Method for the destination control of objects fed into a distributing conveying system and distributing conveying system for performing such method

Claim 3

means for providing station identifying signals upon an item arrival, and

Claim 4

means for providing station identifying signals upon an item arrival, and

Claim 5

data storage means for storing for each item in said conveyor, track section data, destination data and track section ranking data, said storage means providing output stored data signals,

Claim 6

data storage means for storing for each item in said conveyor, track section data, destination data and track section ranking data, said storage means providing output stored data signals,

Claim 7

A system for conveying items along track sections of a conveyor as recited in claim 1 wherein said data storage means comprises a shift register and said track section ranking data is provided by the position of paired track section data and destination data for each item in said shift register, said shift register having an input and an output.

Claim 8

destination data, and

Claim 9

destination data, and

Claim 10

destination data, and

Claim 11

destination data, and

Claim 12

track section ranking data for ranking the order of entry within a track section, said data storage means having an input and an output, c. item arrival sensing means at each station for providing a signal indicating the arrival of an item within said conveyor system at a station, d. station identification generating means providing first and second track section signals identifying station-preceding and station-following track sections respectively, e. means for comparing said first track section signals with track section data signals from the output of said data storage means, f. means for selecting from said storage means data corresponding to said earliest ranked item within said preceding track section, g. means for comparing said second track section signals with item destination data signals from the output of said data storage means, h. means for discharging an item from said conveyor in response to said arrival signal if said first and second track section signals coincide with said stored track section and item destination data signals, respectively, of said selected earliest ranked item, and i. means for updating said stored track section data, destination data, and track section ranking data, whereby said items are conveyed in said conveyor and discharged at predetermined destination stations.

Claim 13

track section ranking data for ranking the order of entry within a track section, said data storage means having an input and an output, c. item arrival sensing means at each station for providing a signal indicating the arrival of an item within said conveyor system at a station, d. station identification generating means providing first and second track section signals identifying station-preceding and station-following track sections respectively, e. means for comparing said first track section signals with track section data signals from the output of said data storage means, f. means for selecting from said storage means data corresponding to said earliest ranked item within said preceding track section, g. means for comparing said second track section signals with item destination data signals from the output of said data storage means, h. means for discharging an item from said conveyor in response to said arrival signal if said first and second track section signals coincide with said stored track section and item destination data signals, respectively, of said selected earliest ranked item, and i. means for updating said stored track section data, destination data, and track section ranking data, whereby said items are conveyed in said conveyor and discharged at predetermined destination stations.

Claim 14

track section ranking data, c. storing in said storage means said input data, d. conveying items in said conveyor system along conveyor track sections from said feeding station to a discharge station, e. sensing the arrival of each item arriving at a discharge station, f. generating station identifying signals identifying said discharge station upon the arrival of an item at said discharge station, g. comparing said station identifying signals with data signals from said data storage means, h. generating a discharge signal if said stored data signals correspond to said station identifying signals, i. discharging an item at said discharge station in response to said discharge signal, j. erasing said stored data corresponding to said discharged item, k. updating said stored data in the absence of said discharge signal, and conveying said item to another discharge station in the absence of said discharge signal.

Claim 15

track section ranking data, c. storing in said storage means said input data, d. conveying items in said conveyor system along conveyor track sections from said feeding station to a discharge station, e. sensing the arrival of each item arriving at a discharge station, f. generating station identifying signals identifying said discharge station upon the arrival of an item at said discharge station, g. comparing said station identifying signals with data signals from said data storage means, h. generating a discharge signal if said stored data signals correspond to said station identifying signals, i. discharging an item at said discharge station in response to said discharge signal, j. erasing said stored data corresponding to said discharged item, k. updating said stored data in the absence of said discharge signal, and conveying said item to another discharge station in the absence of said discharge signal.

Claim 16

means for comparing said stored data signals with the station identifying signals of each station,

Claim 17

means for comparing said stored data signals with the station identifying signals of each station,

Claim 18

means for discharging an item from said conveyor, b. a central electronic control system comprising:

Claim 19

means for discharging an item from said conveyor, b. a central electronic control system comprising:

Claim 20

A system for conveying items along track sections of a conveyor as recited in claim 2 wherein said connecting means comprises means for cyclically connecting each station to said central control station.

