Automatic rotary sorter

A system for sorting an object of a plurality of objects, comprising:

• source conveyor means for providing said object for sorting;
• a rotatably mounted upright drive shaft for rotating about an axis of rotation;
• a first plurality of object receiving and discharging means for receiving said object from said source conveyor means, wherein said object receiving and discharging means are slidably coupled to said upright drive shaft for rotating said object receiving and discharging means about said axis of rotation by said upright drive shaft and for moving said object receiving and discharging means lengthwise along said upright drive shaft;
• and,
• a plurality of transverse conveyors for receiving said objects from said object receiving and discharging means and transverse rollers being arranged in a plurality of substantially horizontal rows.

A method for sorting an object of a plurality of objects in a system having object source means for providing said object for sorting and a plurality of object receiving means for receiving said object after sorting, wherein the object receiving means of said plurality of object receiving means are spaced apart both horizontally and vertically, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing said object for sorting by said object source means;
• (b) transferring said object from said object source means to object distribution means;
• (c) simultaneously moving said object horizontally and vertically by said object distribution means to move said object from said object source means to a selected one of said plurality of object receiving means;
• and,
• (d) transferring said object from said object distribution means to said selected object receiving means, wherein said horizontal and vertical movement of said object by said object distribution means comprises both horizontal rotation of said object distribution means about an axis of rotation and vertical motion of said object distribution means substantially parallel to said axis of rotation.

A system for sorting an object of a plurality of objects having object source means for providing said object for sorting and a plurality of object receiving means for receiving said object after sorting, wherein the individual object receiving means of said plurality of object receiving means are spaced apart both horizontally and vertically, comprising:

• a plurality of object receiving and discharging means for receiving said object from said object source means and transferring said object to said object receiving means;
• each of said object receiving and discharging means being coupled to a rotatable member which rotates about an axis of rotation;
• and,
• said object receiving and discharging means having means for moving said object both horizontally and vertically from the vicinity of said object source means to the vicinity of a selected one of said horizontally and vertically spaced apart object receiving means to transfer said object to said selected object receiving means.

A method for sorting an object of a plurality of objects in a system having object source means for providing said object for sorting and a plurality of object receiving means for receiving said object after sorting, wherein the object receiving means of said plurality of object receiving means are spaced apart both horizontally and vertically, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing said object for sorting by said object source means;
• (b) transferring said object from said object source means to object distribution means;
• (c) horizontally and vertically moving said object by said object distribution means to a selected one of said plurality of object receiving means from said object source means with a rotational force applied to said object by continuous rotation of said object distribution means about an axis of rotation;
• and
• (d) transferring said object from said object distribution means to said selected object receiving means.

A method for sorting an object of a plurality of objects in a system having object source means for providing said object for sorting and a plurality of object receiving means for receiving said object after sorting, wherein the object receiving means of said plurality of object receiving means are spaced apart both horizontally and vertically, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing said object for sorting by said object source means;
• (b) transferring said object from said object source means to object distribution means;
• (c) horizontally and vertically moving said object by said object distribution means from said object source means to a selected one of said plurality of object receiving means;
• (d) said horizontal and vertical moving of said object by said object distribution means including horizontally rotating said object distribution means about an axis of rotation and vertically moving said object distribution means substantially parallel to said axis of rotation;
• and,
• (e) transferring said object from said object distribution means to said selected object receiving means.