High speed tilted belt sorter
AssigneeUnited Parcel Service of America, Inc.
InventorHenri Bonnet
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sorting apparatus and method operative to selectively discharge articles, such as parcels, from a tilted, gated conveyor to a desired output destination is disclosed. A powered roller is mounted along the top of the gates so that when a gate is lowered to discharge a parcel, the parcel engages the powered roller and is drawn off the conveyor. The gate can be raised before the parcel has completely left the conveyor. The conveyor can be constructed having a width narrower than the parcels.
Claims31
An article transferring apparatus, comprising:
- a longitudinally extending conveyor disposed with its transverse dimension angled from an upper edge to a lower edge;
- a barrier extending along said lower edge, whereby articles on said conveyor are prevented from sliding off said angled conveyor;
- at least one gate positioned in said barrier;
- active means for drawing an article engaging said means away from said conveyor;
- an actuator operatively connected to said gate for selectively removing said gate from said barrier to a position which allows an article on said conveyor to slide into engagement with said active means.
A sorting apparatus, comprising:
- a longitudinally extending conveyor disposed with its transverse dimension angled from an upper edge to a lower edge;
- a barrier extending along said lower edge, whereby articles on said conveyor are prevented from sliding off said angled conveyor;
- a plurality of gates positioned in said barrier;
- a plurality of rollers each positioned along an upper part of one of said gates;
- and
- a plurality of actuators each operatively connected to one of said gates for selectively removing said gate from said barrier to a position in which an article on said conveyor can slide into engagement with said roller.
A method of transferring articles, comprising the steps of:
- providing a longitudinally extending conveyor disposed with its transverse dimension angled from an upper edge to a lower edge and a barrier extending along said lower edge, whereby articles on said conveyor are prevented from sliding off said angled conveyor;
- moving said conveyor longitudinally to transport an article;
- selectively removing a gate in said barrier to allow said article to move through an opening in said barrier;
- engaging said article with a device capable of moving said article;
- drawing said article through said opening in said barrier with said device;
- and
- replacing said gate in said barrier when a portion of said article remains positioned over said conveyor.
A method of transferring articles, comprising the steps of:
- providing a longitudinally extending conveyor disposed with its transverse dimension angled from an upper edge to a lower edge and a barrier extending along said lower edge, whereby articles on said conveyor are prevented from sliding off said angled conveyor;
- moving said conveyor longitudinally to transport an article;
- selectively removing a gate in said barrier to allow said article to move through an opening in said barrier;
- engaging a lower surface of said article with a roller positioned along an upper portion of said gate;
- replacing said gate in said barrier when a portion of said article remains positioned over said conveyor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.