Package handling system and sorting apparatus

Claim 2

An object handling system comprising a plurality of first conveyors in end to end mating relationship and a plurality of second conveyors for receiving objects from units of transportation and delivering them to the said first conveyor, each of said second conveyors having a delivery end cooperating with the mating portions of said first conveyors, first signal means adjacent each of said plurality of second conveyors for receiving object identifications and providing a first signal representative thereof, second signal means adjacent the delivery end of said second conveyors responsive to the presence of an object at said delivery end to provide a seconD signal representative thereof; drive means for said first conveyor and plurality of second conveyors, first diverter means adjacent the delivery end of each of said second conveyors for diverting objects onto either of the two mating first conveyors with which each said second conveyor cooperates in response to said first signal and said second signal, a plurality of third signal means located at different locations adjacent said first conveyors, said locations corresponding to said object identifications, each said third signal means being responsive to the presence of an object on said first conveyor adjacent said location to provide a third signal representative thereof, a plurality of second diverter means each located at a said different location adjacent said first conveyors for diverting objects from said first conveyors at said respective location in response to a said first signal corresponding to said location and said third signal corresponding to said location to segregate a plurality of said objects in said locations according to said object identifications.

Claim 3

The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means for said first conveyor includes clutches responsive to said first signal.

Claim 4

The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for receiving package identification includes a control station located at each of said plurality of second conveyors, said control station having a plurality of push button switches whereby individual first signals are provided as representative of said package identification.

Claim 5

The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein third conveyor means are provided at each said location for shifting objects deposited at said location to provide room for additional incoming objects.

Claim 6

The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said diverter means includes matching means for receiving a said first signal which correspond with the object identification corresponding to the location of said diverter means with said third signal corresponding to said location to provide actuation of mechanical means for diverting said object from said first conveyor.

Claim 7

An object handling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said system includes a third conveyor having an input end onto which objects are loaded, a plurality of fourth conveyors adapted to receive objects from said third conveyors, at different points corresponding to different units of transportation along said third conveyor, at least one outfeed conveyor adapted to receive objects from said fourth conveyors and deliver them to units of transportation, a fourth signal means between said input end of said third conveyor and said fourth conveyors for receiving unit of transportation identifications and providing a fourth signal representative thereof, a plurality of fifth signal means each located at a said point responsive to the presence of an object at said point to provide a signal representative thereof, a plurality of third diverter means at said different points adjacent said third conveyor for diverting objects from said third conveyor at said respective different point in response to said fourth signal corresponding to said point and said third signal corresponding to said point to segregate a plurality of said objects in said fourth conveyors according to the unit of transportation designated for each said object.

Claim 8

The invention as claimed in claim 6 wherein the direction of movement of said second conveyors is reversible and said outfeed conveyors cooperate with said second conveyors to deliver objects thereto.

Claim 9

The invention as claimed in claim 6 wherein said plurality of fourth conveyors includes at least one branch conveyor cooperating with said third conveyor to receive objects therefrom at said respective different points, a plurality of storage conveyors each having a receiving end cooperating with said branch conveyor for receiving objects therefrom at spaced positions Along said branch conveyor and a delivery end cooperating with said outfeed conveyor for delivering objects thereto, a plurality of fourth diverter means at said spaced positions for diverting objects from said branch conveyor to one of said storage conveyors, and a plurality of gates at the delivery end of said storage conveyors to hold objects on said conveyors, said gates being retractible to allow said objects to be delivered onto said outfeed conveyors.

Claim 10

The invention as claimed in claim 8 wherein said plurality of fourth diverter means includes a plurality of sixth signal means each responsive to the presence of an object at the receiving end of said storage conveyors to provide a signal representative thereof, individual drive means for each said storage conveyors, each said drive means being responsive to signals from said sixth signal means associated with it, a plurality of seventh signal means each responsive to the presence of an object at the delivery end of said storage conveyors when said conveyor is full to provide a signal representative thereof, the diverter means associated with an empty storage conveyor next closest to said third conveyor from a full storage conveyor being activated by said seventh signal of said full storage conveyor to divert objects from said branch conveyor to said next closest empty storage conveyor.

Claim 11

An object handling system for handling an object from a transmitter to a unit of transportation, said object having identification means including a unit of transportation identification means attached thereto, comprising a receiving means including infeed first conveyance means for receiving an object and means for receiving an input representative of the unit of transportation identification means and providing an output signal representative thereof; a plurality of storage conveyance means cooperating with said infeed first conveyance means, each of said plurality of storage means comprising a plurality of branch conveyance means cooperating with said infeed first conveyance means, a plurality of storage conveyance means cooperating to receive the output of said branch conveyance means, and an outfeed conveyance means cooperating with the output of said plurality of storage conveyance means to deliver said output to said unit of transportation; a signal storage means including means for receiving and sequentially storing the output signals from said receiving means and providing output signals representative of the identity of the unit of transportation associated with said object; means responsive to the passage of said object on said infeed first conveyance means and to the output signals from said signal storage means located along said infeed first conveyance means and cooperating with said storage means for diverting said object into said storage means by means of said branch conveyance means in response to the output signals representative of the unit of transportation associated with said object; means located along said branch conveyance means and cooperating with said storage conveyance means and responsive to the passage of said object on said branch conveyance means and to the output of said signal storage means for diverting said object from said branch conveyance means onto said storage conveyance means; and drive means for controlling the sequential flow of objects from said storage conveyance means onto said outfeed conveyance means, said plurality of storage conveyance means and said outfeed conveyance means including said drive means being responsive to a signal generating means associated with said outfeed conveyance means.

Claim 12

An object handling system for handling an object from a transmitter to a unit of transportation, said object having identification means including a unit of transportation identification means attached thereto, comprising a receiving means including infeed first conveyance means for receiving an object and means for receiving an input representative of the unit of transportation identification means and providing an output signal representative thereof; a plurality of storage conveyance means cooperating with said infeed first conveyance means, each of said plurality of storage means comprising a plurality of branch conveyance means cooperating with said infeed first conveyance means, a plurality of storage conveyance means cooperating to receive the output of said branch conveyance means, and an outfeed conveyance means cooperating with the output of said plurality of storage conveyance means to deliver said output to said unit of transportation; a signal storage means including means for receiving and sequentially storing the output signals from said receiving means and providing output signals representative of the identity of the unit of transportation associated with said object; means responsive to the passage of said object on said infeed first conveyance means and to the output signals from said signal storage means located along said infeed first conveyance means and cooperating with said storage means for diverting said object into said storage means by means of said branch conveyance means in response to the output signals representative of the unit of transportation associated with said object; means located along said branch conveyance means and cooperating with said storage conveyance means and responsive to the passage of said object on said branch conveyance means and to the output of said signal storage means for diverting said object from said branch conveyance means onto said storage conveyance means; and drive means for controlling the sequential flow of objects from said storage conveyance means onto said outfeed conveyance means, said plurality of storage conveyance means and said outfeed conveyance means including said drive means being responsive to a signal generating means associated with said outfeed conveyance means.

Claim 13

An object handling system comprising in combination a receiver identification means for attachment to an object requiring the use of a unit of transportation; a plurality of receiver means for receiving from units of transportation objects having receiver identification means attached thereto and each said receiver meanS including means for receiving an input representative of said receiver identification means and providing an output signal representative thereof; first conveyance means and a plurality of storage means each representative of a receiver identification means and located along said first conveyance means for receiving said objects from said first conveyance means according to the receiver identifications thereof; plurality of second conveyance means each of which cooperates one said receiver means and said first conveyance means in response to the output signal of said receiving means; drive means responsive to the output of said receiving means for driving said first conveyance means and said plurality of second conveyance means; a signal storage means including means for sequentially receiving and storing outputs from said receiving means and providing outputs representative of said storage means associated with said receiver identification means; first signal generating means connected with said signal storage means and associated with each of said plurality of second conveyance means and responsive to the passage of the object on said second conveyance means and providing an output signal representative thereof to said signal storage means; second signal generating means connected with said signal storage means and responsive to the passage of the object on said first conveyance means to the corresponding storage means and providing an output signal representative thereof to said signal storage means; a plurality of first diverter means connected with said signal storage means and responsive thereto, one of said diverter means being associated with each of said plurality of second conveyance means for diverting said objects onto said first conveyance means responsive to said receiver identification means for each said object; a plurality of second diverter means connected with said signal storage means and responsive thereto, one of said second diverter means being associated with each of said plurality of storage means for diverting said objects from said first conveyance means into a storage means indicative of the receiver identification means of the object in response to an output from said signal storage means, said output being representative of said receiver identification means.

Claim 14

An object handling system comprising in combination a receiver identification means for attachment to an object requiring the use of a unit of transportation; a plurality of receiver means for receiving from units of transportation objects having receiver identification means attached thereto and each said receiver meanS including means for receiving an input representative of said receiver identification means and providing an output signal representative thereof; first conveyance means and a plurality of storage means each representative of a receiver identification means and located along said first conveyance means for receiving said objects from said first conveyance means according to the receiver identifications thereof; plurality of second conveyance means each of which cooperates one said receiver means and said first conveyance means in response to the output signal of said receiving means; drive means responsive to the output of said receiving means for driving said first conveyance means and said plurality of second conveyance means; a signal storage means including means for sequentially receiving and storing outputs from said receiving means and providing outputs representative of said storage means associated with said receiver identification means; first signal generating means connected with said signal storage means and associated with each of said plurality of second conveyance means and responsive to the passage of the object on said second conveyance means and providing an output signal representative thereof to said signal storage means; second signal generating means connected with said signal storage means and responsive to the passage of the object on said first conveyance means to the corresponding storage means and providing an output signal representative thereof to said signal storage means; a plurality of first diverter means connected with said signal storage means and responsive thereto, one of said diverter means being associated with each of said plurality of second conveyance means for diverting said objects onto said first conveyance means responsive to said receiver identification means for each said object; a plurality of second diverter means connected with said signal storage means and responsive thereto, one of said second diverter means being associated with each of said plurality of storage means for diverting said objects from said first conveyance means into a storage means indicative of the receiver identification means of the object in response to an output from said signal storage means, said output being representative of said receiver identification means.

Claim 15

An object handling system comprising a first means for handling an object having an identification means including a unit of transportation identification means and a receiver identification means attached thereto from a transmitter to a unit of transportation means in accordance with a programming means associated with said first means said programming means being responsive to signals representative of the unit of transportation identification means attached to said object, said signals being provided by a unit of transportation identification receiving means associated with said first means for handling objects; and a second means for handling an object from a unit of transportation means to a receiver in accordance with a second programming means associated with said second means, said second programming means being responsive to signals representative of said receiver identification means attached to said object, said signals being provided by a receiver identification receiving means associated with said second means for handling an object.

Claim 16

An object handling system comprising a first means for handling an object having an identification means including a unit of transportation identification means and a receiver identification means attached thereto from a transmitter to a unit of transportation means in accordance with a programming means associated with said first means said programming means being responsive to signals representative of the unit of transportation identification means attached to said object, said signals being provided by a unit of transportation identification receiving means associated with said first means for handling objects; and a second means for handling an object from a unit of transportation means to a receiver in accordance with a second programming means associated with said second means, said second programming means being responsive to signals representative of said receiver identification means attached to said object, said signals being provided by a receiver identification receiving means associated with said second means for handling an object.