Modular handling system with multi-level sorter and method of using same
First Claim
1. A crossband of a diverter of a conveyor, the diverter comprising conveyor rollers and drive rollers, the conveyor rollers rotatably aligned with a path of the conveyor, each of the drive rollers positioned at opposite ends of the conveyor rollers, a top of the conveyor rollers defining a conveyor surface for passing cases therealong, the crossband comprising:
- a continuous loop rotatably encircling the drive rollers, the continuous loop passing between a pair of the conveyor rollers, the continuous loop having an inner surface rotatably positioned about the drive rollers and an outer surface shaped to drivingly engage the cases, the continuous loop comprising a base portion having a thickness and at least one cam portion having an increased thickness, the outer surface along the base portion positioned below the conveyor surface, the outer surface along the at least one cam portion extending a distance above the conveyor surface, the at least one cam portion having an incline at a contact end thereof shaped to engage with a bottom of the cases to lift and push the cases as the continuous loop advances about the drive rollers whereby the cases are selectively diverted from the conveyor;
wherein the continuous loop is unitary.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-level sorter of a handling system for transporting cases. The handling system has conveyors extending between locations of a facility. The multi-level sorter includes a multi-level frame positionable adjacent at least one outlet of at least one of the conveyors, at least one diverter carried by the multi-level frame, and at least one bin supported about at least one of the levels of the multi-level frame. Each of the outlets of the conveyors aligned with a level of the multi-level frame to pass the cases thereto. The diverter has rollers to pass the cases along a main path and crossbands to selectively divert the cases from the main path. Each of the bins is alignable with the diverter to receive the diverted cases therefrom whereby the cases are sorted.
84 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A crossband of a diverter of a conveyor, the diverter comprising conveyor rollers and drive rollers, the conveyor rollers rotatably aligned with a path of the conveyor, each of the drive rollers positioned at opposite ends of the conveyor rollers, a top of the conveyor rollers defining a conveyor surface for passing cases therealong, the crossband comprising:
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a continuous loop rotatably encircling the drive rollers, the continuous loop passing between a pair of the conveyor rollers, the continuous loop having an inner surface rotatably positioned about the drive rollers and an outer surface shaped to drivingly engage the cases, the continuous loop comprising a base portion having a thickness and at least one cam portion having an increased thickness, the outer surface along the base portion positioned below the conveyor surface, the outer surface along the at least one cam portion extending a distance above the conveyor surface, the at least one cam portion having an incline at a contact end thereof shaped to engage with a bottom of the cases to lift and push the cases as the continuous loop advances about the drive rollers whereby the cases are selectively diverted from the conveyor; wherein the continuous loop is unitary. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A diverter of a handling system for transporting cases about a facility, the handling system having at least one conveyor, the diverter comprising:
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a frame positioned adjacent the at least one conveyor; conveyor rollers rotationally supported by the frame and aligned with the at least one conveyor, a top of the conveyor rollers defining a conveyor surface; drive rollers positioned at opposite ends of the conveyor rollers and rotationally supported by the frame; and crossbands positioned between the conveyor rollers, the crossbands rotatable in a direction transverse to the conveyor rollers, each of the crossbands comprising; a continuous loop rotatably encircling the drive rollers, the continuous loop passing between a pair of the conveyor rollers, the continuous loop having an inner surface rotatably positioned about the drive rollers and an outer surface shaped to drivingly engage the cases, the continuous loop comprising a base portion having a thickness and at least one cam portion having an increased thickness, the outer surface along the base portion positioned below the conveyor surface, the outer surface along the at least one cam portion extending a distance above the conveyor surface, the at least one cam portion having an incline at a contact end thereof shaped to engage with a bottom of the cases to lift and push the cases as the continuous loop advances about the drive rollers whereby the cases are selectively diverted from the at least one conveyor; wherein the continuous loop is unitary. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of transporting cases about a facility, the method comprising:
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positioning a diverter about a conveyor of the facility, the diverter comprising a frame, conveyor rollers rotatably aligned with a path of the conveyor, drive rollers positioned at opposite ends of the conveyor rollers, and crossbands positioned between the conveyor rollers, the crossbands rotatably encircling the drive rollers, the conveyor rollers defining a conveyor surface, each of the crossbands comprising; a continuous loop having an inner surface rotatably positioned about the drive rollers and an outer surface shaped to drivingly engage the cases, the continuous loop comprising a base portion having a thickness and at least one cam portion having an increased thickness, the outer surface along the base portion positioned below the conveyor surface, the outer surface along the at least one cam portion extending a distance above the conveyor surface, the at least one cam portion having an incline at a contact end thereof shaped to engage with the cases; wherein the continuous loop is unitary; advancing a portion of the cases along a conveyor path of the conveyor and onto the diverter; and selectively diverting a portion of the cases away from the conveyor path by selectively rotating the crossbands to engage the at least one cam portion with the cases and advance the portion of the cases. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A crossband of a diverter of a conveyor, the diverter comprising conveyor rollers and drive rollers, the conveyor rollers rotatably aligned with a path of the conveyor, each of the drive rollers positioned at opposite ends of the conveyor rollers, a top of the conveyor rollers defining a conveyor surface for passing cases therealong, the crossband comprising:
a continuous loop rotatably encircling the drive rollers, the continuous loop passing between a pair of the conveyor rollers, the continuous loop having an inner surface rotatably positioned about the drive rollers and an outer surface shaped to drivingly engage the cases, the continuous loop comprising a chain with segments connected thereto, the segments shaped to define a base portion having a thickness and at least one cam portion having an increased thickness, the outer surface along the base portion positioned below the conveyor surface, the outer surface along the at least one cam portion extending a distance above the conveyor surface, the segments defining an incline at a contact end and a decline at an opposite thereof shaped to engage with a bottom of the cases to lift and push the cases as the continuous loop moves in either direction about the drive rollers whereby the cases are selectively diverted from the conveyor. - View Dependent Claims (20)
Specification