Sorter system induction means

Claim 2

The combination comprising an input conveyor, a sorter conveyor having means along the path thereof for discharging articles from the conveyor to predetermined zones along the path of the conveyor, and means for transferring articles from the input conveyor to the sorter conveyor comprising first rotor means having a plurality of vanes defining article receiving pockets, means for rotatably mounting said first rotor means between said input conveyor and said sorter conveyor about a generally horizontal axis parallel to a portion of the path of the sorter conveyor, drive means operatively connected to said rotor means for intermittently rotating said first rotor means between successive indexed positions, said successive indexed positions including a first position and a successive second position, said first position being such that a vane of one pocket forms an inclined entrance ramp, said second position being such that the adjacent vane of the same pocket defines an exit ramp, second rotor means having a plurality of vanes defining article receiving pockets, means for rotatably mounting said second rotor means between said first rotor means and said sorter conveyor about a generally horizontal axis parallel to a portion of said sorter conveyor and parallel to the axis of said motor means, drive means operatively conneted to said second rotor means for intermittently rotating said second rotor means in the same direction as said first rotor means between successive indexed positions, said second rotor means having vanes which successively cooperate with said receiving ramp to define a receiving pocket for an article transferred from said first rotor means, said first position being such that a vane on one pocket is aligned with the exit ramp formed by the vane of said first pocket, said second position of said second rotor means being such that the adjacent vane of the same pocket defines an exit ramp, said drive means driving each said rotor means at a rate such that said vane forming an entrance ramp lifts an article being transferred from said first position to said second position and augments the gravitational movement of the article to said second position such that the article moves off of the vane that is acting as an exit ramp.

Claim 3

The combination set forth in claim 1 including synchronizing means for stopping the input conveyor when a pocket of the first rotor means is not in the first position and is not empty for receiving an article from said input conveyor, for conditioning said first rotor means for rotation only when said pocket defined by said second rotor means and said receiving ramp is empty for receiving an article, and for conditioning said second rotor means for rotation only when a predetermined portion of the sorter conveyor is empty for receiving an article.

Claim 4

The combination set forth in claim 2 including operational control means connected to the synchronizing means for producing overlapping motion of the rotor means and one of the conveyors to increase the flow rate of articles between said conveyors.

Claim 5

The combination set forth in claim 1 including brake means on each said rotor means cooperating with said drive means for holding said rotor means in the aforementioned predetermined indexed positions.

Claim 6

The combination comprising an input conveyor, a sorter conveyor having means along the path thereof for discharging articles from the conveyor to predetermined zones along the path of the conveyor, and means for transferring articles from the input conveyor to the sorter conveyor comprising first rotor means having four vanes defining article receiving pockets, means for rotatably mounting said first rotor means between said input conveyor and said sorter conveyor about a generally horizontal axis parallel to a portion of the path of the sorter conveyor, drive means operatively connected to said rotor means for intermittently rotating said first rotor means in one direction for bringing a pocket successively from a first to a second position, a third position and then the first position, said first position being such that a vane of each pocket forms an inclined entrance ramp, said second position being such that the adjacent vane of the same pocket defines an exit ramp, second rotor means, means for rotatably mounting said second rotor means between said first rotor means and said sorter conveyor about a generally horizontal axis parallel to a portion of said sorter conveyor and parallel to the axis of said rotor means, drive means operatively connected to said second rotor means for intermittently rotating said second rotor means in the same direction as said first rotor means from a first to a second, a third and a fourth position, said second rotor means having four diametrically opposed vanes which successively cooperate with said receiving ramp to define a receiving pocket for an article transferred from said first rotor means, said first position of said second rotor means being such that a vane of each pocket thereof is aligned with the vane of said first rotor means forming an exit ramp, said drive means driving each said rotor means at a rate such that said vane forming an entrance ramp lifts an article being tansferred from said first position to said second position and aguments the gravitational movement of the article to said second position such that the article moves off of the vane that is acting as an exit ramp, said second position of said second rotor means being such that a vane of the same pocket defines an exit ramp.

Claim 7

The combination comprising an input conveyor, a sorter conveyor having means along the path thereof for discharging articles from the conveyor to predetermined zones along the path of the conveyor, and means for transferring articles from the input conveyor to the sorter conveyor comprising first rotor means having four vanes defining article receiving pockets, means for rotatably mounting said first rotor means between said input conveyor and said sorter conveyor about a generally horizontal axis parallel to a portion of the path of the sorter conveyor, drive means operatively connected to said rotor means for intermittently rotating said first rotor means in one direction for bringing a pocket successively from a first to a second position, a third position and then the first position, said first position being such that a vane of each pocket forms an inclined entrance ramp, said second position being such that the adjacent vane of the same pocket defines an exit ramp, second rotor means, means for rotatably mounting said second rotor means between said first rotor means and said sorter conveyor about a generally horizontal axis parallel to a portion of said sorter conveyor and parallel to the axis of said rotor means, drive means operatively connected to said second rotor means for intermittently rotating said second rotor means in the same direction as said first rotor means from a first to a second, a third and a fourth position, said second rotor means having four diametrically opposed vanes which successively cooperate with said receiving ramp to define a receiving pocket for an article transferred from said first rotor means, said first position of said second rotor means being such that a vane of each pocket thereof is aligned with the vane of said first rotor means forming an exit ramp, said drive means driving each said rotor means at a rate such that said vane forming an entrance ramp lifts an article being tansferred from said first position to said second position and aguments the gravitational movement of the article to said second position such that the article moves off of the vane that is acting as an exit ramp, said second position of said second rotor means being such that a vane of the same pocket defines an exit ramp.

Claim 8

The combination set forth in claim 5 including synchronizing means for stopping said input conveyor when the pocket is not in the first position, is not empty for receiving an article from said input conveyor, for conditioning said first rotor means for rotation only when said pocket defined by said second rotor means and said receiving ramp is empty for receiving an article, and for conditioning said second rotor means for rotation only when a predetermined portion of the sorter conveyor is empty for receiving an article.

Claim 9

The combination set forth in claim 6 including operational control means connected to the synchronizing means for producing overlapping motion of the rotor means and one of the conveyors to increase the flow rate of articles between said conveyors.

Claim 10

The combination set forth in claim 5 including brake means on each said rotor means cooperating with said drive means for holding said rotor means in the aforementioned predetermined indexed positions.