# US 9,038,809 B2 · Sortation conveyor with piezoelectric actuation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,038,809 B2 - Document ID: US9038809B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/295,624 - Filed: 2014-06-04 - Published: 2014-12-11 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-05 - Assignees: Intelligrated Headquarters, LLC - Applicants: Intelligrated Headquarters, LLC - Inventors: John Wilkins; Justin Zimmer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038809B2 ## CPC - B65G 47/844: {the article-engaging elements being pushers transversally movable on the supporting surface, e.g. pusher-shoes} - B65G 47/46: and distributing, e.g. automatically, to desired points (in tube mail systems B65G51/36) - B65G 2207/36: Pushing shoes on conveyors - 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) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sortation conveyor of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric switch further comprises a switch assembly including a switch guide track to guide at least one of the plurality of pusher elements along a home path and including a switch divert guide track configured to divert at least one of the plurality of pusher elements from the home path. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The sortation conveyor of claim 2 wherein the piezoelectric switch is configured to selectively divert the at least one of the plurality of pusher elements from the switch guide track portion of the home path and onto the switch divert guide track. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sortation conveyor of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric switch comprises a piezoelectric actuator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The sortation conveyor of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the piezoelectric actuator moves linearly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The sortation conveyor of claim 4, wherein the piezoelectric actuator is actuated electrically to divert the at least one pusher element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The sortation conveyor of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the piezoelectric actuator flexes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The sortation conveyor of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the piezoelectric actuator includes a cam. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sortation conveyor of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric switch comprises: a switch arm moveable between a first position that guides a plurality of pusher elements along the home path and a second position at which the switch arm selectively engages with at least one of the plurality of pusher elements to divert the selected article from the first conveying surface and onto the branch; and a piezoelectric actuator configured to move the switch arm between the first position and the second position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sortation conveyor of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric switch comprises a switch arm moveable between a first position that guides a plurality of pusher elements along the home path and a second position at which the switch arm selectively engages 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 cam connected to the switch arm; and a piezoelectric actuator configured to rotate the cam so as to move the switch arm between the first position and the second position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The sortation conveyor of claim 10, wherein the cam further comprises a cam slot, wherein the piezoelectric actuator is configured to engage the cam slot so as to rotate the cam when the piezoelectric actuator is actuated. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The sortation conveyor of claim 11, wherein the piezoelectric actuator further comprises a cam pin movable in an arcuate path to rotate the cam. ### Claim 13 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. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the piezoelectric switch comprises an arm, wherein activating the piezoelectric switch comprises rotating the arm between a first position and a second position to divert the article from the first conveying path to the second conveying path. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the piezoelectric switch comprises a piezoelectric element, wherein rotating the arm comprises applying electrical energy to the piezoelectric element to flex the piezoelectric element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the piezoelectric switch comprises a piezoelectric actuator, wherein rotating the arm further comprises applying electrical energy to the piezoelectric actuator to linearly move a portion of the piezoelectric actuator. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein actuating the piezoelectric switch comprises actuating a piezoelectric actuator.