Article sorting system and method
AssigneeHytrol Conveyor Company, Inc.
InventorsBoyce Dean Bonham, Paul Dewayne Wallace
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The conveyor sorting system and method are provided. The system includes a conveyor for transporting articles along a predetermined path, and a pair of opposing chutes for receiving articles directed from the conveyor by a sorting device having a single paddle. The chutes are in communication with one another so that articles directed into either chute from the conveyor are directed to a common discharge end. In this regard, the single paddle of the present invention is operable to direct consecutively-spaced articles to opposing chutes that lead to the common discharge end.
Claims9
A method of sorting an article from a conveyor, comprising:
- directing the article along a path of travel with the conveyor;
- detecting the presence of the article at a point along the path of travel;
- and
- directing the article from the conveyor to one of a plurality of opposing chutes, the chutes being in communication with one another and having a common discharge end.
A method of sorting an article from a conveyor, comprising:
- directing the article along a path of travel with the conveyor;
- detecting the presence of the article at a point along the path of travel;
- directing the article from the conveyor to one of a plurality of opposing chutes being in communication with one another and having a common discharge end;
- and
- selectively positioning a discharge wall proximate the common discharge end between a discharge position and a storage position.
A method of sorting an article from a conveyor, comprising:
- directing the article along a path of travel with the conveyor;
- detecting the presence of the article at a point along the path of travel;
- directing the article from the conveyor to one of a plurality of opposing chutes being in communication with one another and having a common discharge end;
- and
- directing the article to a storage tote.
A method of sorting an article from a conveyor, comprising:
- directing the article along a path of travel with the conveyor;
- detecting the presence of the article at a point along the path of travel;
- directing the article from the conveyor to one of a plurality of opposing chutes being in communication with one another and having a common discharge end;
- and
- storing the article in the pair of chutes for a predetermined interval.
A method of sorting articles from a conveyor, comprising:
- directing articles along a path of travel with the conveyor;
- directing a first article to a first chute by engaging the first article with a first side of a paddle, the paddle moving from a first position to a second position;
- and
- directing a second article to a second chute by engaging the second article with a second side of the paddle, the paddle moving from the second position to the first position,
- wherein the first article and the second article are directed into a common tote.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.