Automatic rotary sorter and cylindrical storage system

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 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 object source means and at least one of said object receiving means are vertically aligned, wherein:
• said movement of said object by said object distribution means comprises rotating movement applied to said object by rotation of said object distribution means about an axis of rotation;
• and
• said rotation of said object distribution means about said axis of rotation is continuous.

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:

• object receiving and discharging means for receiving said object from said object source means and transferring said object to said object receiving means;
• 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, wherein
• a first end of said object receiving and discharging means is coupled to a rotatable member which rotates continuously about an axis of rotation;
• said object receiving and discharging means is tapered wherein said first end of said object receiving and discharging means is narrower than a second end of said object receiving and discharging means;
• and
• said second end of said object receiving and discharging means is alternately positioned adjacent to said object source means and said object receiving means during said continuous rotation of said rotatable member.

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;
• and,
• (d) transferring said object from said object distribution means to said selected object receiving means;
• wherein said object source means and at least one of said object receiving means are vertically aligned, wherein
• said movement of said object by said object distribution means comprises rotating movement applied to said object by rotation of said object distribution means about an axis of rotation, and
• said rotation of said object distribution means about said axis of rotation is continuous.

A system for storing and retrieving an object of a plurality of objects having object storage and retrieval conveyor means for providing said object to said system for storage and for retrieving said object from said system after storage, and a plurality of object storage means for receiving said object for storage and discharging said object after storage, wherein the individual object storage means of said plurality of object storage means are spaced apart both horizontally and vertically, comprising:

• object receiving and discharging means for receiving said object from said object storage and retrieval conveyor means and transferring said object to said object storage means and for receiving said object from said object storage means and transferring said object to said object storage and retrieval conveyor means;
• and
• said object receiving and discharging means having means for moving said object both horizontally and vertically from the vicinity of said object storage and retrieval conveyor means to the vicinity of a selected one of said horizontally and vertically spaced apart object storage means to transfer .said object from said object storage and retrieval conveyor means to said selected object storage means for storage;
• and
• said object receiving and discharging means having means for moving said object both horizontally and vertically from the vicinity of said selected object storage means to the vicinity of said object storage and retrieval conveyor means to transfer said object from said selected object storage means to said object storage and retrieval conveyor means for retrieval, wherein
• a first end of said object receiving and discharging means is coupled to a rotatable member which rotates continuously about an axis of rotation;
• said object receiving and discharging means is tapered wherein said first end of said object receiving and discharging means is narrower than a second end of said object receiving and discharging means;
• and
• said second end of said object receiving and discharging means is alternately positioned adjacent to said object storage and retrieval conveyor means and said object storage means during said continuous rotation of said rotatable member.

A method for storing and retrieving an object of a plurality of objects in a system having object conveyor means for providing said object to said system for storage and object conveyor means for retrieving said object from said system after storage, and a plurality of object storage means for receiving said object for storage and discharging said object after storage, wherein the object storage means of said plurality of object storage means are spaced apart both horizontally and vertically, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing said object for storage by said object conveyor means for providing said object;
• (b) transferring said object from said object conveyor means for providing said object to object distribution means;
• (c) horizontally and vertically moving said object by said object distribution means from said object conveyor means for providing said object to a selected one of said plurality of object storage means;
• (d) transferring said object from said object distribution means to said selected object storage means;
• (e) transferring said object from said selected object storage means to said object distribution means;
• (f) horizontally and vertically moving said object by said object distribution means from said selected object storage means to said object conveyor means for retrieving said object;
• and
• (g) transferring said object from said object distribution means to said object conveyor means for retrieving said object, wherein
• said movement of said object by said object distribution means comprises rotating movement applied to said object by rotation of said object distribution means about an axis of rotation, and
• said rotation of said object distribution means about said axis of rotation is continuous.