# US 2016/0355349 A1 · Method and device for driving parcel sorters for installations facilities having considerable changes in levels > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0355349 A1 - Document ID: US20160355349A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/117,385 - Filed: 2015-02-11 - Published: 2016-12-08 - Earliest claimed: 2014-02-11 - Assignees: Fives Intralogistics Corp. - Applicants: Fives Intralogistics S.P.A. - Inventors: LORENZO CHIEREGO; ATTILIO SOLDAVINI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160355349A1 ## CPC - B65G 23/36: comprising two or more driving motors each coupled to a separate driving element, e.g. at either end of the conveyors - B07C 3/08: using arrangements of conveyors {(transport of sheets B65H; transport in general B65G)} - B65G 43/08: Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed or discharged {(and controlling the discharging devices B65G47/42)} - B65G 47/96: Devices for tilting links or platform {(releasing load-carriers B65G47/38)} - G05B 19/4189: {characterised by the transport system} - B65G 2203/0258: Weight of the article - Y02P 90/02: Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - B07C: POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING (specially adapted for a specific purpose covered by another class, see the relevant place, e.g. A43D33/06, B23Q7/12) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract The present invention concerns a method and system for sorting items comprising movable carriages (10) intended to transport the items, and connected to each other by a link (19), along a track having sections located at levels at different heights linked by ascending and descending slopes, a control system and drive units intended to move the carriages (10). Dedicated thrust units, separate from the drive units, are added on the slopes and are controlled individually by the control system so as to deliver a constant force in order to prevent the carriages (10) experiencing tension at the links (19, 20) as a result of the weight of the items and/or the carriages (10) present on the slopes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Item sorting system (7) comprising movable carriages (10) intended for conveying said items (7) and connected together by a link (19, 20) along a travel route (1) having sections situated at different elevation levels connected by one or more ascent and descent slopes (P), a control system (22) and drive units (13) intended for advancing the carriages (10) and controlled by the control system (22), characterised in that it comprises at least one dedicated thrust unit (131, 241, 261) separate from the drive units (13), present on at least one of the slopes (P), and controlled in a unitary manner by the control system (22) so as to deliver a force (R) to reduce or cancel the tension or the compression to which the carriages (10) are subjected at the level of the links (19, 20) which would be due to the weight of the carriages (10) and/or of the items (7) present on said slope (P). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Sorting system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one dedicated thrust unit (131, 241, 261) is controlled by the control system (22) such that the force (R) delivered is adjusted according to the tilt of the slope (P). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Sorting system according to claim 1, comprising means (6) suitable for determining the weight of the items (7) placed on the movable carriages (10) and in that the at least one dedicated thrust unit (131, 241, 261) is controlled by the control system (22), such that the delivered force (R) depends on said weight. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Sorting system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one dedicated thrust unit (131, 241, 261) is equipped with an electromagnetically tripped braking system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Sorting system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one unit (131, 241, 261) is equipped with at least one motor having an electromagnetic brake. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Sorting system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one dedicated thrust unit (131, 241, 261) uses friction or linear mechanisms without induction contact or linear mechanisms without synchronous contact. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Item sorting method (7) by a system according to any preceding claim 1, characterised in that the control system (22) determines the value of the force (R) required for the at least one dedicated thrust unit (131, 241, 261) and controls in a unitary manner said at least one dedicated thrust unit (131, 241, 261) such that it delivers the force (R) to reduce or cancel the tension or the compression to which the carriages (10) are subjected at the links (19, 20) due to the weight of the carriages (10) and/or of the items (7) present on the slope (P). ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) Method according to claim 7, wherein, to determine the value of the force (R) required for the at least one dedicated thrust unit (131, 241, 261), each item (7) is assigned an average weight, determined statistically. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) Method according to claim 7, wherein, to determine the value of the force (R) required for the at least one dedicated thrust unit (131, 241, 261), the actual weight of the items (7) placed on the carriages (10) and determined by the means (6) is taken into account. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) Method according to claim 7, wherein, to determine the value of the force (R) required for the at least one dedicated thrust unit (131, 241, 261), the tilt of the slope (P) is taken into account. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) Method according to claim 10, wherein the force (R) calculated by the control system (22) is either positive in the case of a slope (P) with positive tilt to limit the traction on the links (19, 20) or negative in a slope (P) with negative tilt to limit the pressure on the links (19, 20). ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) Item sorting method (7) according to claim 7, wherein, in the event of an interruption of the electric power supply to the at least one dedicated thrust unit (131, 241, 261), the activation of the electromagnetic brake of said at least one dedicated thrust unit (131, 241, 261) cancels the tension or the compression on the joints (19, 20) of the carriages (10) present on the slope (P).