Patent US3580391A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3580391A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Solid-state pulsed electronic control for high-speed conveyor sorting device
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1969-10-24
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Granted: 1971-05-25
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Expires: 1989-10-24
Abstract
Abstract This invention comprises a static electronic control for a highspeed conveyor sorting device of the type having a plurality of serially arranged, electrically operable diverter pins which are selectively raised and lowered between the rollers of at least two conveyor paths to selectively control which conveyor path a particular carton passing through the device is caused to follow. For this purpose a classifying signal is developed by a code reader, carton size measuring circuit, or the like for developing signals indicative of the classification and hence which conveyor path cartons or other objects are to follow. In addition, electro-optical scanning devices are provided for identifying the position or location of a carton traveling along the conveyor sorting device and for developing electric signals indicative of such positions. The electric signals thus developed are processed in a logic circuit which derives output pulsed electric signals that can be applied to the actuating solenoid of a clutch release mechanism or a brake release mechanism of a constant speed apparatus for raising and lowering diverter pins along the conveyor path selectively in accordance with the pulsed electric signals supplied from the static electronic control.
Inventors
- 👤 Derwood F Littlefield
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 17:42
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/34; B65G47/46; B65G47/48; B65G47/49
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
418 words
In a static electronic control for a high-speed conveyor sorting device of the type having a plurality of serially arranged electrically operable diverter pins which are selectively raised and lowered between the rollers of at least two conveyor paths to selectively control which conveyor path a particular carton passing through the device is caused to follow and further including classifying means for viewing cartons to be sorted by the conveyor sorting device and deriving first control signals in accordance with predetermined classifications for the cartons, and electro-optical scanning means for scanning the cartons transported through the conveyor sorting device and deriving a plurality of timed second control signals in accordance with the position of the cartons relative to the plurality of diverter pins, there being a respective timed second control signal associated with each diverter pin, the static electronic control having the input thereof coupled to the outputs from the classifying means and the electro-optical scanning means and serving to pRocess the first and second control signals to derive output control signals for controlling the selective raising and lowering of the diverter pins at high speed with the static electronic control comprising a plurality of electrically operable diverter pin actuating devices, diverter pin logic circuit means coupling the first control signals from the classifying means to the input of the first diverter pin logic circuit means for controlling operation of the first diverter pin actuating device, means for coupling the respective timed second control signals from the electro-optical scanning means to the respective diverter pin logic circuit means, means for coupling the carton classification information bearing first signals between each diverter pin logic circuit means and the next successive diverter pin logic circuit means to thereby condition all of the diverter pin logic circuit means in succession with the control information contained in the first control signals derived by the classifying means, and means for coupling carton location identifying second control signals between the logic circuit means of adjacent diverter pins for controlling the diverter pins successively in accordance with the position of the cartons being transported through the high speed conveyor device; the improvement wherein said diverter pin logic circuit means comprises pulsed signal producing circuit means for producing output pulsed signals of predetermined time duration for application to the respective diverter pin actuating devices, and trigger circuit means responsive to the classification information bearing first signals and the carton location identifying second control signals coupled to and controlling operation of said pulsed signal producing circuit means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
418 words
In a static electronic control for a high-speed conveyor sorting device of the type having a plurality of serially arranged electrically operable diverter pins which are selectively raised and lowered between the rollers of at least two conveyor paths to selectively control which conveyor path a particular carton passing through the device is caused to follow and further including classifying means for viewing cartons to be sorted by the conveyor sorting device and deriving first control signals in accordance with predetermined classifications for the cartons, and electro-optical scanning means for scanning the cartons transported through the conveyor sorting device and deriving a plurality of timed second control signals in accordance with the position of the cartons relative to the plurality of diverter pins, there being a respective timed second control signal associated with each diverter pin, the static electronic control having the input thereof coupled to the outputs from the classifying means and the electro-optical scanning means and serving to pRocess the first and second control signals to derive output control signals for controlling the selective raising and lowering of the diverter pins at high speed with the static electronic control comprising a plurality of electrically operable diverter pin actuating devices, diverter pin logic circuit means coupling the first control signals from the classifying means to the input of the first diverter pin logic circuit means for controlling operation of the first diverter pin actuating device, means for coupling the respective timed second control signals from the electro-optical scanning means to the respective diverter pin logic circuit means, means for coupling the carton classification information bearing first signals between each diverter pin logic circuit means and the next successive diverter pin logic circuit means to thereby condition all of the diverter pin logic circuit means in succession with the control information contained in the first control signals derived by the classifying means, and means for coupling carton location identifying second control signals between the logic circuit means of adjacent diverter pins for controlling the diverter pins successively in accordance with the position of the cartons being transported through the high speed conveyor device; the improvement wherein said diverter pin logic circuit means comprises pulsed signal producing circuit means for producing output pulsed signals of predetermined time duration for application to the respective diverter pin actuating devices, and trigger circuit means responsive to the classification information bearing first signals and the carton location identifying second control signals coupled to and controlling operation of said pulsed signal producing circuit means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A static electronic control according to claim 1 wherein the electrically operable diverter pin actuating devices comprise solenoid actuating windings of an electromechanical coupling assembly controlling the operation of the diverter pins and the control further includes manually operable switch means having contacts connected in circuit relationship with each of the actuating windings for selectively operating said diverter pins manually.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A static electronic control according to claim 1 further including interlocked sequence control circuit means coupled to and controlling operation of said pulsed signal producing circuit means for assuring proper sequencing of the diverter pins in accordance with the command signals derived by said classifying means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
87 words
