# US 7,410,044 B2 · Article carrier for a grading apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,410,044 B2 - Document ID: US7410044B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/543,478 - Filed: 2004-01-30 - Published: 2006-07-13 - Granted: 2008-08-12 - Earliest claimed: 2003-01-31 - Assignees: Anzpac Systems Limited - Inventors: Hamish Alexander Nigel Kennedy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7410044B2 ## CPC - B65G 47/962: {tilting about an axis substantially parallel to the conveying direction} - B07C 5/362: {Separating or distributor mechanisms (switches for postal sorting B07C3/065; particular discharging devices for B65G47/74)} - B65G 47/965: {tilting about a sided-axis, i.e. the axis is not located near the center-line of the load-carrier} - B65G 2201/0211: Fruits and vegetables - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - B07C: POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING (specially adapted for a specific purpose covered by another class, see the relevant place, e.g. A43D33/06, B23Q7/12) ## Abstract An article carrier (1) includes a mount (3) for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor. A carrier frame (4) is located over the mount and is movable about a pivot (5) so as to be locatable in a carriage position, in which articles (2) may be supported on the carrier frame (4), and an ejection position, in which articles (2) are ejected from the carrier frame (4). The apparatus further includes a locking member (6); wherein when the carrier frame (4) is located in the carriage position, the locking member (6) is locatable in a first position that prevents movement of the carrier frame (4) about the pivot (5) and is movable into a second position that releases the carrier frame (4), allowing the carrier frame (4) to move about the pivot. When the locking member (6) is located in the first position to prevent movement of the carrier frame, the locking member is not under load. The article carrier (1) may be used as part of a grading apparatus. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An article carrier including: a) means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor; b) a carrier frame associated with said means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor and freely movable about a pivot so as to be locatable in a carriage position, in which articles may be supported on the carrier frame, and an ejection position, in which articles are ejected from the carrier frame; and c) a locking member; wherein when the carrier frame is located in the carriage position, the locking member is locatable in a first position that prevents movement of the carrier frame about said pivot and is movable relative to both the carrier frame and the mounting means into a second position that releases the carrier frame, allowing the carrier frame to move about the pivot, and wherein when the locking member is located in the first position to prevent movement of the carrier frame, the locking member is not under load. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The article carrier of claim 1, wherein the carrier frame is shaped and positioned relative to the means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor so as to hold articles located thereon substantially centered vertically of the pivot when the carrier frame is in the carriage position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The article carrier of claim 1, wherein when an article is located on said carrier frame when the carrier frame is in the carriage position, substantially no weight of the article is borne by the locking member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The article carrier of claim 1, wherein the locking member is secured to the carrier frame so as to move with the carrier frame about the pivot and includes a portion that extends to both sides of the pivot, whereby at least after the completion of a vertical movement of the locking member from the first position to the second position, motive force applied to the locking member in the direction of the second position acts to cause the carrier frame to move about the pivot. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The article carrier of claim 1, wherein the locking member includes at least one arm extending laterally of the pivot to which the direct linear force is applied to move the locking member from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The article carrier of claim 1, wherein the carrier frame is adapted to hold articles thereon so as to be centered in a plane horizontally offset of the pivot when the carrier frame is in the carriage position and wherein the carrier frame can pivot about said pivot in the direction of said article when the locking member is in the second position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The article carrier of claim 1, wherein the pivot may be disassembled, and wherein the locking member includes a catch that, when the pivot is disassembled, maintains the carrier frame in association with the mounting means. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The article carrier of claim 1, wherein the locking member is secured to the carrier frame and includes one or more downwardly extending projections that engage with a stop provided on the mounting means and wherein the one or more projections move over the top of said stop when the locking member is moved to the second position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The article carrier of claim 1, wherein the carrier frame includes a roller, whereby the roller can be raised by disassembling the pivot, and wherein the carrier frame is shaped and dimensioned so that when the roller is raised to a predetermined height, articles can be supported solely by the rollers of two adjacent article carriers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The article carrier of claim 1, wherein the locking member is movable vertically by a direct force applied thereto. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The article carrier of claim 1, wherein the locking member in use interlocks the carrier frame and means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor through at least one projection engaging with at least one stop. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The article carrier of claim 1, wherein the locking member includes at least one downwardly extending projection that engages with a stop provided on the means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor and wherein the at least one downwardly extending projection move over the top of said stop when the locking member is moved to the second position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The article carrier of claim 1, wherein the locking member is engaged with the carrier frame and moves with the carrier frame about said pivot. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The article carrier of claim 1, wherein in use, when the article carrier is in the carriage position, the locking member tends to move into the first position due to gravity and is movable upwards to enter the second position. ### Claim 15 An article carrier including: a) means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor; b) a carrier frame located over said mounting means and freely movable about a pivot so as to be locatable in a carriage position, in which articles may be supported on the carrier frame, and an ejection position, in which articles are ejected from the carrier frame; and c) a movable locking member; wherein when the carrier frame is located in the carriage position, the vertical component of the weight of an article located on the carrier frame is borne by the carrier frame and means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor, to the exclusion of the locking member and the locking member is locatable in a first position, in which movement of the carrier frame about said pivot is prevented and is locatable, by a direct force applied to the locking member, in a second position, in which the carrier frame can move about the pivot; and wherein in use, when the article carrier is in the carriage position, the locking member tends to move into the first position due to gravity and is movable upwards to enter the second position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The article carrier of claim 15, wherein the locking member includes at least one arm extending laterally of the pivot to which the direct linear force is applied to move the locking member from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The article carrier of claim 15, wherein the carrier frame is shaped and positioned relative to the means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor so as to hold articles located thereon substantially centered vertically of the pivot when the carrier frame is in the carriage position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The article carrier of claim 15, wherein the carrier frame is adapted to hold articles thereon so as to be centered in a plane horizontally offset of the pivot when the carrier frame is in the carriage position and wherein the carrier frame can pivot about said pivot in the direction of said article when the locking member is in the second position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The article carrier of claim 15, wherein the pivot comprises a protrusion extending into a slot and is able to the be disassembled, whereby the carrier frame may be disassociated from the means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor by removing the protrusion from the slot. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The article carrier of claim 19, wherein the locking member includes a catch to maintain the carrier frame over the means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor when the carrier frame is disassociated from the means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The article carrier of claim 19, wherein the carrier frame includes at least one support surface allowing the carrier frame to rest on a weigh bridge when it is disassociated from the means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The article carrier of claim 19, wherein the carrier frame includes a roller, whereby the roller can be raised by disassembling the pivot and the carrier frame is shaped and dimensioned so that when the roller is raised to a certain extent, articles can be supported solely by the rollers of two adjacent article carriers. ### Claim 23 An article carrier including: a) a base portion one of engaged and engageable with a conveyor; b) a carrier portion removably pivotally engageable with the base portion; c) a latch extending between the base portion and carrier portion that is at least one of pivotally and slidably engaged at a first end to the carrier portion and operable to interlock the carrier portion and base portion when in a first position and release the carrier portion and base portion when moved away from the first position; wherein the latch is secured to the carrier portion and includes at least one downwardly extending projection that engages with a stop provided on said base portion and wherein the at least one downwardly extending projection moves over the top of said stop when the latch is moved to the second position; and wherein in use, the latch includes a catch that, when the carrier portion is not pivotally engaged with the base portion, maintains the carrier portion over the base portion. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The article carrier of claim 23, wherein the carrier portion includes at least one support surface, allowing the carrier portion to rest on a weigh bridge when it is not pivotally engaged with the base portion. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The article carrier of claim 23, wherein the carrier portion includes a roller, whereby the roller can be raised by disassembling the pivot and the carrier portion is shaped and dimensioned so that when the roller is raised to a certain extent, articles can be supported solely by the rollers of two adjacent article carriers. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) A conveyor system comprising: an endless conveyor; a plurality of article carriers as claimed in claim 1 mounted to said conveyor; a station disposed at a location along said conveyor for receiving articles from said article carriers; and an actuator operable under the control of a controller when an article carrier is located at said station to move the locking member from said first position to release the carrier frame from the means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) A conveyor system, comprising: an endless conveyor; a plurality of article carriers as claimed claim 23 engaged with said conveyor; a station disposed at a location along said conveyor for receiving articles from said article carriers; and an actuator operable under the control of a controller when an article carrier is at said station to move the latch from said first position to release the carrier portion from the base portion. ### Claim 28 (depends on 4) A conveyor system, comprising: an endless conveyor; a plurality of article carriers as claimed in claim 4 mounted to said conveyor; a station disposed at a location along said conveyor for receiving articles from said article carriers; and an actuator operable under the control of a controller when an article carrier is located at said station to move the locking member upwards away from said first position until it abuts a stop, wherein the actuator is operable to provide an upwards motive force to said locking member after it has abutted said stop, thereby perturbing the carrier frame about the pivot. ### Claim 29 (depends on 15) A conveyor system, comprising: an endless conveyor; a plurality of article carriers as claimed in claim 15 mounted to said conveyor; a station disposed at a location along said conveyor for receiving articles from said article carriers; and an actuator operable under the control of a controller when an article carrier is located at said station to move the locking member from said first position to release the carrier frame from the means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor. ### Claim 30 An article carrier comprising: a) means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor; b) a carrier frame associated with said means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor and freely movable about a pivot so as to be locatable in a carriage position, in which articles may be supported on the carrier frame, and an ejection position, in which articles are ejected from the carrier frame, wherein the carrier frame is shaped and positioned relative to the means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor so that when the carrier frame is in the carriage position, articles are located thereon substantially centered vertically of the pivot when the carrier frame is in the carriage position; and c) a locking member; wherein when the carrier frame is located in the carriage position, the locking member is locatable in a first position that prevents movement of the carrier frame about said pivot and is movable into a second position that releases the carrier frame, allowing the carrier frame to move about the pivot and wherein the carrier frame includes at least one support surface allowing the carrier frame to rest on a means for weighing when it is disassociated from the means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor, thereby allowing the means for weighing to weigh the carrier frame with an item located thereon. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The article carrier of claim 30, wherein the locking member travels vertically in order to move from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The article carrier of claim 30, wherein the article carrier is substantially symmetrical about a vertical plane through said pivot. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) The article carrier of claim 30, wherein the carrier frame is dissociable from the means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor by disassembling the pivot. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The article carrier of claim 33, wherein the pivot comprises a protrusion extending into a slot and disassembling the pivot involves removing the protrusion from the slot. ### Claim 35 (depends on 30) The article carrier of claim 30, wherein the locking member includes a catch to maintain the relative position of the carrier frame to the means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor when the carrier frame is disassociated from the means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor. ### Claim 36 An article carrier comprising: a) means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor; b) a first carrier frame located to one side of said means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor and a second carrier frame located to the opposing side of said means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor, wherein both the first and second carrier frames are freely movable about a pivot so as to be locatable in a carriage position, in which articles may be supported on the carrier frame, and an ejection position, in which articles are ejected from the carrier frame in a direction away from the means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor; and c) first and second locking members for the first carrier frame and second carrier frame respectively; wherein when the first and second carrier frames are located in the carriage position, the first and second locking members are each locatable in a first position that prevents movement of the carrier frame about said pivot and is movable into a second position that releases the carrier frame, whereby the carrier frame moves under the force of gravity about the pivot to the ejection position. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The article carrier of claim 36, wherein the first and second locking members travel vertically in order to move from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The article carrier of claim 36, wherein the first and second locking members are movable between their respective first and second positions independently of each other so the first and second carrier frames are movable from the carnage position to the ejection position independently of each other. ### Claim 39 (depends on 36) The article carrier of claim 36, wherein the first and second locking members are secured to the first and second carrier frames respectively so as to move with the carrier frame about the pivot. ### Claim 40 (depends on 36) The article carrier of claim 36, wherein each carrier frame is dissociable from the means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor by disassembling said pivot. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The article carrier of claim 40, wherein the locking member includes a catch to maintain the carrier frame in position relative to the means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor when the carrier frame is disassociated from the means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor. ### Claim 42 (depends on 40) The article carrier of claim 40, wherein each carrier frame includes at least one support surface allowing the carrier frame to rest on a means for weighing when the carrier frame is disassociated from the means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor, thereby allowing the means for weighing to weigh the carrier frame with an item located thereon. ### Claim 43 (depends on 40) The article carrier of claim 40, wherein each carrier frame includes a roller, whereby the roller can be raised by disassembling the pivot and the carrier frame is shaped and dimensioned so that when the roller is raised to a certain extent, articles can be supported predominantly or solely by the rollers of two adjacent article carriers. ### Claim 44 (depends on 36) The article carrier of claim 36, wherein the locking member is movable vertically by a direct force applied thereto. ### Claim 45 (depends on 36) The article carrier of claim 36, wherein each locking member in use interlocks its respective carrier frame and means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor through at least one projection engaging with at least one stop. ### Claim 46 (depends on 36) The article carrier of claim 36, wherein each locking member includes at least one downwardly extending projection that engages with a stop provided on the means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor and wherein the one or more projections move over the top of said stop when the locking member is moved to the second position. ### Claim 47 (depends on 36) The article carrier of claim 36, wherein each locking member is engaged with its respective carrier frame and moves with the carrier frame about said pivot. ### Claim 48 (depends on 36) The article carrier of claim 36, wherein in use, when each carrier frame is in the carriage position, the respective locking member tends to move into the first position due to gravity and is movable upwards to enter the second position. ### Claim 49 (depends on 36) The article carrier of claim 36, wherein the first and second carrier frames are both located in a plane transverse to the direction of travel of the article carrier when in use. ### Claim 50 An article carrier including: a) means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor; b) a carrier frame associated with said means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor and movable about a pivot so as to be locatable in a carriage position, in which articles maybe supported on the carrier frame, and an ejection position, in which articles are ejected from the carrier frame; and c) a movable control member that selectively prevents or allows movement of the carrier frame about said pivot; wherein the carrier frame is dissociable from the means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor by conveying the article carrier past one or more upwardly facing surfaces of a means for weighing, located to abut one or more downwardly facing surfaces on the carrier frame. ### Claim 51 (depends on 50) The article carrier of claim 50, wherein when the article carrier is in the carriage position and the carrier frame is associated with the means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor, said one or more downwardly facing surfaces on the carrier frame also has a component facing the direction in which the article carrier is conveyed. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) The article carrier of claim 51, wherein when the carrier frame is passed over said one or more upwardly facing surfaces of a means for weighing, the carrier frame is tilted, thereby disassembling the pivot. ### Claim 53 (depends on 50) The article carrier of claim 50, wherein the carrier frame automatically associates with the means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor when the one or more downwardly facing surfaces on the carrier frame no longer abuts the one or more upwardly facing surfaces of a means for weighing. ### Claim 54 A conveyor system, comprising: an endless conveyor; a plurality of article carriers mounted to said conveyor, each of said article carriers including: a) means for mounting the article carrier to said conveyor; b) a carrier frame associated with said means for mounting the article carrier to said conveyor and freely movable about a pivot so as to be locatable in a carriage position, in which articles may be supported on the carrier frame, and an ejection position, in which articles are ejected from the carrier frame; c) a locking member, wherein when the carrier frame is located in the carriage position, the locking member is locatable in a first position that prevents movement of the carrier frame about said pivot and is movable relative to both the carrier frame and the mounting means into a second position that releases the carrier frame, allowing the carrier frame to move about the pivot, and wherein when the locking member is located in the first position to prevent movement of the carrier frame, the locking member is not under load; and an ejection station disposed at a location along said conveyor for receiving articles from the article carriers; and an actuator operable at the ejection station under the control of a controller to move the locking member from the first position to release the carrier frame from the means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor. ### Claim 55 A grading apparatus for articles, comprising: an endless conveyor; a plurality of article carriers mounted to said conveyor, each of said article carriers including: a) means for mounting the article carrier to said conveyor; b) a carrier frame associated with said means for mounting the article carrier to said conveyor and freely movable about a pivot so as to be locatable in a carriage position, in which articles may be supported on the carrier frame, and an ejection position, in which articles are ejected from the carrier frame; c) a locking member, wherein when the carrier frame is located in the carriage position, the locking member is locatable in a first position that prevents movement of the carrier frame about said pivot and is movable relative to both the carrier frame and the mounting means into a second position that releases the carrier frame, allowing the carrier frame to move about the pivot, and wherein when the locking member is located in the first position to prevent movement of the carrier frame, the locking member is not under load; and an ejection station disposed at a location along said conveyor for receiving articles from the article carriers; an actuator operable at the station under the control of a controller to move the locking member from the first position to release the carrier frame from the means for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor; and means located along said conveyor for grading an article carried on one of said plurality of article carriers.