Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor section – Endless conveyor
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-31
2001-07-03
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3653)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor section
Endless conveyor
C198S370060, C209S509000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253910
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for sorting piece goods. These sorting devices are successively guided along a sorting line and driven by means of a conveying system. Each sorting device has a running carriage with running rollers guided in guide rails on the sorting line. In addition, there is a means for receiving an individual parceled article charged in a loading station, and for ejecting this parceled article at a defined location of an ejection station.
2. The Prior Art
Devices for sorting parceled goods with a conveyor system are generally known in the art. The conveyors using these sorting devices are loop drives with curved chains, guided via reversing wheels, with the sorting devices being connected to these chains, and also having linear drives. To eject the parceled goods, the sorting devices are equipped either with tipping trays or with belt conveyors driven transversely in relation to the sorting line.
The two known driving systems are expensive. Therefore, the present invention provides a device that is simpler in design, and less expensive for the purpose specified above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the first embodiment of the invention, the conveyor system comprises a link chain consisting of chain links that are connected to each other in an articulated way. These chain links have flat undersides and are each solidly connected on an underside of the running carriage of the sorting devices via a chain link projecting beyond these sorting devices in the direction of conveyance. The joints between chain links following each other are each bridged by an initially tensioned leaf spring. In this case, the conveyor system has a friction wheel drive with a friction wheel engaging the chain links on their undersides.
The purpose of the first embodiment of the invention is that the running carriages of the sorting devices are equipped on their undersides with chain links, so that these chain links form friction strips passing through the sorting line in the longitudinal direction. These friction strips are connected to each other in an articulated manner so that the friction wheels of the friction wheel drives cooperate with these friction strips. The joints between chain links following one another are bridged on the underside by initially tensioned leaf springs. These leaf springs rest against the chain links, so that the friction wheel can engage largely flat surfaces also in the zone of these joints.
In another embodiment of the invention, the individual chain links are coupled to each other via ball joints, by means of special connecting elements. These special connecting elements are connected to the top sides of the chain links adjacent to one another, bridging the joints between these chain links.
The leaf springs for bridging the joints between chain links are each secured on a chain link near the end surface of this chain link pointing at the other chain link. These chain links flatly abut the underside of the other chain link, bridging the joint with an initial tension. Thus, a smooth frictional surface is provided, extending all the way through to engage the friction wheel in the zone of the joints.
In another embodiment of the invention, the friction wheel drive is designed as a proportional drive with a friction wheel. The force that presses the friction wheel against the chain links changes depending on the driving force that is transmitted to the link chain. Therefore, the given operating requirements are met and, furthermore, there is a slip-free driving of the link chain and thus, of the sorting devices to the greatest possible extent.
This proportional drive is known from the prior art and described in DE 42 44 170 C2. Furthermore, it has been found that it is also useful if the friction wheel drive is arranged within the device so that the friction wheel engages the flexibly jointed chain links on their undersides in a horizontally extending section of the sorting line.
Furthermore, there are at least two friction wheel drives can be arranged along the sorting line with a spacing between the two friction wheel drives. In this case, each of the latter comprises one friction wheel that cooperates with the chain links by friction grip. This design is recommended particularly for very long sorting lines and/or sorting lines extending at different levels.
With the device designed according to the above requirements, the joints between successive chain links are each bridged on the underside by an initially tensioned leaf spring. In addition, the device has a drive system with a simple structure. Thus, this design also provides a comparatively low-noise driving operation. However, a driving system with even less development of noise and also greater flexibility with respect to the arrangement of the driving system is deemed desirable for certain applications.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the conveyor system comprises a link chain consisting of chain links connected to each other in an articulated manner. In this case, one chain link is solidly connected with the running carriages of the sorting devices. Here, the conveyor system has a frictional surface drive with at least-three rotating developments, each having a contact pressure applied along the periphery and revolving about axis of rotation. These rotating elements are connected with a rigid carrier, spaced apart from each other in the direction of the sorting line. In this way, the contact pressure applied along the periphery of at least two of the rotating elements always cooperates non-positively with the contact pressure receiving surface of the single chain link. In all of these cases, the sorting devices are effectively guided along a sorting line, and driven by means of a conveyor system. Each sorting device has a running carriage with running rollers guided on the guide tracks of the sorting line, as well as a means for receiving an individual parceled article loaded in a charging station. In addition, there is a means for ejecting such a parceled article at a defined location of an ejection station.
The invention is designed to achieve a low noise driving operation using a simple structure. Here, the elements are connected to a rigid carrier and arranged on the carrier, spaced apart from that carrier along the sorting line in the direction of conveyance. In addition, at least two of these rotating elements always cooperate non-positively with at least one chain link. The result of this structure is that the contact pressure-applying periphery of each third or further rotating element engages the intermediate spaces located on the joints between two successive chain links with at least less force than when rolling off along the chain links. This results in a low-noise driving operation.
Furthermore, this driving system has greater flexibility with respect to the arrangement and design of the chain links and the arrangement of the parts and devices associated with the friction surface drive. Thus, the sorting device and the driving system can be easily customized to given user requirements.
There are at least three rotating elements spaced apart from each other in the direction of the sorting line so that the contact pressure-applying periphery of each of the rotating elements can cooperate non-positively with one of the successive chain links. The development of noise of the driving system can thus be reduced even further.
Moreover, rotating elements should be designed in the form of friction wheels whose contact pressure-applying peripheries directly cooperate by a frictional grip with the contact pressure-receiving surfaces of the chain links. Alternatively, there should be a loop drive, preferably in the form of a belt, arranged between the contact pressure-applying periphery of the rotating elements and the contact pressure-receiving surface of a chain link. This belt loops around at least two rotating elements, so that the loop drive cooperates non-positively with the contact pressure periphery of the rotating el
Axmann Fördertechnik GmbH
Beauchaine Mark J.
Collard & Roe P.C.
Walsh Donald P.
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