Automated conveyor with product classification and rejection
AssigneeBurtoft, LLC
InventorMatthew Robert McCafferty
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus is provided to correct an orientation of a product conveying within a plurality of products on a conveyor along a conveying direction. The apparatus may be adapted to lift or rotate improperly oriented products in a response to a signal from a sensor. The apparatus may include one or two devices with an arm attached to an actuator and a product clamp. The apparatus may be also adapted to classify and remove uncompliant products from a conveyor line with one or more sensors and additional actuated devices positioned along a conveyor. The apparatus may be also adapted with a movable rail to adjust a working width of the conveyor.
Claims22
-83. (canceled)
An apparatus configured to correct an orientation of a product conveying within a plurality of products on a conveyor along a conveying direction.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a sensor adapted to sense an orientation of a product;
- a first device configured to correct the orientation of the product;
- and
- a second device adapted to at least temporarily clamp the product.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a sensor, the sensor at least including:
- a first bracket,
- a second bracket,
- two sensors mounted at a first distance from each other on the first bracket, and
- two targets mounted at a second distance from each other on the second bracket,
- the sensor adapted to sense an orientation of a product;
- a first device, the first device at least including:
- an arm,
- a first pivot connection between one end of the arm and
- a stationary component,
- a first actuator designed to generate a linear motion in a first direction,
- a second pivot connection between another end of the arm and the first actuator, wherein the arm moves between a first position and a second position,
- a second actuator designed to generate a linear motion in a second direction, and
- a second arm attached to the second actuator, wherein the second arm moves linearly between a third position and a fourth position along the second direction;
- a second device, the second device at least including:
- a first component;
- a second component positionable at a distance from the first component, the distance sufficient to pass the product therethrough, and
- an actuator connected to one component from first and second components to move the one component toward to other component from the first and second components in a response to a receipt of a first control signal and move the one component away from the other component in a response to a second control signal,
- the first device adapted to correct the orientation of the product conveying within a plurality of products on a conveyor along a conveying direction;
- the second device adapted to at least temporarily conveyance of remaining products from the plurality of products.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.