A static electronic control according to claim 1 wherein the diverter pin logic circuit means includes the means for coupling the carton classification information bearing first control signals between the successive diverter pin logic circuits means and transfer of the first control signals to the next successive diverter pin logic circuit means is controlled by the carton location identifying second control signals whereby the up-down condition of the respective diverter pins cannot be changed until a previously processed carton has been cleared in accordance with its classification.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A static electronic control according to claim 1 further including reset logic circuit means coupled to all of the diverter pin logic circuit means for resetting all of the diverter pins to a known condition at the start of a power-on condition of the static electronic control.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
165 words
A static electronic control according to claim 2 further including interlocked sequence control circuit means coupled to and controlling operation of said pulsed signal producing circuit means for assuring proper sequencing of the diverter pins in accordance with the command signals derived by said classifying means, and wherein the diverter pin logic means includes the means for coupling the carton classification information bearing first control signals between the successive diverter pin logic circuits means and transfer of the first control signals to the next successive diverter pin logic circuit means is controlled by the carton location identifying second control signals whereby the up-down condition of the respective diverter pins cannot be changed until a previously processed carton has been cleared in accordance with its classification, and further including reset logic circuit means coupled to all of the diverter pin logic circuit means for resetting all of the diverter pins to a known condition at the start of a power-on condition of the static electronic control.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
454 words
A static electronic control according to claim 1 wherein each of said diverter pin logic circuit means includes a solid-state semiconductor modularized memory logic means for producing an output ON signal at a first output terminal and an OFF signal at a second output terminal in response to an ON signal applied to a first input terminal and for retaining the ON signal at the first output terminal until an ON input signal is applied to a second input terminal and the ON signal to the first terminal is removed, whereupon the memory logic means switches to produce an OFF signal at its first output terminal and an ON signal at its second output terminal, the carton classification first control signals being applied to the input terminals of a first memory logic means in the diverter pin logic circuit means controlling the first diverter pin and the carton location identifying second control signals being supplied to the input terminals of a second memory logic means in the diverter pin logic circuit means controlling the first diverter pin along with the output from the second output terminal of the first memory logic means; said trigger circuit means comprises a two input AND gate having a normal output terminal and an additional NOT output terminal, said AND gate having one of its input terminals connected to the first output terminal of the first memory logic means and having its remaining input terminal connected to the first output terminal of the second memory logic means, respective single shot pulse signal generator means coupled to the normal and additional NOT output terminals respectively of the two input AND gate, and OR gates means having the input terminals thereof connected to the outputs from the respective single shot pulse signal generator means; and said diverter pin pulsed signal producing means comprises solid-state semiconductor modularized sealed AND logic means having a plurality of input terminals and an output terminal with feedback connection to seal in an output condition until the sealed AND logic means is switched by the presence of a switching input signal at one of the input terminals, the output from the OR gate means being applied to one input terminal of the sealed AND logic means and the output from the sealed AND logic means being connected to operate the electrically operable diverter pin actuating device, and delay turnoff pulse producing circuit means having its input connected to the output from the sealed AND logic means and its output connected to an input of the sealed AND logic means for turning off the sealed AND logic means after a predetermined conducting interval whereby said diverter pin actuating device is excited for only a predetermined time duration interval.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A static electronic control according to claim 7 further including reset logic circuit means for producing a reset to OFF signal with the reset to OFF signal from the reset logic circuit means being applied to reset input terminals of both memory logic means and the scaled AND logic means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
A static electronic control according to claim 8 wherein the carton classifying means has a first divert output supplying an ON electric potential to the first input terminal of the first memory logic means controlling the first diverter pin and a second nondivert output for supplying an ON electric potential to the second input terminal of the first memory logic means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
A static electron control according to claim 9 further includIng an additional sealed AND logic means having the input terminals thereof connected to a plurality of interlock and control signal circuits and having the output thereof connected to enable the first mentioned sealed AND logic means and the respective diverter pin actuating devices for enabling the devices for operation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
96 words
A static electronic control according to claim 10 wherein the second output terminal of the memory logic means of each diverter pin logic circuit means is connected to the second input terminal of the memory logic means of the next successive diverter pin logic circuit means and serves to supply all of the diverter pin logic circuit means in succession with the control information contained in the carton classification first control signals supplied by the carton classifying means to the input terminals of the first memory logic means in the first diverter pin logic circuit means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
A static electronic control according to claim 11 further including an output power amplifier connected to the output of each diverter pin logic circuit means and having the output power terminal thereof connected to excite a respective diverter pin actuating device and having a first signal input terminal connected to and controlled by the output from the sealed AND logic means of the respective diverter pin logic circuit means and a second enabling input terminal connected to the output from said additional sealed AND logic means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
A static electronic control according to claim 12 wherein the electrically operable diverter pin actuating devices comprise solenoid actuating windings of an electromechanical coupling assembly controlling the operation of the diverter pins and the control further includes manually operable switch means having contacts connected in circuit relationship with each of the actuating windings for selectively operating said diverter pins manually.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A static electronic control according to claim 13 further including interlocked sequence control circuit means coupled to and controlling operation of said pulsed signal producing circuit means for assuring proper sequencing of the diverter pins in accordance with the command signals derived by said classifying means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
87 words
A static electronic control according to claim 14 wherein the diverter pin logic circuit means includes the means for coupling the carton classification information bearing first control signals between the successive diverter pin logic circuits means and transfer of the first control signals to the next successive diverter pin logic circuit means is controlled by the carton location identifying second control signals whereby the up-down condition of the respective diverter pins cannot be changed until a previously processed carton has been cleared in accordance with its classification.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3512638A
Cited
US3512637A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-24 | 1974-11-23 | 1975-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-24 | 1978-11-23 | 1979-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-24 | 1982-11-23 | 1983-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |