US3640367A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic sorting device
Assignee: Compagnie Generale dAutomatisme SA
•
Filing: 1970-02-19
•
Granted: 1972-02-08
•
Expires: 1990-02-19
Abstract
Abstract A device for automatically sorting objects, making possible the connection of one input station to one of 2n output stations, including n-1 superimposed coaxial truncated cones each capable of movement about the axis thereof between first and second specific positions, and one input station equipped with a shutter having two positions. Provided on each truncated cone are troughs or channels delimited by triangular wedges. For a given position of the shutter and each of the truncated cones, there exists one, and only one, track leading from the input station to a selected one of the output stations; thus, the output station is determined on the basis of binary information regulating the positioning of the respective cones and the shutter.
Inventors
- 👤 Philippe J Noetinger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 19:49
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/52; B65G47/64; B65G47/644; B65G47/648; B65G11/00; B65G11/06; B65G11/063
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A device for the automatic distribution of objects from an input station to a selected one of a number of 2n output stations comprising: n-1 superimposed coaxial truncated cones movable with respect to each other about the common axis and each being capable of occupying in the position of rest first and second respective positions, each truncated cone being provided with troughs within which said objects pass from one end thereof called an input to the other end thereof called an output, said troughs being positioned on each cone such that the output of each trough may be positioned in registration with the input of one or the other of two troughs of the truncated cone being disposed directly below, there being 2p troughs on each cone with p 1 for the upper truncated cone, and p n-1 for the lower truncated cone, a fixed input station equipped with a movable member having two positions and being placed above the superimposed truncated cones, a fixed output stage comprising 2n output stations and placed below the superimposed truncated cones, positioning means for effecting displacement and positioning of each of said truncated cones in said first or second position, and control means for actuating said positioning means in accordance with a binary designation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
211 words
A device for the automatic distribution of objects from an input station to a selected one of a number of 2n output stations comprising: n-1 superimposed coaxial truncated cones movable with respect to each other about the common axis and each being capable of occupying in the position of rest first and second respective positions, each truncated cone being provided with troughs within which said objects pass from one end thereof called an input to the other end thereof called an output, said troughs being positioned on each cone such that the output of each trough may be positioned in registration with the input of one or the other of two troughs of the truncated cone being disposed directly below, there being 2p troughs on each cone with p 1 for the upper truncated cone, and p n-1 for the lower truncated cone, a fixed input station equipped with a movable member having two positions and being placed above the superimposed truncated cones, a fixed output stage comprising 2n output stations and placed below the superimposed truncated cones, positioning means for effecting displacement and positioning of each of said truncated cones in said first or second position, and control means for actuating said positioning means in accordance with a binary designation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device for automatic distribution of objects according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the upper base of each truncated cone is equal to the diameter of the lower base of the truncated cone positioned immediately thereabove.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device for automatic distribution of objects according to claim 2, wherein each truncated cone has a lower base with double the diameter of that of the upper base thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device for automatic distribution of objects according to claim 3, wherein the heights of said truncated cones are equal, the superimposed truncated cones in combination prOviding a surface having the form of a truncated cone whose generatrix is an exponential to the base 2.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device for automatic distribution of objects according to claim 3, wherein the generatrices of each of said truncated cones are rectilinear.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
114 words
A device for automatic distribution of objects according to claim 1, wherein said troughs are formed by wedge-shaped relief portions being equal in number, per truncated cone, to the number 2p of the troughs and defined as to position by the position of the three vertices thereof: the first vertex of each relief portion subdividing the upper circumference of the truncated cone being considered into 2p equal portions, the second and third vertices of each relief portion being, on the lower circumference of the truncated cone being considered, spaced by 3/(2p+2) of this circumference and each lower base of one relief portion being distant from the next following one by 1/(2p+2) of this circumference.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
84 words
A device for automatic distribution of objects according to claim 1, wherein said positioning means for effecting displacement and positioning of each of said truncated cones comprises for each cone a motor capable of rotation in either direction, each said truncated cone being provided with a toothed rim integral therewith, and a pinion in engagement with said toothed rim and driven by said motor, said motor having two well-defined positions of rest which correspond to said first and second positions of the truncated cone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device for automatic distribution of objects according to claim 1, wherein each said truncated cone is provided with a toothed rim, said positioning means including a pinion and shaft engaging said toothed rim for driving said cone in rotation about the axis thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
A device for automatic distribution of objects according to claim 8, wherein said positioning means for effecting displacement and positioning of each of said truncated cones comprises for each cone-actuating means including a piston and cylinder and a rack and pinion, the pinion being mounted on the same shaft as said pinion driving the toothed rim of the truncated cone being considered.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
73 words
A device for automatic distribution of objects according to one of claims 8, wherein said positioning means for effecting displacement and positioning of each of said truncated cones comprises for each cone actuating means including a rack and pinion, and a pair of electromagnets providing translation of said rack in opposite directions, said pinion being mounted on the same shaft as said pinion driving the toothed rim of the truncated cone being considered.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
168 words
A device for the automatic distribution of objects from an input station to a selected one of a plurality of output stations comprising: at least two superimposed coaxial truncated cones movable with respect to each other about the common axis and at least one being capable of occupying in the position of rest first and second respective positions, each truncated cone being provided with troughs within which said objects pass from an input end thereof to an output end thereof, said troughs being positioned on each cone such that the output end of each trough may be positioned in registration with the input end of one or the other of two troughs of the truncated cone being disposed directly below, there being two troughs on the upper truncated cone, and four troughs on the lower truncated cone, positioning means for effecting rotation of said at least one truncated cone to said first or second position, and control means for actuating said positioning means in accordance with applied data.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
168 words
A device for the automatic distribution of objects from an input station to a selected one of a plurality of output stations comprising: at least two superimposed coaxial truncated cones movable with respect to each other about the common axis and at least one being capable of occupying in the position of rest first and second respective positions, each truncated cone being provided with troughs within which said objects pass from an input end thereof to an output end thereof, said troughs being positioned on each cone such that the output end of each trough may be positioned in registration with the input end of one or the other of two troughs of the truncated cone being disposed directly below, there being two troughs on the upper truncated cone, and four troughs on the lower truncated cone, positioning means for effecting rotation of said at least one truncated cone to said first or second position, and control means for actuating said positioning means in accordance with applied data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device for automatic distribution of objects according to claim 11, wherein the diameter of the upper base of the lower truncated cone is equal to the diameter of the lower base of the upper truncated cone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device for automatic distribution of objects according to claim 12, wherein each trunCated cone has a lower base with double the diameter of that of the upper base thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device for automatic distribution of objects according to claim 13, wherein the heights of said truncated cones are equal, the superimposed truncated cones in combination providing a surface having the form of a truncated cone whose generatrix is an exponential to the base 2.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device for automatic distribution of objects according to claim 13, wherein the generatrices of each of said truncated cones are rectilinear.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3107768A
Cited
US3294210A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-07 | 1975-08-09 | 1976-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-07 | 1979-08-09 | 1980-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-07 | 1983-08-09 | 1984-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |