Transfer device

Details Transfer device Transfer device

1997-11-03

1999-12-07

Terrell, William E.

Sheet feeding or delivering

Delivering

By endless conveyor

1984632, B65H 2940

Patent

active

05996992&

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed generally to transfer devices for transferring small items, such as mailpieces from one conveying mechanism to another. Still more specifically, the present invention is directed towards a transfer device for transferring small items delivered by one conveying device to assigned item carriers transported by a second conveying device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The machine-readable postcodes or postal codes that are currently being printed on items of mail, such as letters, postcards, packets and the like, serve as an identification for a location, a postal district, a PO box or a major recipient. These postal codes permit rapid, mechanical distribution of mail. Sorting of the incoming items of mail takes place, for example, with the aid of controllable mailpiece carriers which are each loaded with an item of mail in special loading locations. The mailpieces are then discharged to a sorting container, or a corresponding sorting compartment, assigned to the respective postcode. Since the sorting containers or sorting compartments may be arranged in various levels, the item carriers circulating on conveying devices must, if appropriate, also be capable of spanning various levels. After transfer of the item of mail to the assigned sorting container or the assigned sorting compartment, the empty item carriers can then once again be loaded with an item of mail when they pass a loading location, as disclosed in DE-A-43 23 564. When the mail is transferred to the above described sorting apparatus, the items of mail arriving on a first conveying device, e.g. a belt conveyor, must be discharged in a specific manner and, preferably, individually to the item carriers, which pass at relatively high speed.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides improved transfer apparatus for transferring items from a first conveying device to assigned item carriers that are moving and being carried on a second conveying device. The first conveying device may be moving in a direction that is opposite or at least different from the direction in which the item carriers and second conveying device are moving. The transfer apparatus of the present invention includes a transfer member which comprises two circulating belts--a conveying belt and a pressure-exerting belt. The transfer member receives the items to be transferred from the first conveying device and between the conveying belt and pressure-exerting belt. The moving belts then discharge the items through a discharge region of the transfer member to the moving item carriers. The discharge region of the transfer member pivots along the transporting direction of the item carriers during the discharge process so that the items being transferred are traveling in the transporting direction of the item carriers and second conveying device when they are being discharged. The transfer member is also aligned with the second conveying device such that the items are discharged through the discharge region to the assigned item carriers without movement of the discharge region in a direction that is transverse to the transporting direction.
In an embodiment, the discharge region of the transfer member pivots about a pivot pin which is aligned transversely to the transporting direction of the item carriers.
In an embodiment, the discharge region of the transfer member pivots about a pivot pin which is disposed vertically above and perpendicular to the transporting direction of the item carriers.
In an embodiment, the conveying belt and pressure exerting belt travel at a first velocity, and during the discharge of an item to the item carriers, the discharge region is pivoted along the transporting direction at a second velocity, and the second conveying device is traveling in the transporting direction at a third velocity. The first, second and third velocities each have horizontal components in the transporting direction. The horizontal components of the first and second velocities com

REFERENCES:
patent: 2940580 (1960-06-01), FRANCOIS
patent: 5104105 (1992-04-01), Coute et al.

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