Moveable article restriction device
AssigneeWhite Conveyors, Inc.
InventorsAngel F Hierrezuelo, John Moore, William Keith Skidmore
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for restricting access to articles on a conveyor. The apparatus includes a locking mechanism configured to move via a plurality of actuators, wherein at least two of the actuators move the locking mechanism in differing directions, and also configured to prevent removal of at least one article from the conveyor while in a locking position against the conveyor, wherein at least one of the actuators is configured to move the locking mechanism into the locking position.
Claims34
An apparatus for restricting access to articles on a conveyor, comprising:
- a locking mechanism configured to:
- move via a plurality of actuators, wherein at least two of the actuators move the locking mechanism in differing directions;
- and
- prevent removal of at least one article from the conveyor while in a locking position against the conveyor, wherein at least one of the actuators is configured to move the locking mechanism into the locking position.
An automated locking system for restricting access to articles, comprising:
- a conveyor configured to store a plurality of articles, each article being stored in an individual slot on the conveyor;
- and
- a locking mechanism configured to:
- move via a plurality of actuators, wherein at least two of the actuators move the locking mechanism in differing directions;
- and
- prevent removal of at least one article from the conveyor while in a locking position against the conveyor, wherein at least one of the actuators is configured to move the locking mechanism into the locking position.
A method for restricting access to articles on a conveyor, comprising:
- identifying one or more articles for removal from a conveyor;
- determining a location of each of the one or more articles for removal;
- identifying one or more articles to be secured on the conveyor;
- determining a location of each of the one or more articles to be secured;
- and
- positioning a locking mechanism in a locking position over the one or more articles for removal and the one or more articles to be secured such that the one or more articles for removal are freely removable and the one or more articles to be secured are locked onto the conveyor,
- wherein the locking mechanism moves via a plurality of actuators,
- wherein at least two of the actuators move the locking mechanism in differing directions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.