Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
Sortation equipment for use in continuous track sortation systems, the equipment comprising: a train adapted to run on a continuous track for moving loads from a master station to one or more slave stations, the train having a locomotive and one or more cars coupled to be driven along the track by the locomotive, each of the cars including a tray tiltable from a load supporting generally horizontal position to a tilted position where the tray is inclined downwardly towards a slave station which is to receive the load off the tray, a discharge mechanism movable from a neutral to an intermediate position and then to an engagement position and including tray support means holding the tray horizontal with the discharge mechanism in the neutral and intermediate positions, and means on the train operable to move the discharge mechanism between the neutral and intermediate positions and the discharge mechanism being movable between the intermediate and engagement positions by contact with fixed means on the track at the slave station to drive the discharge mechanism as the train passes said fixed means whereby, as the discharge mechanism moves towards the engagement position, the tray is tilted to unload and then moved back to horizontal as the discharge mechanism returns to the intermediate position to again support the tray in the horizontal position; whereby when the discharge mechanism is in said neutral position, the discharge mechanism is prevented from engaging said fixed means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
241 words
Sortation equipment for use in continuous track sortation systems, the equipment comprising: a train adapted to run on a continuous track for moving loads from a master station to one or more slave stations, the train having a locomotive and one or more cars coupled to be driven along the track by the locomotive, each of the cars including a tray tiltable from a load supporting generally horizontal position to a tilted position where the tray is inclined downwardly towards a slave station which is to receive the load off the tray, a discharge mechanism movable from a neutral to an intermediate position and then to an engagement position and including tray support means holding the tray horizontal with the discharge mechanism in the neutral and intermediate positions, and means on the train operable to move the discharge mechanism between the neutral and intermediate positions and the discharge mechanism being movable between the intermediate and engagement positions by contact with fixed means on the track at the slave station to drive the discharge mechanism as the train passes said fixed means whereby, as the discharge mechanism moves towards the engagement position, the tray is tilted to unload and then moved back to horizontal as the discharge mechanism returns to the intermediate position to again support the tray in the horizontal position; whereby when the discharge mechanism is in said neutral position, the discharge mechanism is prevented from engaging said fixed means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
Sortation equipment as claimed in claim 1 whereby said track has a generally I-shaped cross-section and including, at the top thereof, upwardly and outwardly extending arms, and at the bottom, downwardly and outwardly extending legs, each of the arms and the legs terminating in running surfaces, and in which the train includes rollers positioned to run on the running surfaces to guide the train on the track.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
Sortation equipment as claimed in claim 2 in which the track includes a vertical web between the arms and the legs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
Sortation equipment as claimed in claim 3 in which the track is an aluminum extrusion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
Sortation equipment as claimed in claim 2 and further including a linear induction motor coupled to the track and the locomotive.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
Sortation equipment as claimed in claim 4 and further comprising a linear induction motor having moving parts attached to the locomotive and fixed parts attached to the track.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
Sortation equipment as claimed in claim 6 in which the track includes a pair of strips of magnetic material attached one to each of the sides of the web.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
Sortation equipment as claimed in claim 7 in which said strips are covered by further strips of aluminum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
Sortation equipment as claimed in claim 5 and further comprising a power supply including conductors attached to the track, and in which the train includes electrical pick-up means in running contact with the conductors to pick up power for moving the train.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
Sortation equipment as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising a control mechanism operable to engage with and decelerate the train to a stop and to locate the train at a preferred location on the track.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
Sortation equipment as claimed in claim 10 in which the control mechanism is also operable to accelerate the train from a standing start.