Sortation conveyor with piezoelectric actuation
AssigneeIntelligrated Headquarters, LLC
InventorsJohn Wilkins, Justin Zimmer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sortation conveyor for transporting and diverting a plurality of articles includes a first conveying path and a second conveying path angularly positioned relative to the first conveying path. A plurality of pusher elements may be selectively diverted laterally across the first conveying path to divert articles to the second conveying path. A piezoelectric actuated switch assembly positioned adjacent to the second conveying path selectively engages the pusher elements to divert the selected article to the second conveying path.
Claims17
A sortation conveyor configured to sequentially transport a plurality of articles conveyed thereon and to divert a selected article onto a branch extending therefrom, the sortation conveyor comprising:
- a first conveying surface for conveying the articles;
- a plurality of pusher elements selectively moveable laterally across the first conveying surface for diverting articles from the first conveying surface and onto a branch;
- and
- a piezoelectric switch positioned adjacent the branch, the piezoelectric switch configured to selectively engage with at least one of the plurality of pusher elements to divert the selected article from the first conveying surface and onto the branch.
A method of diverting an article being conveyed on a sortation conveyor from a first conveying path to a branch, the method comprising:
- a identifying the article for diverting;
- and
- b actuating a piezoelectric switch to divert the article from the first conveying path to the branch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.