Apparatus and methods relating to sorting objects
AssigneeKennedy Technologies Limited
InventorsHamish Alexander Nigel KENNEDY, Finn Marcus KENNEDY, Andrew David MCINTYRE
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Abstract
Apparatus for sorting articles includes a conveyor having a plurality of article support members, each article support member provided to extend longitudinally parallel to a direction of movement of the conveyor, the support members being provided spaced 5 transversely across a conveyor and being pivotable at a first end about a transverse axis to unload the article from the conveyor.
Claims23
An apparatus for sorting articles comprising:
- a conveyor having a plurality of article support members, each article support member provided to extend longitudinally parallel to a direction of movement of the conveyor, the support members being provided spaced transversely across a conveyor and being pivotable at a first end about a transverse axis to unload the article from the conveyor.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein each support member comprises a first part and a second part pivotably connected to the first part.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims further comprising arc limiting means provided on at least one of the conveyor or the support member configured to limit an arc of movement of the support member about the transverse axis.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims further comprising a loading means configured to receive an article, controllably decelerate the article and move the article onto one or more support members.
A method of sorting articles, the method comprising supporting an article on a plurality of article support members arranged transversely across a conveyor, and allowing at least one of the article support members to pivot about a transverse axis to unload an article from the conveyor.
The method as claimed in claim 17 wherein controllably decelerating comprises lowering a receiver as the article moves into the receiver to thereby controllably decelerate the article.
A conveyor loading apparatus for loading articles onto a conveyor, the apparatus comprising:
- a receiver configured to receive an article;
- a drive means configured to:
- raise the receiver into a position for receiving an article to be loaded onto the conveyor;
- lower the receiver as the article moves onto the receiver to thereby controllably decelerate the article;
- move the article onto a support surface of the conveyor.
A method for loading an article onto a conveyor, the method comprising:
- controllably decelerating the article and moving the article onto one or more support members of the conveyor.
A conveyor or sorter apparatus substantially as herein described.
A method of sorting or a method of loading a conveyor substantially as herein described.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.