Back to results
US 12,668,435 B2Granted
Sorting conveyor system
AssigneeLaitram, L.L.C.
InventorsMark Costanzo, Christopher Alan Brupbacher, Joseph L. Eustis, Destin Jacob Bailey, Matthew Kesler Richards
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A conveyor system comprising a sorting conveyor sorting articles off one or both sides to a chute system that includes an upper chute and a lower slide. Articles slide down the chute system to a discharge conveyor. The upper chute and the lower slide are separated by a gap. And the upper chute has a topography that prevents articles from tipping over onto another side. The chute system provides a large drop in elevation in a small footprint to conserve floor space.
Claims26
A conveyor system comprising:
- a sorting conveyor extending in length from a first end to a second end and in width between two sides and having sorting positions along at least one of the sides;
- a plurality of chutes, each extending outward of the sorting conveyor at one of the sorting positions and having a top surface bounded by:
- a proximal edge along the side of the sorting conveyor at the sorting position;
- an upper edge extending outward of the sorting conveyor to a distal end and forming a first corner of the top surface with the proximal edge;
- a discharge edge extending outward of the sorting conveyor to a distal end and forming a second corner of the top surface with the proximal edge;
- and
- a distal edge angled off horizontal and forming third and fourth corners of the top surface with the upper and discharge edges;
- wherein the upper edge of the top surface of the chute is linear and the discharge edge follows a curve whose slope decreases monotonically from the second corner of the top surface to the fourth corner.
5 more elements
A conveyor system comprising:
- a sorting conveyor extending in length from a first end to a second end and in width between two sides, wherein the sorting conveyor is configured to advance articles in a downstream direction toward the second end and selectively divert articles off at least one side at sorting positions along the length of the sorting conveyor;
- a plurality of chutes, each extending outward of the sorting conveyor at one of the sorting positions and including a top surface bounded by:
- a proximal edge along the side of the sorting conveyor at the sorting position;
- an upper edge extending outward of the sorting conveyor to a distal end and forming a first corner of the top surface with the proximal edge;
- a discharge edge extending outward of the sorting conveyor upstream of the upper edge to a distal end and forming a second corner of the top surface with the proximal edge;
- and
- a distal edge forming third and fourth corners of the top surface with the upper and discharge edges;
- wherein the top surface includes:
- a first declining region extending downward and away from the second corner and bounded by portions of the proximal and discharge edges;
- a second declining region extending downward and away from the third corner and bounded by portions of the upper and distal edges;
- and
- a curved intermediate region extending from the first declining region to the second declining region and along which articles received from the sorting conveyor over the proximal edge are guided off the chute over the discharge edge.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.