# US 11,027,928 B2 · Compact collator, system and method of use

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,027,928 B2
- Document ID: US11027928B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/899,982
- Filed: 2020-06-12
- Published: 2020-10-01
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2019-03-27
- Assignees: Delkor Systems, Inc.
- Applicants: Delkor Systems, Inc.
- Inventors: Jeremiah J. Ericson; Nicholas A. Orfei; Nicholas E. Kaiser
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027928B2

## CPC

- B65G 47/088: {cylindrical articles}
- B65G 47/46: and distributing, e.g. automatically, to desired points (in tube mail systems B65G51/36)
- B65G 47/082: {grouping articles in rows}
- B65G 47/715: {to a broader conveyor lane}
- B65G 47/82: Rotary or reciprocating members for direct action on articles or materials, e.g. pushers, rakes, shovels {(means for pushing glass articles onto a conveyor C03B9/453)}
- B65G 47/53: between conveyors which cross one another
- B65G 2201/0235: Containers
- B65G 2203/0241: Quantity of articles
- B65G 2203/042: Sensors
- B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D)

## Abstract

A compact collator for sorting and collating product containers includes a laner, a pattern conveyor, a cross-pusher assembly and a plurality of interchangeable inserts. The laner has a first movable conveyor for conveying product containers through the laner, and defines an infeed area. The pattern conveyor has a second movable conveyor positioned down-stream from the infeed area and off-set 90 degrees from the first moveable conveyor. The cross-pusher assembly includes a cross-pusher arm that the interchangeable inserts are configured to be engaged to. Each insert defines a unique face contour that corresponds to the profile shape of at least one type of product container.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A compact collator comprises:
a laner, the laner having a first movable conveyor for conveying product containers through the laner, the laner defining an infeed area,
a pattern conveyor, the pattern conveyor having a second movable conveyor positioned down-stream from the infeed area and off-set 90 degrees from the first moveable conveyor;
a cross-pusher assembly, the cross-pusher assembly positioned downstream of the infeed area, the cross-pusher assembly having a cross-pusher arm, the cross-pusher arm comprises a first portion that extends parallel to the first moveable conveyor, and an elbow portion that extends in a curve from the first portion; and
a plurality of interchangeable inserts, each of the plurality of interchangeable inserts are configured to be capable of engaging the first portion and the curve of the of cross-pusher arm, only one of the plurality of interchangeable inserts being engaged to the cross-pusher arm at any given time, each interchangeable insert defining a unique face contour, the unique face contour of each of the plurality of interchangeable inserts corresponding to the profile shape of at least one type of product container.

### Claim 2

A compact collator comprises:
a laner, a pattern conveyor, a cross-pusher assembly, and a plurality of interchangeable inserts,
the cross-pusher assembly positioned downstream of an infeed area defined by the laner, the cross-pusher assembly having a cross-pusher arm,
the cross-pusher arm comprises a first portion that extends parallel to the laner and an elbow portion that extends in a curve from the first portion,
each of the plurality of interchangeable inserts are configured to be capable of engaging the first portion and the curve of the of cross-pusher arm, only one of the plurality of interchangeable inserts being engaged to the cross-pusher arm at any given time, each of the plurality of
interchangeable inserts defining a unique face contour, the unique face contour of each of the plurality of interchangeable inserts corresponding to the profile shape of at least one type of product container.