Apparatus and method of sorting objects

Claim 1

An apparatus for transporting and sorting substantially planar individual items having upper and lower edges, said apparatus comprising: conveyor means for conveying said planar items in a substantially vertical but slightly inclined orientation by use of a conveyor supporting said lower edge and said upper edge leaning against a substantially vertical surface; and plunger means for ejecting said planar items away from said conveyor such that said item is ejected from said apparatus with its upper edge leading its lower edge.

Claim 2

An apparatus for transporting and sorting substantially planar individual items having upper and lower edges, said apparatus comprising: conveyor means for conveying said planar items in a substantially vertical but slightly inclined orientation by use of a conveyor supporting said lower edge and said upper edge leaning against a substantially vertical surface; and plunger means for ejecting said planar items away from said conveyor such that said item is ejected from said apparatus with its upper edge leading its lower edge.

Claim 3

An apparatus for transporting and sorting substantially planar individual items having opposing upper and lower edges and two opposing primary planar surfaces, said apparatus comprising: a lower conveyor traveling at least partially along a travel path and for supporting said lower edge of each of said items; an upper conveyor traveling at least partially along said travel path, said upper conveyor for supporting said upper edge of each of said items, said upper and lower conveyors combining to urge said items along a travel path; and a plunger located intermediate said lower and upper conveyors, said plunger movable relative to both of said conveyors and configured for ejecting an item from said path and away from both of said conveyors by contacting one of said primary planar surfaces of said item such that said item is ejected from said apparatus with its lower edge leading its upper edge.

Claim 4

An apparatus for transporting and sorting substantially planar individual items having opposing upper and lower edges and two opposing primary planar surfaces, said apparatus comprising: a lower conveyor traveling at least partially along a travel path and for supporting said lower edge of each of said items; an upper conveyor traveling at least partially along said travel path, said upper conveyor for supporting said upper edge of each of said items, said upper and lower conveyors combining to urge said items along a travel path; and a plunger located intermediate said lower and upper conveyors, said plunger movable relative to both of said conveyors and configured for ejecting an item from said path and away from both of said conveyors by contacting one of said primary planar surfaces of said item such that said item is ejected from said apparatus with its lower edge leading its upper edge.

Claim 14

A method of sorting individual items moving along a path comprising said steps of: providing a guide rail along said path, said guide rail being comprised of movable segments, each of said segments configured in a first position to prevent said items from falling from said path as said items move along said path and movable to a second position where an item is to be removed from said path; placing an item on a movable location along said path; sensing output data on said item as said item moves along said path, said output data corresponding with a certain movable segment of said guide rail; and moving said certain movable segment to said second position and substantially simultaneously ejecting said item from said path in an upward and outward direction responsive to said location on said movable location arriving substantially at said certain segment.

Claim 15

A method of sorting individual items moving along a path comprising said steps of: providing a guide rail along said path, said guide rail being comprised of movable segments, each of said segments configured in a first position to prevent said items from falling from said path as said items move along said path and movable to a second position where an item is to be removed from said path; placing an item on a movable location along said path; sensing output data on said item as said item moves along said path, said output data corresponding with a certain movable segment of said guide rail; and moving said certain movable segment to said second position and substantially simultaneously ejecting said item from said path in an upward and outward direction responsive to said location on said movable location arriving substantially at said certain segment.

Claim 17

An apparatus for transporting and sorting substantially planar individual items having opposing upper and lower edges, said apparatus comprising: a lower conveyor traveling at least partially along a travel path and for supporting said lower edge of each of said items; an upper conveyor traveling at least partially along said travel path, said upper conveyor for supporting said upper edge of each of said items, said upper and lower conveyors combining to urge said items along a travel path; and a plunger located intermediate said lower and upper conveyors and movable relative thereto, said plunger having an upper and lower portion, said lower portion extending further outward than said upper portion, said plunger configured for ejecting an item from said path, such that outward movement of said plunger causes upward and outward ejection of said lower edge of said item.

