US5655643A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High speed, compound, belted diverter and method of operating same
Assignee: United Parcel Service of America Inc
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Filing: 1996-05-08
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Granted: 1997-08-12
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Expires: 2016-05-08
Abstract
Abstract A conveyor diverter that is capable of engaging objects, such as packages of varying size and weight, traveling at high speed along a conveyor, without dataaging impact, and can reliably divert such objects off the conveyor to an output location without any decrease in conveyor speed. The diverter may include a frame pivotally mounted for rotation about an axis adjacent to the conveyor, a belt mounted about a pair of pulleys, one of which is movable against a spring. The belt deforms upon contact by the articles. After an article and the diverter come into engagement with each other, the swinging speed of the diverter, and, optionally, the speed of the diverter belt, may be accelerated to increase the exit speed of the article.
Inventors
- 👤 Henri Bonnet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:39
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/74; B65G47/76; B65G47/766
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A conveyor system, comprising: a conveyor defining a path along which articles on said conveyor are carried; and a diverter mounted adjacent to said conveyor opposite a discharge location at which selected articles are discharged from said conveyor, said diverter being pivotally mounted for movement from a clear position beside said path to a discharge position across said path; said diverter comprising: a frame; a pair of pulleys positioned on said frame; a belt fitted on said pulleys; and means for driving said belt around said pulleys; said frame defining a recess behind a run of said belt facing articles approaching on said conveyor, said run of said belt deforming into said recess under the force of an article contacting said diverter by an amount responsive to the force of said article on said belt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
A conveyor system, comprising: a conveyor defining a path along which articles on said conveyor are carried; and a diverter mounted adjacent to said conveyor opposite a discharge location at which selected articles are discharged from said conveyor, said diverter being pivotally mounted for movement from a clear position beside said path to a discharge position across said path; said diverter comprising: a frame; a pair of pulleys positioned on said frame; a belt fitted on said pulleys; and means for driving said belt around said pulleys; said frame defining a recess behind a run of said belt facing articles approaching on said conveyor, said run of said belt deforming into said recess under the force of an article contacting said diverter by an amount responsive to the force of said article on said belt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The conveyor system of claim 1, further comprising control means for rotating said diverter from said clear position to said discharge position at a speed of rotation accelerating through a selected range of motion of said diverter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The conveyor system of claim 1, further comprising: control means for rotating said diverter from said clear position to said discharge position; and means for sensing said article; and wherein said control means begins rotating said diverter at a time after said article passes a position along said conveyor at which said diverter is pivotally mounted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
A diverter for discharging articles from a moving conveyor, comprising: a frame pivotally mounted for rotation about an axis adjacent to said conveyor; a pair of pulleys positioned on said frame, one of said pulleys being movably mounted and yieldably urged away from the other pulley; a belt fitted on said pulleys; and means for driving said belt around said pulleys; said frame being shaped to allow a run of said belt facing articles approaching on said conveyor to deform upon contact by said articles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
85 words
A diverter for discharging articles from a moving conveyor, comprising: a frame pivotally mounted for rotation about an axis adjacent to said conveyor; a pair of pulleys positioned on said frame, one of said pulleys being movably mounted and yieldably urged away from the other pulley; a belt fitted on said pulleys; and means for driving said belt around said pulleys; said frame being shaped to allow a run of said belt facing articles approaching on said conveyor to deform upon contact by said articles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The diverter of claim 4, further comprising control means for rotating said diverter out over said conveyor at a speed of rotation increasing as said diverter rotates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The diverter of claim 5, further comprising means for sensing said article, and wherein said control means begins rotating said diverter at a time after said article passes said axis of rotation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The diverter of claim 4, further comprising means for sensing said article, and control means for rotating said diverter at a time after said article passes said axis of rotation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The diverter of claim 4, wherein said movable pulley moves a variable distance depending on the mass of each article contacting said diverter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The diverter of claim 4, wherein said belt comprises an inflated tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The diverter of claim 4, wherein said belt comprises a compressible material having a thickness of at least about 5 cm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The diverter of claim 4, wherein at least one of said pulleys is cogged, and wherein said belt is cogged on both surfaces thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The diverter of claim 4, wherein said means for driving said belt comprises a motor coupled to drive one of said pulleys to move said belt at a variable linear speed in a range from 100 to 1000 fpm (30-305 meters per min.).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The diverter of claim 4, further comprising a memory containing characteristics of articles moving along said conveyor; and a controller for selecting a speed of rotation of said frame, responsive to said stored characteristics of each article approaching said diverter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The diverter of claim 13, wherein said controller selects a speed of said belt around said pulleys, responsive to said stored characteristics of each article approaching said diverter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
The diverter of claim 14, wherein said controller accelerates the speed of rotation of said frame and the speed of said belt around said pulleys throughout a selected movement of said diverter frame out over said conveyor, responsive to said stored characteristics of each article approaching said diverter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
91 words
A diverter for discharging articles from a moving conveyor, comprising: means for swinging a diverter arm to contact articles passing on said conveyor; said diverter arm comprising: a pair of pulleys positioned on said diverter arm, one of said pulleys being movably mounted and yieldably urged away from the other pulley; a belt fitted on said pulleys; and means for driving said belt around said pulleys; said diverter arm being shaped to allow a run of said belt facing articles approaching on said conveyor to deform upon contact by said articles.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
91 words
A diverter for discharging articles from a moving conveyor, comprising: means for swinging a diverter arm to contact articles passing on said conveyor; said diverter arm comprising: a pair of pulleys positioned on said diverter arm, one of said pulleys being movably mounted and yieldably urged away from the other pulley; a belt fitted on said pulleys; and means for driving said belt around said pulleys; said diverter arm being shaped to allow a run of said belt facing articles approaching on said conveyor to deform upon contact by said articles.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The diverter of claim 16, wherein said deforming run of said belt absorbs force of contact of said articles.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of diverting articles from a conveyor, comprising the steps of: rotating a diverter arm out over said conveyor to contact an article on said conveyor; accelerating the speed of rotation of said diverter arm after said arm contacts said article through a range of movement of said arm; and imparting motion along said diverter arm to said article.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of diverting articles from a conveyor, comprising the steps of: rotating a diverter arm out over said conveyor to contact an article on said conveyor; accelerating the speed of rotation of said diverter arm after said arm contacts said article through a range of movement of said arm; and imparting motion along said diverter arm to said article.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of absorbing the contact of said article by deforming said diverter arm responsive to said contact.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said step of imparting motion to said article along said diverter comprises contacting said article with a moving belt, and further comprising the step of increasing the speed of said moving belt after said belt contacts said article.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-08-11 | 2001-02-10 | 2001-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-08-11 | 2005-02-10 | 2005-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-08-11 | 2009-02-10 | 2009-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |