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US 12,564,866 B2Granted
Stacked-package detection system
AssigneeLaitram, L.L.C.
InventorMatthew L. Fourney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stacked-package detection system for a matrix sorter detects stacked packages by comparing weight or dimension measurements on primary sorters from those measurements on secondary sorters. Weight or dimension increases for a package on a secondary sorter indicate a stack of packages. A recirculation system diverts packages identified on the secondary sorters as stacked packages back into bulk flow to be reprocessed by the primary or secondary sorters.
Claims16
A sorting system comprising:
- a plurality of primary sorters, each including a primary identification and sizing system reading identification marked on packages and measuring package sizes and sorting packages to a plurality of primary destinations according to the identification;
- a plurality of secondary sorters, each including a secondary identification and sizing system reading identification marked on packages and measuring package sizes and sorting the packages to a plurality of secondary destinations according to the identification, wherein some of the secondary destinations are final secondary destinations;
- a primary infeed conveyor supplying packages to be sorted to the primary sorters;
- a plurality of secondary infeed conveyor lines, each supplying packages to be sorted to a corresponding one of the plurality of secondary sorters;
- wherein at least some of the primary destinations of each of the primary sorters are the plurality of secondary infeed conveyor lines;
- a primary recirculation system configured to convey back to the primary infeed conveyor those packages on the primary sorters that are unidentifiable by the primary identification and sizing system or are identified by the primary identification and sizing system as groups of overlapping or stacked packages;
- a secondary recirculation system configured to convey back to the primary infeed conveyor or to a manned station those packages on the secondary sorters that are unidentifiable by the secondary identification and sizing system or are identified by the secondary identification and sizing system as having a final destination on another secondary sorter.
4 more elements
A sorting system comprising:
- a plurality of primary sorters;
- a plurality of secondary sorters configured to sort packages to final destinations along the secondary sorters;
- a primary infeed conveyor distributing packages to the plurality of primary sorters;
- a plurality of secondary infeed conveyors, each conveying packages received from the primary sorters to an associated one of the secondary sorters;
- a primary recirculation system configured to return packages from the primary sorters to the primary infeed conveyor line;
- a secondary recirculation system configured to selectively return packages from each of the secondary sorters to the primary infeed conveyor line or to the associated secondary infeed conveyor line;
- wherein the plurality of primary sorters are configured to sort packages to final destinations along the primary sorters.
4 more elements
A sorting system comprising:
- a plurality of primary sorters;
- a plurality of secondary sorters configured to sort packages to final destinations along the secondary sorters;
- a primary infeed conveyor distributing packages to the plurality of primary sorters;
- a plurality of secondary infeed conveyors, each conveying packages received from the primary sorters to an associated one of the secondary sorters;
- a primary recirculation system configured to return packages from the primary sorters to the primary infeed conveyor line;
- a secondary recirculation system configured to selectively return packages from each of the secondary sorters to the primary infeed conveyor line or to the associated secondary infeed conveyor line;
- wherein each of the primary sorters includes a primary identification and sizing system configured to read identification marked on packages and measure package sizes and wherein each of the secondary sorters includes a secondary identification and sizing system configured to read identification marked on packages and measure package sizes.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.