US3608713A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Skewed roll sortation system
Assignee: FKI Industries Inc
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Filing: 1969-12-17
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Granted: 1971-09-28
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Expires: 1989-12-17
Abstract
Abstract A sortation conveyor system for selectively distributing articles from a main conveyor to one or more branch conveyors including a main conveyor equipped with a moving bed of freely rotating rollers skewed in the general direction of the branch conveyor and a drive element selectively engageable with the skewed rollers upstream of the branch conveyor to cause rotation thereof and movement of the overlying articles laterally toward the branch conveyor.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter F Crosby
- 👤 John H Lawrence
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 08:13
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G17/00; B65G17/24; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/925
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A sortation system comprising: a. a main conveyor having a plurality of rotatable rollers mounted for movement along a predetermined path for transporting a plurality of articles thereon, said rollers being skewed relative to said path of movement toward one side of said main conveyor; b. at least one branch conveyor forming a junction with the main conveyor and diverging from said predetermined path of movement, said branch conveyor being on the one side of said main conveyor toward which the rollers of the main conveyor are skewed; and c. means for selectively imparting rotation to the rollers of said main conveyor located immediately upstream of said junction to direct an article overlying the rotated rollers toward and onto said branch conveyor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A sortation system comprising: a. a main conveyor having a plurality of rotatable rollers mounted for movement along a predetermined path for transporting a plurality of articles thereon, said rollers being skewed relative to said path of movement toward one side of said main conveyor; b. at least one branch conveyor forming a junction with the main conveyor and diverging from said predetermined path of movement, said branch conveyor being on the one side of said main conveyor toward which the rollers of the main conveyor are skewed; and c. means for selectively imparting rotation to the rollers of said main conveyor located immediately upstream of said junction to direct an article overlying the rotated rollers toward and onto said branch conveyor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A sortation system according to claim 1 including: a. power drive means for mounting the rollers of the main conveyor for movement as a unit along said predetermined path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
A sortation system according to claim 2 wherein said means for selectively imparting rotation to the rollers of the main conveyor includes: a. a friction member positioned immediately upstream of said junction and mounted for movement from a first position spaced from the rollers of the main conveyor disposed immediately upstream of said junction to a second position in engagement therewith; and b. means for selectively moving said friction member between said first and second positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A sortation system according to claim 3 further including: a. first sensing and control means responsive to movement of said articles along said predetermined path on said main conveyor to selectively raise said friction member into engagement with the rollers of said main conveyor upon sensing of an article to be diverted onto said branch conveyor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A sortation system according to claim 4 further includIng: a. second sensing and control means responsive to movement of a diverted article onto the branch conveyor for moving said friction member to said first position spaced from the rollers of said main conveyor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sortation system according to claim 5 wherein: a. said branch conveyor includes a plurality of power driven rollers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
A sortation system according to claim 6 further including: a. pivot means disposed at the junction of said main and branch conveyors on the upstream side thereof, said pivot means being disposed in the path of lateral movement of an article being diverted to said branch conveyor for engagement with the side thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A sortation system according to claim 3 wherein: a. the branch conveyor diverges from the main conveyor at an acute angle; and b. the rollers of said main conveyor are skewed at an angle less than said acute angle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A sortation system according to claim 8 wherein: a. said acute angle is about 45*; and b. the rollers of said main conveyor are skewed at an angle of 15*.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3270861A
Cited
US3361256A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-27 | 1975-03-29 | 1975-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-27 | 1979-03-29 | 1979-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-27 | 1983-03-29 | 1983-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |