US4615446A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sorting machine
Assignee: HBS
•
Filing: 1984-11-28
•
Granted: 1986-10-07
•
Expires: 2004-11-28
Abstract
Abstract In an enhanced throughput sorting machine objects injecting by two injectors working in parallel are sorted in two sorting lines also in parallel. The machine incorporates a routing unit to direct the objects from each injector to the relevent sorting line and a dynamic storage system for halting the advance of an object when the objects injected by the two injectors are for the same sorting line.
Inventors
- 👤 Claude Pavie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:05
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C3/00; B07C3/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
Sorting machine comprising at least two injectors through which objects to be sorted enter the machine, a set of parallel sorting lines, routing stages adapted to link the outlet from each injector to the inlet of each sorting line, respective control means disposed between each injector and said routing stages adapted to sense a destination marker on each object from the respective injector, to designate the sorting line for each object and to command the routing of each object to the appropriate routing stage, and dynamic storage means associated with at least one routing stage of all sorting lines to temporarily store an object from a corresponding injector when the sorting line designated for that object is the same as that designated for another object output by another injector at substantially the same time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
Sorting machine comprising at least two injectors through which objects to be sorted enter the machine, a set of parallel sorting lines, routing stages adapted to link the outlet from each injector to the inlet of each sorting line, respective control means disposed between each injector and said routing stages adapted to sense a destination marker on each object from the respective injector, to designate the sorting line for each object and to command the routing of each object to the appropriate routing stage, and dynamic storage means associated with at least one routing stage of all sorting lines to temporarily store an object from a corresponding injector when the sorting line designated for that object is the same as that designated for another object output by another injector at substantially the same time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
Sorting machine according to claim 1, wherein said dynamic storage means comprise means adapted to feed at least one object one by one into a sorting line as soon as that sorting line is not designated for any object from any injector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
Sorting machine according to claim 2, wherein said dynamic storage means comprise a hierarchical system of individual storage means each adapted to store a single object and means for restructuring the hierarchy when the highest priority individual storage means has fed an object into the sorting line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
Sorting machine according to claim 1, wherein said dynamic storage means comprise at least one set of two object guides, a conveyor belt situated beneath said guides to convey said objects, and a selectively operable barrier on the outlet side of said guides adapted to halt the object in the guides when said barrier is closer and to permit the object in the guides to pass when said barrier is open.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
Sorting machine according to claim 1, further comprising means for directly routing said objects to the varius sorting lines, said direct routing means linking each injector to the respective sorting lines to procure immediate routing of objects output at the same time from said injectors for those of these objects which have different destinations from one another.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR870719A
Cited
CH396483A
Cited
DE1235817B
Cited
FR1402602A
Cited
US3452509A
Cited
FR2194491A1
Cited
US3815897A
Cited
US3986596A
Cited
DE2742802A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-10-06 | 1990-04-07 | 1990-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-10-06 | 1994-04-07 | 1994-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-10-06 | 1998-04-07 | 1998-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |