Laned container flow equalizer
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsDouglas A. Imes, Geromy Lanich, Craig Mummert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for controlling a flow of articles includes a conveyor driven in a direction to convey articles in the direction. A plurality of lanes are disposed along a portion of the conveyor. Each lane accepts a row of articles along the conveyor direction. A plurality of sensors count the articles in each lane. A plurality of actuators control the flow rates of the articles by comparing and adjusting the flow rates in respective lanes.
Claims13
A system for controlling a flow of articles, comprising:
- a conveyor driven in a direction to convey articles in the direction;
- a plurality of lanes disposed along a portion of the conveyor, wherein each lane of the plurality of lanes is configured to accept a row of articles along the direction;
- a plurality of sensors for counting the articles in each lane;
- and
- a plurality of actuators for controlling flow rates of the articles along the conveyor, wherein the flow rates are based on a lowest count of articles in a respective lane of the plurality of lanes, wherein at least one actuator of the plurality of actuators comprises a paddle, wherein the paddle is configured to close off at least a portion of the plurality of lanes, wherein the paddle includes a pressure regulator.
A system for controlling a flow of articles, comprising:
- a conveyor driven in a direction to convey articles in the direction;
- a plurality of walls disposed along a portion of the conveyor, arranged to form a plurality of lanes along a surface of the conveyor;
- a plurality of sensors for counting the articles;
- and
- a plurality of actuators for controlling flow rates of the articles along the conveyor, wherein each lane of the plurality of lanes further comprises a pneumatically controlled paddle, wherein the paddle is configured to apply a degree of resistance to articles with a pressure regulator as the articles pass through the plurality of lanes.
A method for controlling a flow of articles, comprising:
- conveying articles down a conveyor;
- directing the articles into a plurality of lanes displaced along the conveyor;
- utilizing a plurality of sensors for counting the articles in each lane of the plurality of lanes;
- monitoring a flow rate of the articles in each lane of the plurality of lanes with a counting circuit;
- adjusting the flow rate of the articles in at least one lane of the plurality of lanes to match a lower flow rate of the articles in at least one lane of the plurality of lanes by closing off at least a portion of the plurality of lanes with a paddle;
- and
- applying a degree of resistance to the articles with a pressure regulator mounted to the paddle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.