Dynamic package sortation device
AssigneeExpress Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.
InventorsMichael L. Davis, Robert E. Hoffman, Kristine Calvin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The dynamic package sortation device includes a track for handling a plurality of packages is provided. At least one conveyor extends away from the track towards at least two shipping containers. The at least one conveyor is extendable and retractable for dispensing the packages into a first shipping container of the at least two shipping containers and a second condition for dispensing the packages into a second shipping container of the at least two shipping containers. A controller is provided for providing an instruction to move the at least one conveyor between the first condition and the second condition based on a trigger.
Claims19
A sortation device comprising:
- a track for handling a plurality of packages;
- a plurality of conveyors extending at angles away from the track towards respective sets of containers, each set of containers including at least two shipping containers;
- a plurality of swing gates for redirecting the packages from the track onto the plurality of conveyors;
- at least one conveyor of the plurality of conveyors being extendable from a first condition for dispensing the packages that are redirected from the track onto the at least one conveyor into a first shipping container of the at least two shipping containers in the respective set of containers and a second condition for dispensing the packages that are redirected from the track onto the at least one conveyor into a second shipping container of the at least two shipping containers in the respective set of containers;
- a controller providing an instruction to move the at least one conveyor between the first condition and the second condition based on a trigger.
A method of dispensing a plurality of packages into a plurality of shipping containers, comprising the steps of:
- preparing a track and a plurality of conveyors that extend at angles away from the track towards respective sets of shipping containers, each of the sets of shipping containers including a first shipping container and a second shipping container;
- guiding the plurality of packages along the track;
- deflecting at least one of the packages from the track onto a first conveyor of the plurality of conveyors and then into the first shipping container of the respective set of shipping containers;
- extending the first conveyor;
- and
- deflecting at least one of the packages onto the first conveyor and then into the second shipping container of the respective set of shipping containers.
A package sortation assembly, comprising:
- a main track for handling a plurality of packages;
- a plurality of sets of shipping containers, the plurality of sets of shipping containers including at least two shipping containers arranged adjacent one another;
- a plurality of conveyors that are spaced apart from one another along the main track, the conveyors extending at angles relative to the main track from the main track towards respective ones of the sets of shipping containers, the conveyors being individually extendable and retractable;
- a plurality of swing gates for redirecting the packages from the main track onto the plurality of conveyors;
- and
- a controller in communication with the plurality of conveyors and configured to selectively extend and retract the conveyors to control which shipping containers in the sets the packages are dispensed into.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.