Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor system for moving a specific load as a separate unit – System includes a load supported by a conveyor portion which...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-15
2001-03-13
Valenza, Joseph E. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor system for moving a specific load as a separate unit
System includes a load supported by a conveyor portion which...
C198S486100, C198S680000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199682
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for loading articles onto a conveyor. The invention has particular application for use in the automatic sorting or processing of articles using a vision recognition system and the invention is herein described in that context. However, it is to be appreciated that the invention has broader application and is not limited to this particular use.
It is known to use mechanical conveying means in conjunction with an automated vision recognition system for the purpose of processing articles. For example, such systems are used for quality assurance. The automatic vision system usually operates by taking an image of an article and comparing the image against information stored on the memory, thus allowing the system to identify the article and to ensure that it conforms with a pre-recorded standard.
Another example where such systems may be used is described in the applicant's co-pending Australian patent application PN6579 for the sorting of articles into batches such that the batched articles are the same or have some unifying characteristic. Such a system can be advantageously used in the sorting of articles for recycling. In such a system, the image of the article is compared against information stored in the memory so as to be characterised into one of a particular group. The article is then moved under operation of the conveyor to be deposited in a collection area associated with that group.
Where vision recognition systems are used, it is generally necessary for the article to be carefully aligned for the purposes of comparing the image of the article with a pre-recorded standard. This is particularly so if there are relatively small differences between the respective articles being sorted. When articles are processed on a conveyor system it is often difficult to deposit the articles onto the conveyor in a predetermined orientation in a manner such that they will be accurately aligned for the purposes of visual recognition. It is of course possible to provide shaped holders for each conveyed article but this is expensive, and often not practical when there are a large number of articles to be sorted or the articles are to be sorted into a relatively large number of groups. In many cases, it is difficult to accurately align the article on the conveyor without stopping the conveyor and manipulating the article at an alignment station from which it can thereafter be conveyed to a vision recognition system. This practice has the disadvantage of being labour intensive and therefore costly. Furthermore, it is desirable that the automated mechanism move continuously if it is to maximize the processing rate. In addition, in any system where the conveying mechanism is required to stop and start, there is a greater likelihood of malfunction due to jamming or the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for loading articles onto a conveyor in a manner that facilitates the deposit onto the conveyor of the articles in substantially the desired alignment. A further aim of the invention is to provide a loading apparatus which enables loading of the articles under continuous movement of the conveyor.
Accordingly in its broadest terms, the present invention provides an apparatus for loading articles onto a moving conveyor including:
(a) transport means mounted on the conveyor which includes holding means adapted to engage at least a portion of an article so as to hold the article in connected relation with the conveyor; and
(b) locating means operable to cause an article positioned thereon to move into a position in which it can thereafter be engaged by the holding means
wherein the transport means and the locating means are co-operable such that the article is caused to be moved on the locating means with the transport means prior to being engaged by the holding means.
In a second embodiment of the invention there is provided an apparatus including:
(a) a conveyor adapted to move an article from one location to another location;
(b) transport means mounted on the conveyor which includes holding means adapted to engage at least a portion of the said article so as to hold the article in connected relation with the conveyor; and
(c) locating means operable to cause an article once positioned thereon to move into a position in which it can thereafter be engaged by the holding means
wherein the transport means and the locating means are co-operable such that the article is caused to be moved on the locating means with the transport means prior to being engaged by the holding means.
The advantage of the present invention is that the article and the transport means are adapted to move together before the article is engaged with the holding means. The benefit of this arrangement is that the relative speed between the article and the transport means is reduced, thereby enabling more accurate engagement of the article with the holding means. In particular, the reduction in this relative speed reduces impacting forces between the article and the holding means during engagement of the article by the holding means. A further benefit of this arrangement is that it enables the article to align or settle correctly before engaging with the holding means. Further, the reduction in the relative speed can be achieved without requiring the conveyor to stop or even slow down.
The apparatus is particularly suited for use in the collection and conveyance of articles such as garment hangers although it will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that the invention is by no means limited to its use in connection with such articles.
Preferably, the holding means is in the form of a recess on the transport means which is configured to accommodate at least a portion of the article. In a preferred form, where the apparatus is used for collecting and conveying garment hangers, the recess is configured to accommodate a small part of the hanger. In one form, the recess provides a flat seat on which the hooked part of the garment hanger is adapted to be located. In this arrangement, the seat supports the hanger with the remaining part of the hanger being arranged to suspend from the transport means.
The transport means is mounted on the conveyor. It is intended that the transport means be shaped and designed so that it is able to carry articles being conveyed from one location to another on the conveyor.
Preferably, the transport means includes an abutment surface which is adapted to abut against a portion of the article once positioned appropriately by the locating means. The abutment surface is adapted to project forwardly from the holding means, in the direction of the conveyor movement, so that on abutment with the abutment surface, the article is adapted to be moved with the transport means under operation of the conveyor prior to being engaged by the holding means.
Preferably, the locating means includes a ramp which is inclined relative to the direction of movement of the transport means. In this arrangement the locating means is adapted to move the article onto the ramp from where it may be moved with or by the transport means under operation of the conveyor. The article may be moved by separate conveying means located on or adjacent to the ramp so that the article is caused to move in concert with the transport means. Alternatively, and preferably the article is caused to move along the ramp by the transport means. In such an arrangement, it is also preferred that the apparatus include one or more retaining mechanisms which are fitted so to limit the forward movement of the article when it is first contacted by the moving transport means. As the article moves along the ramp it is preferred that it simultaneously be caused to move relative to the abutment surface and the apparatus is arranged such that this relative movement continues until the article is moved from the abutment surface and into engagement with the holding means.
Preferably, the apparatus further includes retaining means
Rosebay Terrace Pty Ltd.
Valenza Joseph E.
Wolf Greenfield & Sacks P.C.
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