Classifying – separating – and assorting solids – Sorting special items – and certain methods and apparatus for... – Separating means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-15
2001-08-14
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3653)
Classifying, separating, and assorting solids
Sorting special items, and certain methods and apparatus for...
Separating means
C209S912000, C198S370060
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273268
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for sorting piece goods, in which ejection stations are successively arranged along a sorting line. A conveyor system is driven along the sorting line and is equipped with successively arranged sorting devices. Each sorting device has a conveyor belt drivable transverse to the sorting line for receiving a parceled article chargeable in a loading station. The article is then ejected in a controlled manner in an ejection station.
2. The Prior Art
Devices for sorting piece goods with a conveyor system guided along a sorting line with successive sorting devices are generally known.
For example, this type of sorting system is described in a company publication of the US company SANDVIK Sorting Systems, Inc. In this sorting system, ejection stations with lateral ejection slides are arranged successively along a sorting line. A conveying system movable along the sorting line is equipped with sorting devices successively arranged in the conveying direction. Each sorting device has a conveyor belt that is transversely drivable relative to the sorting line for receiving a parceled article, and for the controlled ejection of the article in an ejection station. Each sorting device is equipped with a reversible electric motor for driving the conveyor belt of the respective sorting device. The electric motors of the sorting devices are powered via sliding contacts.
In such a sorting system, the piece goods are loaded in a charging station on the conveyor belts of the sorting devices, one parceled article on each sorting device. The piece goods have a coding, which is detected prior to or in the course of loading the article on the sorting device. The driving motor of the conveyor belt of the sorting device receiving the parceled article rotates right or left depending on the coding, to eject the parceled article in a controlled manner in a defined ejection station.
The known sorting system has been successfully used. However, it is still in need of improvement because each sorting device requires a driving motor that must be supplied with electric energy via sliding contacts, which is very costly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sorting device that is an improvement over the prior art and that comprises a simple and favorably priced structure. It is another object of the invention to provide a sorting device that is not susceptible to failure.
These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by a sorting device comprising a sorting line with ejection stations successively arranged along the line. There is a conveying system guided along the sorting line and having sorting devices successively arranged as well. Each sorting device has a conveyor belt drivable transversely to the sorting line for receiving a parceled article chargeable in a loading station, and for the controlled ejection of the article in an ejection station. The drive of the conveyor belts of the sorting devices takes place purely by mechanical driving means. First driving means are arranged in the region of each ejection station, and are selectively engageable with second driving means of a sorting device. The first driving means cooperates with the second driving means when the respective sorting device passes the first driving means. The first and second driving means preferably cooperate by friction grip.
In the state of the art, the driving motors for the conveyor belts are controlled in the respective ejection stations. In contrast, in the present invention, the selective drive of the conveyor belts of the sorting devices takes place via mechanical driving means which drive the conveyor belt transverse to the sorting line in the ejection station where the parceled article received on the sorting device is ejected, but remain ineffective in all other ejection stations passed by the sorting device.
Even though all kinds of differently designed driving means are conceivable, it has been found that driving means cooperating via friction grip are especially useful.
According to a further development of the invention, the second driving means of the sorting devices each comprise at least one friction wheel joined in a driving connection with the conveyor belt of the associated sorting device. The first driving means associated with the ejection stations are preferably friction strips, which can be selectively engaged with the friction wheels of the sorting devices so as to cooperate with the friction wheels via friction grip. The friction strips extend in the direction of conveyance and contact the friction wheel of the sorting device in the ejection station where a parceled article is to be ejected, thereby rotatably driving the friction wheel as the ejection station is being passed. This has the consequence that the rotary motion of the friction wheel is transmitted to the conveyor belt.
Each of the sorting devices may be equipped with a conically designed friction wheel as the second driving means. The friction strips that engage the friction wheels as an ejection station is being passed are preferably designed in the form of an arc when viewed in the direction of passage of the sorting device. Thus, when a sorting device enters an ejection station, a friction strip engaged with the friction wheel of the respective sorting device first engages a small diameter of the friction wheel and then progressively increasing diameters of the friction wheel.
With this design, the friction wheels are driven when entering an ejection station first with a low rotary speed, and then with an increasing rotary speed as they pass through the ejection station.
Within the framework of the invention, however, each sorting device may be equipped with at least two friction wheels having different diameters and connected to each other with torsional strength. In this case, two friction strip sections serve as first driving means in each ejection station. The friction strip sections are stepped relative to each other so that when a sorting device enters an ejection station, the friction wheel with the smaller diameter engages a friction strip section first. Subsequently, the friction wheel having the larger diameter engages the other friction strip section.
In this embodiment, the conveyor belt of a sorting device is first driven with a lower and then subsequently with a higher speed when the sorting device passes an ejection station whose friction strips have been in their driving positions.
Instead of driving means cooperating via friction grip, it is also possible to have driving means cooperating in a form-locked or positive manner, i.e., for pinions as second driving means of the sorting devices, and for toothed racks as first driving means. The toothed racks are associated with the ejecting stations and engage the pinions of the sorting devices so as to cooperate in a form-locked or positive manner when a sorting device passes through an ejection station. The use of driving means cooperating in a form-locked manner was found to be particularly useful in connection with sorting devices operating at low speeds, but is intended for sorting heavy pieced goods.
According to another further development of the invention, the second driving means of the sorting devices each comprise a miter gear, which is arranged below the conveyor belt and has a driving shaft projecting toward the side pointing away from the conveyor belt. The friction wheel or pinion is selectively engageable by friction grip or form-locked contact with one of the friction strips or toothed racks in the ejection stations and is received on the driving shaft with torsional strength.
The friction strips or toothed racks are preferably actuated transverse to the longitudinal expanse of the sorting line, between a driving position in which the friction strips or toothed rack cooperate with the friction wheel by friction grip when passing a sorting device, and an off-side disengaged position.
In this embodiment, the friction wheel
Axmann Fördertechnik GmbH
Ellis Christopher P.
Schlak Daniel K
LandOfFree
Conveyor system for sorting piece goods does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Conveyor system for sorting piece goods, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Conveyor system for sorting piece goods will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2550420