Claim 18

An apparatus for transporting and sorting substantially planar individual items having opposing upper and lower edges, said apparatus comprising: a lower conveyor traveling at least partially along a travel path and for supporting said lower edge of each of said items; an upper conveyor traveling at least partially along said travel path, said upper conveyor for supporting said upper edge of each of said items, said upper and lower conveyors combining to urge said items along a travel path; and a plunger located intermediate said lower and upper conveyors and movable relative thereto, said plunger having an upper and lower portion, said lower portion extending further outward than said upper portion, said plunger configured for ejecting an item from said path, such that outward movement of said plunger causes upward and outward ejection of said lower edge of said item.

Claim 19

An apparatus for transporting and sorting substantially planar individual items having opposing upper and lower edges and two opposing primary planar surfaces, said apparatus comprising: a lower conveyor traveling at least partially along a travel path and for supporting said lower edge of each of said items; an upper conveyor traveling at least partially along said travel path, said upper conveyor for supporting said upper edge of each of said items, said upper and lower conveyors combining to urge said items along a travel path; and a plunger located intermediate said lower and upper conveyors, said plunger separate to and movable relative to both of said conveyors and configured for ejecting an item from said path and away from both of said conveyors by contacting one or said primary planar surfaces of said item.

Claim 20

An apparatus for transporting and sorting substantially planar individual items having opposing upper and lower edges and two opposing primary planar surfaces, said apparatus comprising: a lower conveyor traveling at least partially along a travel path and for supporting said lower edge of each of said items; an upper conveyor traveling at least partially along said travel path, said upper conveyor for supporting said upper edge of each of said items, said upper and lower conveyors combining to urge said items along a travel path; and a plunger located intermediate said lower and upper conveyors, said plunger separate to and movable relative to both of said conveyors and configured for ejecting an item from said path and away from both of said conveyors by contacting one or said primary planar surfaces of said item.

Claim 21

An apparatus for transporting and sorting substantially planar items having opposing upper and lower edges, said apparatus comprising: a lower conveyor traveling at least partially along a travel path and for supporting said lower edge of each of said items; an upper conveyor traveling at least partially along a travel path, said upper conveyor for supporting said upper edge of each of said items, said upper and lower conveyors combining to urge said items along a travel path; a plurality of plungers located intermediate said lower and upper conveyors, said plungers for ejecting an item from said path; an upper guide rail extending substantially parallel to and a fixed distance from said upper conveyor, said upper guide rail for preventing said items from falling away from said upper conveyor out of said travel path, said upper guide rail being movable in segments corresponding to one of said plungers and being linked to said one of said plungers such that said segment moves out of the way of said item as one of said plungers ejects said item from said path; and a lower guide rail, said lower guide rail extending substantially parallel to and a fixed distance from said lower conveyor, said lower guide rail acting to prevent a lower portion of each of said items from falling from said lower conveyor.

Claim 22

An apparatus for transporting and sorting substantially planar items having opposing upper and lower edges, said apparatus comprising: a lower conveyor traveling at least partially along a travel path and for supporting said lower edge of each of said items; an upper conveyor traveling at least partially along a travel path, said upper conveyor for supporting said upper edge of each of said items, said upper and lower conveyors combining to urge said items along a travel path; a plurality of plungers located intermediate said lower and upper conveyors, said plungers for ejecting an item from said path; an upper guide rail extending substantially parallel to and a fixed distance from said upper conveyor, said upper guide rail for preventing said items from falling away from said upper conveyor out of said travel path, said upper guide rail being movable in segments corresponding to one of said plungers and being linked to said one of said plungers such that said segment moves out of the way of said item as one of said plungers ejects said item from said path; and a lower guide rail, said lower guide rail extending substantially parallel to and a fixed distance from said lower conveyor, said lower guide rail acting to prevent a lower portion of each of said items from falling from said lower conveyor.