Claim 21

A system for conveying items along track sections of a conveyor as recited in claim 3 wherein said cyclic connecting means comprises a ring counter.

Claim 22

means for generating discharge signals to said stations upon coincidence of the stored data signals and the station identifying signals,

Claim 23

means for generating discharge signals to said stations upon coincidence of the stored data signals and the station identifying signals,

Claim 24

means for removing from storage said stored data corresponding to a discharged item, and

Claim 25

means for removing from storage said stored data corresponding to a discharged item, and

Claim 26

A system for conveying items along track sections of a conveyor as recited in claim 2 wherein said shift register contains i locations, each location storing a data pair and said central control system further comprises: feedback storage means having an input connected to said shift register output and an output connected to said shift register input, and a timing generator for providing i+1 shifting signals to said shift register upon connection of each of said plurality of stations to said central control system.

Claim 27

A system for conveying items along track sections of a conveyor as recited in claim 5 wherein the minimum clock rate ft for the timing generator is ft n(i+2) v/1, where, n the number of stations along the conveyor, i the number of locations in the shift register, v the conveyor speed, and l the minimum distance between items.

Claim 28

means for updating said stored track section data and track section ranking data upon the non-coincidence of the stored data signals and the station identifying signals.

Claim 29

means for updating said stored track section data and track section ranking data upon the non-coincidence of the stored data signals and the station identifying signals.

Claim 32

A system for conveying items along track sections of a conveyor as recited in claim 7 wherein said conveyor system is a closed-loop recirculating conveyor.

Claim 33

A system for conveying items along track sections of a conveyor as recited in claim 7, wherein said data storage means comprises a shift register having an input and an output.

Claim 34

A system for conveying items along track sections of a conveyor as recited in claim 9, wherein said shift register comprises a plurality of register locations for storing and shifting in pairs said track section and destination data, whereby said ranking data is provided by the locations position of said paired data within said shift register.

Claim 35

A system for conveying items along track sections of a conveyor as recited in claim 7, wherein said updating means comprises: a. means for erasing said stored track section data, destination data and track section ranking data from said storate means upon the discharge of an item, and b. means for replacing said stored track section data by track section data corresponding to the station following track section upon the non-discharge of an item arriving at a station.

Claim 36

A system for conveying items along track sections of a conveyor as recited in claim 10 further comprising: a. feedback storage means having an output connected to the input of said shift register, b. change-over switching means for connecting the output of said shift register to an input of said feedback storage means upon the non-coincidence of the first track section signals with said stored track section data signals, and for disconnecting the output of said shift register to the input of said feedback storage means upon the coincidence of the first track section signals with the stored track section data signals.

Claim 37

A system for conveying items along track sections of a conveyor as recited in claim 7, wherein said comparing and selecting means are positioned at a central control station electrically connected to said plurality of conveyor stations.

Claim 38

A system for conveying items along track sections of a conveyor as recited in claim 13, wherein said central control station is cyclically connected to said plurality of conveyor stations.

Claim 39

A system for conveying items along track sections of a conveyor as recited in claim 14, wherein said central control station is electrically connected to said plurality of conveyor stations by means of a ring counter having a number of positions equal to the number of stations, said ring counter providing means for generating said first track section signals.

Claim 40

A system for conveying items along track sections of a conveyor as recited in claim 15, wherein said central control station is electrically connected to said plurality of conveyor stations by a second ring counter having a number of positions equal to the number of stations in the system and whose switching position provides means for generating said second track section identifying signal.

Claim 41

A system for conveying items along track sections of a conveyor as recited in claim 7 further comprising: a. item entering storage means for storing destination data for an item entering said conveyor system, b. means for storing data corresponding to a valid group of destinations, c. comparing means connected to said item entering storage means and valid group storage means for comparing the entering destination data with said valid group data, and d. means for preventing the entry of an item into said conveyor if said item entering data does not coincide with a valid destination.

Claim 42

A system for conveying items along track sections of a conveyor as recited in claim 17 wherein said entry preventing means comprises a locking gate.

Claim 43

A system for conveying items along track secTions of a conveyor as recited in claim 7 further comprising: a. a storage register having an input and an output, b. means for entering destination data of an item entering said conveyor system into said storage register, c. feed sensing means at said conveyor for detecting the entry of an item into said conveyor system, and d. input switching means connected to said arrival and feed sensing means for connecting the output of said storage register to said data storage means and said first track section signals to said data storage means.

Claim 44

A system for conveying items along track sections of a conveyor as recited in claim 19, wherein said means for entering destination data comprises a dial, keyboard or similar.

Claim 45

A system for conveying items along track sections of a conveyor as recited in claim 19, wherein said data storage means is provided with additional storage areas for storing special data upon the activation of said means for entering destination data and the non-activation of said feed sensing means indicating the non-entry of an item into said conveyor system.

Claim 46

A system for conveying items along track sections of a conveyor as recited in claim 21, wherein the actuation of said feed sensing means by an item entered into said conveyor system erases the stored special data corresponding to said item.

Claim 47

A system for conveying items along track sections in a conveyor system comprising: a. a plurality of closed-looped conveyor systems as recited in claim 8, b. a transfer station for connecting two of said conveyor systems, c. a transfer buffer for storing data identifying a particular conveyor station, d. means for generating at said transfer station a signal identifying said transfer station, e. conveyor-data comparing means for comparing said transfer signal with said stored conveyor identifying data and providing an output signal indicating a coincidence of said compared data, and f. switching means at said transfer station responsive to said coincidence output signal for transferring an item from one to another of said conveyor systems.

Claim 48

A system for conveying items along track sections in a conveyor system as recited in claim 23 further comprising: a. feed sensing means for sensing the transfer of an item from said one to another of said conveyor systems, and b. means for erasing said track section data, said destination data and said track section ranking data from the data storage means of said one conveyor system and for inputing track section data, destination data and track section ranking data in the data storage means of the other of said conveyor systems.

Claim 49

A system for conveying items along the track sections in a conveyor system as recited in claim 7 further comprising, a. means for detecting the distance between items in said conveyor system, and b. means for retarding items in response to said distance detecting means whereby item gap spacing is increased.

Claim 52

A method of conveying items along track sections in a conveyor system as recited in claim 26, wherein the station identifying signals are generated by: a. generating a first station identifying signal which identifies the track section preceding said station along the direction of conveyance, and b. generating a second identifying signal which identifies the track section following said station along the direction of conveyance, and wherein said method further comprises the steps of: c. comprising said first station identifying signal to said stored track section data, d. selecting from said stored item data the item data corresponding to the earliest ranked item within said preceding track section, e. generating a first coincidence signal upon the coincidence of said first station identifying signal and said stored track section data of said selected earliest ranked data, f. comparing said second station identifying signal to said stored destination data corresponding to said selected earliest ranked item within said preceding track section, g. generating a second coincidence signal upon the coincidence of said second station identifying signal and said stored destination data whereby said discharge signal is generated upon the occurrence of said first and second coincidence signals.

Claim 53

A method of conveying items along track sections in a conveyor system as recited in claim 27 further comprising the steps of: a. storing said track section data and destination data as paired data in a shift register having a number of register locations equal to the allowable maximum number of items within said conveyor, b. inputting entering item data in the first location of said shift register, c. shifting said entered data along successive locations of said shift register, d. feeding output data from the last location of said shift register into a feedback buffer, and e. feeding output data from said feedback buffer into the first location of said shift register whereby said ranking data is determined by the position of said paired data stored in said shift register location.

Claim 54

A method of conveying items along track sections in a conveyor system as recited in claim 27, wherein said stored data is updated in the absence of a discharge signal by replacing said track section stored data by data corresponding to said second discharge station identifying signal upon the occurrence of a first coincidence signal.

Claim 55

A method of conveying items along track sections in a conveyor system as recited in claim 29 further comprising the steps of: a. storing in a buffer storage area valid destination data corresponding to discharge stations within said conveyor system, b. comparing, for each item entering the conveyor system, the input destination data with the stored valid destination data, and c. preventing the entry of said entering item into said conveyor if the input destination data does not correspond to a valid destination.