Article sorting system and method
AssigneeHytrol Conveyor Company, Inc.
InventorsBoyce Dean Bonham, Paul Dewayne Wallace
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The conveyor sorting system and method are provided. The system includes a conveyor for transporting articles along a predetermined path, and a pair of opposing chutes for receiving articles directed from the conveyor by a sorting device having a single paddle. The chutes are in communication with one another so that articles directed into either chute from the conveyor are directed to a common discharge end. In this regard, the single paddle of the present invention is operable to direct consecutively-spaced articles to opposing chutes that lead to the common discharge end.
Claims30
A sorting system for sorting articles of different types, the system comprising:
- a conveyor for transporting the articles along a path of travel, said conveyor defining a pair of opposing sides;
- a detector positioned proximate said conveyor for detecting the presence of the articles;
- a pair of opposing chutes defining inlets adjacent said opposing sides of said conveyor;
- and
- at least one paddle having a first side and a second side, said paddle being in operative communication with said detector such that both of said sides of said paddle are operable to engage articles and direct articles into either inlet of said pair of opposing chutes.
A sorting system for sorting articles of different types, the system comprising:
- a conveyor for transporting the articles along a path of travel, said conveyor defining a pair of opposing sides;
- a pair of chutes defining inlets adjacent said opposing sides of said conveyor;
- a discharge wall movably attached to at least one of said pair of opposing chutes, said discharge wall movable at least between a discharge position and a storage position;
- and
- at least one paddle having a first side and a second side, said paddle being operable to engage articles and direct articles into either inlet of said pair of opposing chutes.
A method of sorting an article from a conveyor, comprising:
- directing the article along a path of travel with the conveyor;
- detecting the presence of the article at a point along the path of travel;
- and
- directing the article from the conveyor to one of a plurality of opposing chutes, the chutes being in communication with one another and having a common discharge end.
A method of sorting an article from a conveyor, comprising:
- directing the article along a path of travel with the conveyor;
- detecting the presence of the article at a point along the path of travel;
- directing the article from the conveyor to one of a plurality of opposing chutes being in communication with one another and having a common discharge end;
- and
- selectively positioning a discharge wall proximate the common discharge end between a discharge position and a storage position.
A method of sorting an article from a conveyor, comprising:
- directing the article along a path of travel with the conveyor;
- detecting the presence of the article at a point along the path of travel;
- directing the article from the conveyor to one of a plurality of opposing chutes being in communication with one another and having a common discharge end;
- and
- directing the article to a storage tote.
A method of sorting an article from a conveyor, comprising:
- directing the article along a path of travel with the conveyor;
- detecting the presence of the article at a point along the path of travel;
- directing the article from the conveyor to one of a plurality of opposing chutes being in communication with one another and having a common discharge end;
- and
- storing the article in the pair of chutes for a predetermined interval.
A method of sorting articles from a conveyor, comprising:
- directing the articles along a path of travel with the conveyor;
- directing a first article to a first chute by engaging the first article with a first side of a paddle, the paddle moving from a first position to a second position;
- and
- directing a second article to a second chute by engaging the second article with a second side of the paddle, the paddle moving from the second position to the first position.
A sorting system for sorting uniquely shaped articles, the system comprising:
- a conveyor for transporting the articles along a path of travel, said conveyor defining an external surface with a plurality of raised portions and a plurality of valleys between the raised portions, the raised portions being spaced apart to support the uniquely shaped articles;
- a sorting device positioned proximate said conveyor, said sorting device operable to move substantially perpendicular to the path of travel of the conveyor;
- at least one paddle having a proximal end connected to the sorting device, and a distal end;
- and
- a brush extending from the distal end of the at least one paddle, said brush operable to substantially contact both the raised portions and the valleys of the conveyor when said sorting device moves substantially perpendicular to the path of travel of the conveyor, so as to push the uniquely shaped articles from the conveyor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.