direction

Abstract

A sorting system configured to sort materials by size, and/or weight is disclosed herein. The sorting system is configured to operate in a smaller footprint as compared with conventional sorting systems. For instance, a main sorting track of sorting system is configured to deliver sorted material to either side of the main sorting track. Additionally, the sorting system is configured to reduce mechanical damage imparted on the material to be sorted by sorting system by a sliding and/or rolled delivery. Aspects of the sorting system may be mounted on a mobile platform.

Claims

1. A hinged member of a track for a sorting system comprising:

an elongated V shaped top surface, comprising a first surface and a second surface separated by a center;

a substantially flat front surface;

a substantially flat back surface;

a single pivot location for passively pivoting about a pivot axis; and

a first U-shaped sloped bottom surface opposite the first surface and a second U-shaped sloped bottom surface opposite the second surface, the first U-shaped sloped bottom surface and the second U-shaped sloped bottom surface being configured for traveling along a guide rail,

wherein the hinged member is approximately 1/10 as wide as the hinged member is long.

2. The hinged member of claim 1, further comprising at least one indentation on at least one of the first U-shaped sloped bottom surface or the second U-shaped sloped bottom surface for increasing a range of motion about the pivot axis.

3. The hinged member of claim 1, wherein a pivot structure is coupled to the single pivot location.

4. The hinged member of claim 1, wherein the hinged member is symmetrical along a vertical plane bisecting a width of the hinged member.

5. The hinged member of claim 1, wherein the hinged member is symmetrical along a vertical plane bisecting a length of the hinged member.

6. The hinged member of claim 1, wherein the first U-shaped sloped bottom surface and the second U-shaped sloped bottom surface span from the substantially flat front surface to the substantially flat back surface.

7. A plurality of hinged members for a track of a sorting system, wherein at least one hinged member of the plurality of hinged members comprises:

an elongated V shaped top surface, comprising a first surface and a second surface separated by a center;

a substantially flat front surface;

a substantially flat back surface;

a single pivot location for passively pivoting along a pivot axis; and

a first U-shaped sloped bottom surface opposite the first surface and a second U-shaped sloped bottom surface opposite the second surface, the first U-shaped sloped bottom surface and the second U-shaped sloped bottom surface being configured for traveling along a guide rail,

wherein the at least one hinged member is approximately 1/10 as wide as the at least one hinged member is long.

8. The plurality of hinged members of claim 7, wherein the plurality of hinged members are configured to passively pivot to deliver sorted material to a location on either side of the track.

9. The plurality of hinged members of claim 8, wherein each hinged member of the plurality of hinged members is configured to pivot to either side of the track.

10. The plurality of hinged members of claim 7, wherein a subset of the plurality of hinged members are configured to work in tandem on the track.

11. The plurality of hinged members of claim 10, wherein the subset of the plurality of hinged members is determined based on at least one of a sensed leading edge of a material to be sorted or a sensed trailing edge of the material to be sorted.

12. The plurality of hinged members of claim 11, wherein the subset of the plurality of hinged members are slaved together via programming based on at least one of the sensed leading edge of the material to be sorted or the sensed trailing edge of the material to be sorted.

13. The plurality of hinged members of claim 7, wherein a gap is formed between the plurality of hinged members, wherein a width of the gap is between approximately ½

and approximately ⅓

a width of the at least one hinged member.