Reconfigurable vertical conveyor dispenser
AssigneeElectroCom Automation, Inc.
InventorJames M. Pippin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In accordance with this invention there is provided a reconfigurable compartmentized vertical conveyor dispenser for dispensing products in an automated order dispensing system. The size of compartments for holding the products is chosen by adjusting the spacing of shelves forming the compartments. The width of the compartments is varied by coupling adjacent compartmentized vertical conveyor dispenser for synchronous operation.
Claims15
A reconfigurable vertical conveyor for dispensing products in an automated order dispensing system, comprising:
- a vertical conveyor belt having a plurality of apertures vertically spaced thereon and extending therethrough, said belt having opposed surfaces;
- at least one shelf for supporting products to be dispensed;
- and
- means for releasably mounting the shelf to the vertical conveyor belt at selected aperture locations for reconfiguration of the vertical conveyor, comprising:
- means for engaging an aperture including a first member engaging one belt surface and a flexible member extending through the aperture and detachably engaging the opposed belt surface;
- and
- means for connecting the shelf to the means for releasably mounting.
A reconfigurable product dispenser comprising:
- a first vertical conveyor belt;
- first drive means for imparting motion to said first conveyor belt;
- a second vertical conveyor belt adjacent the first vertical conveyor belt;
- second drive means for imparting motion to said second conveyor belt;
- at least one compartment shelf pivotally mounted to each vertical conveyor belt;
- and
- means for coupling the first drive means for the first vertical conveyor belt to the second drive means of the second vertical conveyor belt for synchronous operation of said first drive means and said second drive means such that the compartment shelves of said first and second vertical conveyor belts are horizontally aligned for holding a product to be dispensed.
An automated order dispensing system, comprising:
- a central conveyor;
- and
- a vertical conveyor dispenser for dispensing products onto the central conveyor, the vertical conveyor dispenser including:
- a conveyor belt having a plurality of vertically spaced apertures and opposed sides;
- and
- a plurality of shelves releasably attached at selected aperture locations to the conveyor belt by means of a flexible member extending through the aperture for engaging the opposed sides of the conveyor belt.
A reconfigurable vertical conveyor for dispensing products in an automated order dispensing system, comprising:
- a vertical conveyor belt having a plurality of apertures arranged in spaced relationship along the belt;
- at least one shelf for supporting products to be dispensed;
- means for releasably connecting the shelf to the vertical conveyor belt, said means for releasably connecting the shelf including compressible latch ears for engaging the apertures of said conveyor belt;
- and
- means for pivotally connecting said shelf to said means for releasably connecting.
An automated order dispensing system, comprising:
- a central conveyor;
- a first vertical conveyor dispenser for dispensing products onto the central conveyor, the vertical conveyor dispenser including a first conveyor belt;
- a second vertical conveyor dispenser adjacent to the first vertical conveyor dispenser for dispensing products onto the central conveyor, the second vertical conveyor dispenser including a second conveyor belt;
- at least one shelf pivotally mounted to each conveyor belt;
- means for orienting each pivotally mounted shelf with respect to the conveyor belt for supporting a product thereon;
- and
- means for selectively synchronizing operation of the first and second vertical conveyors such that pairs of shelves on adjacent conveyor belts are horizontally aligned to support a single product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.