Method and apparatus for sorting articles using a matrix of conveyor cells

In a conveyor unit including a frame, a plurality of spaced apart conveying rollers defining a conveying support plane, said rollers extending to a unit edge extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said rollers, and a side stop plate assembly for use with said conveying rollers, said side stop assembly itself comprising:

• A) a stop plate configured for pivoting movement between a stopping position and a cleared position, said stop plate itself comprising:
• 1) a stopping portion configured to provide a stop;
• and
• 2) at least one arm extending relative to said stopping portion and terminating at a free end;
• B) a pivoting connection between said free end of said arm and said frame, said pivoting connection configured to cause said stopping portion to be pivoted about a fixed point between said stopping position and said cleared position, said stopping position being an elevated, substantially nonhorizontal position above said conveying support plane and spaced inwardly from said unit edge, and said cleared position being retracted below said conveying support plane and spaced outwardly of from said unit edge;
• and
• C) a moving device for moving said stopping portion between said elevated position and said horizontal position.

In a conveyor unit including a frame, a plurality of spaced apart conveying rollers defining a conveying support plane, said rollers extending to a unit edge extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said rollers, and a side stop plate assembly for use with said conveying rollers, said side stop assembly itself comprising:

• A) a stop plate configured for pivoting movement between a stopping position and a cleared position, said stop plate itself comprising:
• 1) a stopping portion configured to provide a stop;
• and
• 2) at least one arm extending relative to said stopping portion and terminating at a free end;
• B) a pivoting connection between said free end of said arm and said frame, said pivoting connections configured to cause said stopping portion to be pivoted about a fixed point between said stopping position and said cleared position, said stopping position being an elevated, substantially nonhorizontal position above said conveying support plane, and said cleared position being retracted below said conveying support plane;
• and
• C) a moving device for moving said stopping portion between said elevated position and said horizontal position.

In a conveyor unit including a frame having a frame pivot point, a plurality of spaced apart conveying rollers defining a conveying support plane, said rollers extending to a unit edge extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said rollers, and a side stop plate assembly for use with said conveying rollers, said side stop assembly itself comprising:

• A) a stop plate configured for pivoting movement between a stopping position and a cleared position, said stop plate including a plate-linkage pivot point and itself comprising:
• 1) a stopping portion configured to provide a stop;
• and
• 2) at least one arm extending relative to said stopping portion and terminating at a free end;
• B) a pivoting connection between said free end of said arm and said frame, said pivoting connection configured to cause said stopping portion to be pivoted about a fixed point between said stopping position and said cleared position, said stopping position being an elevated, substantially nonhorizontal position above said conveying support plane, and said cleared position being retracted below said conveying support plane;
• and
• C) a moving device for moving said stopping portion between said stopping position and said cleared position, said moving device itself comprising:
• 1) a linkage assembly linking said plate-linkage pivot point and said frame pivot point, said linkage assembly including first and second linkage members, said first linkage member having one end pivotably attached to said plate-linkage pivot point of said stop plate and the other end attached to said second linkage member at a common linkage pivot point, said second linkage member having one end pivotably attached to said first linkage member at said common linkage pivot point and the other end attached to said frame pivot point, said linkage assembly itself movable from a stopping position to a cleared position;
• and
• 2) a moving device for moving said linkage assembly from said stopping position to said cleared position such that said stop plate assembly is pivoted from said stopping position to said cleared position, such that when said linkage assembly is in said stopping position said common linkage pivot point is substantially coaligned with said frame pivot point and said plate-linkage pivot point, such that said linkage assembly locks against pressure when said stop plate assembly is providing its stopping function when in said stopping position.

A conveying system for moving items along a conveyor path, said system comprising;

• a first conveyor bed defining an upwardly-directed conveyor support plane partially defining said conveyor path;
• a second conveyor bed defining an upwardly-directed conveyor support plane also partially defining said conveyor path;
• and
• a pivoting stop plate assembly pivotable between a stopping position and a retracted position, said plate when in said stopping position configured to stop items from being conveyed from said first conveyor bed to said second conveyor bed, and said plate when in said retracted position configured to at least partially bridge a gap between said two beds and to provide a flat sliding surface portion to allow items to be slid across said pivoting stop plate and across said gap from said first conveyor bed to said second conveyor bed.