Method and apparatus for activating a tipping shell sorter, as well as a tipping conveyor element

A tipping conveyor system for a tipping shell sorter (1), for driven movement along a generally closed loop conveyor guide (5), in a transport direction (12), for targeted, individual delivery of piece goods parts that were previously taken up on at least one take-up station, for subsequent delivery to one of a plurality of target locations (2), in response to a tripping control signal, comprising;

• a plurality of tipping conveyor elements (3) connected in tandem with one another in an articulated manner, for movement along the conveyor guide (5), each tipping conveyor element (3) comprising
• a non-tippable bottom part (6), slidably disposed on the conveyor guide (5) for movement along the transport direction;
• a support means (7) disposed on said bottom part (6) and having a tipping device (11) pivotable about a tipping axis (13) that runs in the transport direction (12) of said tipping conveyor element (3) and including
• a support surface (8) mounted on said tipping device (11), in the form of a tipping shell (4) and which in its upright transport horizontal position, supports piece goods parts;
• an electric tipping device (9), having an electric motor (10), and coupled to said tipping device (11);
• a control device (34) connected to said electric tipping device (9) so that after receiving a tipping control signal, said electric motor (10) is first brought essentially to its rated idle speed (n0), without initially activating said tipping device (11), and said tipping device (11) is then automatically activated by said control device (34),as soon as said electric motor (10) has reached its rated speed (n0), so that said tipping device (11) and its support surface (8) pivots about said tipping axis (13) into a slanted delivery position toward the target station for delivering of the price good parts contained thereon to the target station.

A tipping conveyor system for a tipping shell sorter (1), for driven movement along a generally closed loop conveyor guide (5), in a transport direction (12), for targeted, individual delivery of piece goods parts that were previously taken up on at least one take-up station, for subsequent delivery to one of a plurality of target locations (2), in response to a tripping control signal, comprising;

• a plurality of tipping conveyor elements (3) connected in tandem with one another in an articulated manner, for movement along the conveyor guide (5), each tipping conveyor element (3) comprising
• a pivotable tipping element, pivotable about a tipping axis (13) that runs in the transport direction (12) disposed in each conveyor element (3)
• and having a support surface (8) in the form of a tipping shell (4) and which in its upright transport horizontal position, supports piece goods parts;
• an electric tipping drive coupled to said tipping element;
• a programmable computer (30) for selectively determining the target stations for each of said conveyor elements (3) and providing tipping control signals;
• a control device (34) connected to said electric tipping drive and responsive to said programmable computer (30) so that after receiving a tipping control signal, said electric tipping drive of an individual conveyor element (3) is first brought to its rated idle speed (no), without initially activating said tipping element, and said tipping element is then automatically activated by said control device (34), as soon as said electric tipping drive has reached its rated speed (no), so that said tipping drive and its support surface (8) pivots about said tipping axis (13) into a slanted delivery position toward the target station for delivering of the price good parts contained thereon to the target station during the movement of said conveyor system.