Independent discharge sorting conveyor
First Claim
1. A sorting conveyor for transporting objects and unloading objects at one or more unloading stations adjacent the conveyor, said sorting conveyor comprising:
- (a) a conveyor track;
(b) a train of conveyor carts connected end-to-end; and
(c) at least one of said conveyor carts including(i) a frame base for engaging said conveyer track,(ii) a carrying tray for holding the objects,(iii) a support for supporting said carrying tray above said frame base,(iv) a tilting mechanism including at least one gear having at least one cam for tilting said carrying tray toward at least one side of the conveyor, wherein said tilting mechanism includes a second gear wheel having a second cam, said first cam rotating about a first axis of rotation and said second cam rotating about a second axis of rotation, wherein the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are independent and set apart from each other, and(v) a drive motor and a driven member attached to said frame base for moving said conveyor carts around said track, and having an opposed roller motor assembly for moving said conveyor carts on said conveyor track.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sorting conveyor for transporting objects and unloading objects at one or more unloading stations adjacent the conveyor. The sorting conveyor includes a conveyor track and a train of conveyor carts connected end-to-end. At least one of the conveyor carts may include a frame base for engaging the conveyer track; a carrying tray for holding the objects; and a support for supporting the carrying tray above the frame base. A tilting mechanism including at least one gear having at least one cam is adapted for tilting the carrying tray toward at least one side of the conveyor. The present inventions may further include a tilt sensor for determining the direction of tilt of the tray. In addition, a drive motor and a driven member attached to the frame base may be included for moving the conveyor carts around the track.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A sorting conveyor for transporting objects and unloading objects at one or more unloading stations adjacent the conveyor, said sorting conveyor comprising:
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(a) a conveyor track; (b) a train of conveyor carts connected end-to-end; and (c) at least one of said conveyor carts including (i) a frame base for engaging said conveyer track, (ii) a carrying tray for holding the objects, (iii) a support for supporting said carrying tray above said frame base, (iv) a tilting mechanism including at least one gear having at least one cam for tilting said carrying tray toward at least one side of the conveyor, wherein said tilting mechanism includes a second gear wheel having a second cam, said first cam rotating about a first axis of rotation and said second cam rotating about a second axis of rotation, wherein the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are independent and set apart from each other, and (v) a drive motor and a driven member attached to said frame base for moving said conveyor carts around said track, and having an opposed roller motor assembly for moving said conveyor carts on said conveyor track. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. In a sorting conveyor for transporting objects and unloading objects at one or more unloading stations adjacent the conveyor, said sorting conveyor having a conveyor track and a train of conveyor carts connected end-to-end, at least one of said conveyor carts comprising:
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(a) a frame base for engaging said conveyer track; (b) a carrying tray for holding the objects; (c) a support for supporting said carrying tray above said frame base; (d) a tilting mechanism including at least one gear wheel having at least one cam for tilting said carrying tray toward at least one side of the conveyor, wherein said tilting mechanism includes a second gear wheel having a second cam, said first cam rotating about a first axis of rotation and said second cam rotating about a second axis of rotation, wherein the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are independent and set apart from each other; and (e) a tilt sensor for determining the direction of tilt of said tray. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A sorting conveyor for transporting objects and unloading objects at one or more unloading stations adjacent the conveyor, said sorting conveyor comprising:
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(a) a conveyor track; (b) a train of conveyor carts connected end-to-end; (c) at least one of said conveyor carts including (i) a frame base for engaging said conveyer track, (ii) a carrying tray for holding the objects, (iii) a support for supporting said carrying tray above said frame base, (iv) a tilting mechanism including at least one gear having at least one cam for tilting said carrying tray toward at least one side of the conveyor, wherein said tilting mechanism includes a second gear wheel having a second cam, said first cam rotating about a first axis of rotation and said second cam rotating about a second axis of rotation, wherein the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are independent and set apart from each other, and (v) a tilt sensor for determining the direction of tilt of said tray; and (d) a drive motor and a driven member attached to said frame base for moving said conveyor carts around said track, and wherein said drive motor further includes an opposed roller motor assembly for moving said conveyor carts on said conveyor track, said opposed roller motor assembly including a cantilevered, drive roller connected to one pivot block assembly and another pivot block assembly adapted for positioning said drive roller, wherein said pivot block assemblies are coupled together and adapted so that movement of each pivot block assembly mirrors movement of the other pivot block assembly, and wherein said pivot block assemblies are coupled together.
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Specification