Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor arrangement for selecting among plural sources or... – By loading or unloading section at selected one of a...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-07
2001-11-20
Bidwell, James R. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor arrangement for selecting among plural sources or...
By loading or unloading section at selected one of a...
C198S370070
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318539
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to the automated conveying and sorting of items such as packages from one or more loading sites to a variety of output destinations, and more particularly relates to a conveying system which can convey packages along and eject them from said path in a controlled manner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Modern high volume package delivery systems often include package conveying systems that accept packages from one or more loading stations, and transports the packages to a variety of output destinations such as chutes, bins, and subsequent conveyor systems.
One of the most conventional types of conveyors is a belt conveyor, which includes the use of an endless flexible belt which passes over at least two cylindrical rollers, one of which is a drive roller. Packages are placed atop the upwardly-directed “working” surface of the belt conveyor, and are transported in a generally straight direction from end of the conveyor to the other.
Although such conventional belt conveyors have advantages, including simplicity, they also have disadvantages in that they conventionally only provide a “straight-line” transporting feature. This can be restrictive to package delivery system designers which may have the need to move a package or other product from an origin through a tortuous, curved, path to a destination.
Therefore, it has been known in the prior art to provide flexible conveyor chains such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,776,349 to Kampfer, entitled “Fabricated Conveyor Chain”, which discloses the concept of providing a fabricated flexible conveyor chain, which includes a plurality of link units
11
linked together by a plurality of pivot pins
12
. Although the pivot pins
12
provide a linking feature between the link units, they fit loosely enough within their mounting holes to allow sideward relative pivoting of the link units. A similar type of “hard pin” connection is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,262,550 to Kampfer, entitled “Conveyor Chain”, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,884,118 to Williams, entitled “Articulator Conveyor Chain”, and also in U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,247 to Counter et. al., entitled “Sideflexing Conveyor Chain Including Low Centerline Hinge Pin”.
Although such “hard pin” connection configurations as described above have their advantages, they have disadvantages in that they tend to be complex, expensive, noisy, and difficult to maintain. Furthermore, they tend to provide a multitude of hard “pinch points”, which are disadvantageous when in a human workplace environment. A “smooth” but flexible conveyor configuration is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,687 to Lapeyre, entitled “Conveyor Having Resilient Conveying Surface”, but this configuration appears to be quite complex, requiring the use of link members
10
which are linked to modules
20
to support and convey flexible members
32
supported thereon.
Therefore, a need has been recognized in the art to provide a package conveyor system which can transport packages or other items along a tortuous path, yet is simple in construction, quiet in operation, and cost-effective to manufacture, operate, and maintain.
Other needs in the art have also existed. For example, when packages placed atop conveyors are to be ejected from the conveyor, an efficient, reliable ejection mechanism is needed.
Therefore, a need exists in the art for a method and apparatus for ejecting packages from a conveyor, which is reliable and efficient in operation, yet provides desired package ejection capabilities such as controlled angled discharge and controlled “square” discharge.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes deficiencies in the prior art by providing a method and apparatus for ejecting packages from a conveyor which is reliable and efficient, yet provides controlled package discharge capabilities, including controlled square discharge, and controlled “angled discharge”.
Generally described, the present invention comprises a conveyor apparatus defining a plurality of supporting surfaces for conveying a plurality of packages placed thereon, the apparatus comprising a frame, a plurality of conveying segments configured for movement along a conveying path relative to the frame, a pusher member for relative movement across a supporting surface of one of the conveying segments for pushing at least one of the packages, and at least two substantially parallel linear force members configured in parallel to attach the pusher member relative to one of the conveying segments, energizement of the linear force members resulting in the pushing of an object on said conveying segment across its supporting surface to be pushed therefrom.
The present invention also provides a conveyor apparatus defining a plurality of supporting surfaces for conveying a plurality of packages placed thereon, the apparatus comprising a frame, a plurality of conveying segments configured for movement along a conveying path relative to the frame, a pusher member for relative movement across a supporting surface of one of the conveying segments for pushing at least one of the packages, and at least two substantially parallel bellows members configured in parallel to attach the pusher member relative to one of the conveying segments, the inflation of the bellows members resulting in the pushing of an object on the conveying segment across its supporting surface to be pushed therefrom.
The present invention also provides a package diversion apparatus for diverting a package atop a conveying surface and to a location adjacent to the travel path of the conveying surface as it is traveling along a conveying axis, the apparatus comprising a conveyor for defining the conveying surface, a pusher member defining a substantially planar pushing portion, and at least two parallel bellows members configured to push the pusher member such that the planar pushing portion is at a substantially predetermined angle relative to the conveying axis as said pusher member discharges the package from the conveying surface.
The present invention also provides a self-correcting package diversion apparatus for diverting a package atop a conveying surface and to a location adjacent to the travel path of the conveying surface traveling as it is along a conveying axis, the apparatus comprising a conveyor for defining the conveying surface, a pusher member defining a substantially planar pushing portion, at least two parallel air bellows members configured to push the pusher member upon the filling of the bellows members with air, and a self-correcting valve means for controlling the flow of air to the bellows members, the valve means configured to supply more air to the bellows which is less extended than the other, such that the substantially planar pushing portion of the pusher member tends to remain substantially parallel to the travel path of the conveying surface.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved automated conveyor sorting system.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved conveyor which may be readily repaired and maintained.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a conveyor which operates at reduced noise levels.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved ejection mechanism for ejecting items from a conveying surface.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ejection mechanism for ejecting items from a conveying surface in a controlled manner.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a conveyor apparatus which can eject a package in an “angled” orientation.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a conveyor apparatus which can eject a package in an “square” orientation.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a conveyor apparatus which includes a “self-correcting” feature.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following description of preferred embodiments and the appended drawings and clai
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