US3770100A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Article sorting apparatus
Assignee: Jervis B Webb Co
•
Filing: 1972-07-18
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Granted: 1973-11-06
•
Expires: 1992-07-18
Abstract
Abstract Article sorting apparatus having a plurality of recirculating carriers on which articles are placed at a loading station and are forwarded to a selected one of several discharge stations arranged along a discharge zone. Each carrier is supported for movement transversely to the forwarding direction and has a guide member engaging a guide track which defines the transverse carrier position. Along the discharge zone, the guide tracks define a conveying lane and a discharge lane of forward movement for the carriers, the discharge lane being spaced transversely from and being connected to the conveying lane in advance of each discharge station by an independently selectable branch lane. Each discharge station is equipped with a fixed type of diverter which extends obliquely across the discharge lane in the path of article travel and above the path of carrier travel. Following the discharge zone, the guide track defines a single return lane of travel for all carriers to a junction in the guide track, in advance of the loading station, where the carriers are switched alternately to one of a pair of transversely spaced loading lanes. Induction mechanism at the loading station enables articles to be coded to a desired discharge station and advanced in timed relation with the arrival at the loading station of alternate carriers in the loading lanes. The guide tracks following the loading station merge the loading lanes into the conveying lane on which all carriers enter the discharge zone.
Inventors
- 👤 Caul E Mc
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:43
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G17/00; B65G17/005; B65G17/06; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
Article sorting apparatus having conveying means including a plurality of carriers on which articles are placed at a loading station and conveyed in a forward direction to a discharge zone; wherein the improvement comprises: means supporting each carrier on the conveying means for movement transversely to the forward direction independently of each other carrier; guide means engageable by each carrier for defining the transverse position thereof, the guide means being arranged along at least a portion of the discharge zone to define at least two parallel transversely spaced lanes of movement for the carriers in the forward direction, one lane being a conveying lane on which the carriers enter the discharge zone and the other lane being a discharge lane having a plurality of discharge stations, the guide means further defining a plurality of independently selectable branch lanes extending from the conveying lane to the discharge lane, each branch lane being arranged in advance of a discharge station; and, article unloading means at each discharge station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
Article sorting apparatus having conveying means including a plurality of carriers on which articles are placed at a loading station and conveyed in a forward direction to a discharge zone; wherein the improvement comprises: means supporting each carrier on the conveying means for movement transversely to the forward direction independently of each other carrier; guide means engageable by each carrier for defining the transverse position thereof, the guide means being arranged along at least a portion of the discharge zone to define at least two parallel transversely spaced lanes of movement for the carriers in the forward direction, one lane being a conveying lane on which the carriers enter the discharge zone and the other lane being a discharge lane having a plurality of discharge stations, the guide means further defining a plurality of independently selectable branch lanes extending from the conveying lane to the discharge lane, each branch lane being arranged in advance of a discharge station; and, article unloading means at each discharge station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
Article sorting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the guide means are further arranged following the last of the selectable branch lanes to merge the conveying lane and the discharge lane into a single return lane of movement for carriers from the discharge zone toward the loading station.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
Article sorting apparatus according to claim 2 further including a junction in the single return lane in advance of the loading station, the guide means defining two Transversely spaced loading lanes following the junction, and diverting means at the junction for positioning successive carriers alternately in the loading lanes, the guide means following the loading station and in advance of the discharge zone being arranged to merge the loading lanes into said conveying lane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
Article sorting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said guide means are further arranged to provide at least a pair of transversely spaced loading lanes of movement for the carriers at the loading station and include means for positioning successive carriers alternately in these loading lanes, the guide means merging these loading lanes into the conveying lane in advance of the discharge zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
Article sorting apparatus according to claim 4 further including induction means at the loading station for loading articles on carriers in each of said loading lanes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
Article sorting apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the induction means includes a pair of induction conveyors operable to advance articles to the loading station in synchronism with the arrival of carriers at the loading station in each loading lane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
Article sorting apparatus according to claim 6 wherein each induction conveyor includes an article pusher member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
Article sorting apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the induction means includes a coding station for each loading lane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
Article sorting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means supporting each carrier on the conveying means includes carrier supporting structure connected to and extending transversely of the conveying means and means movably mounting the carrier on such supporting structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
Article sorting apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the conveying means includes a pair of transversely spaced chains, and the supporting structure for each carrier includes a pair of transversely parallel longitudinally spaced supporting bars, each carrier including a frame movable on the supporting bars.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
Article sorting apparatus according to claim 10 further including a pair of transversely spaced trolleys secured to each pair of supporting bars, a track engageable by each trolley, and means connecting each conveyor chain to one of the trolleys.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
Article sorting apparatus according to claim 11 wherein each carrier is equipped with a depending guide member engageable with said guide means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
Article sorting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said guide means includes a track defining the conveying lane, the discharge lane and each branch lane, a selectably operable switch between each branch lane and the conveying lane, and a guide member on each carrier engageable with the track.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
Article sorting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the article unloading means at each discharge station comprises a diverter extending obliquely across at least a portion of the discharge lane in fixed relation thereto, the diverter being mounted above the level of a carrier moving along the discharge lane but intersecting the path of movement of an article on such carrier.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
Article sorting apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the article unloading means includes a driven member adapted to engage and move an article laterally from a carrier in the discharge lane.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
Article sorting apparatus according to claim 14 wherein each carrier includes means for retaining an article in engagement with the diverter as the carrier moves along the discharge lane.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
Article sorting apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the diverter includes a driven member engageable by an article and movable in the direction of article unloading movement.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
Article sorting apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the driven member comprises an endless belt.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
121 words
Article sorting apparatus according to claim 1 in which the conveying means comprises a pair of endless chains and longitudinally spaced pairs of sprockets about which the chains are trained, each pair of sprockets being mounted on a common axiS; the means supporting each carrier including a pair of parallel bars extending transversely of the chains, a pair of transversely spaced trolleys connected to each pair of parallel bars, a track supporting each trolley, and means connecting each chain to one of the trolleys for support thereby, each carrier including a frame slidably supported by the pair of parallel bars; said guide means including track members mounted between said trolley tracks and engageable by a guide member projecting from each carrier.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1871902A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-05 | 1977-05-07 | 1977-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-05 | 1981-05-07 | 1981-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-05 | 1985-05-07 | 1985-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |