Classifying – separating – and assorting solids – Sorting special items – and certain methods and apparatus for... – Separating means
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-08
2004-03-09
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3653)
Classifying, separating, and assorting solids
Sorting special items, and certain methods and apparatus for...
Separating means
C198S369100, C198S369500, C198S469100, C198S478100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06702121
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to rotating sorting devices and a method for sorting packaged or individual pieces of goods. The device comprises at least one linear supply conveyor, several removal locations arranged circularly about a central axis, and a distribution control device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A large number of conventional sorting devices has an oval design. The receiving devices, for example, in the form of transverse conveyor belts, pockets or baskets, for the packaged goods to be sorted circulate in the form of an endless chain. The goods to be sorted are moved onto the oval sorting device laterally at a slant. When passing the desired removal location, the goods to be sorted are removed from the sorting device by overlaying a horizontal or vertical movement onto the transport movement.
Also known, but used less frequently, are sorting devices in which the goods to be sorted are guided on a circular path about a central axis.
Different removal devices are known for removing the goods to be sorted from the sorting device. There are sorting devices in which the removal is carried out by means of a stationarily arranged deflector which is moved into the travel path of the goods to be sorted. Other sorting devices employ removal devices circulating with the rotating sorting device. For example, when the transported goods are placed in baskets or pockets, these baskets or pockets are tilted, lifted, or lowered at the transfer location.
In order to be able to actuate these removal devices circulating with the sorting device (the present invention pertains to such an arrangement), they must be supplied with energy and with control signals. Even though devices with sliding contacts are inexpensive, they are susceptible to disturbances and failure and also to wear and tear. Inductive transmission devices are free of wear and tear, but are not disruption-free, and, first of all, they are expensive.
In general, the number of removal devices is identical to the number of removal locations, respectively, the number of receiving devices for packaged goods.
Finally, it must also be taken into account that the sorting efficiency of the known devices is limited. Each of the goods to be sorted on average reaches its removal location only after completion of half a revolution of the sorting devices. An increase of the sorting efficiency by placing goods to be sorted onto the sorting device at multiple locations is possible, but is rarely realized because of control and construction considerations.
A further important disadvantage of the known sorting devices is that the number of receiving devices of the sorting device is identical or greater than the number of final locations. This is uneconomical especially in the case of complex and expensive receiving devices for the goods to be sorted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a rotating sorting device which is of a simple mechanical configuration and enables the use of simple, inexpensive, and reliable transmitting devices for energy and for control signals.
In accordance with the present invention, this is achieved in that at least one linear removal conveyor is positioned between the central axle and the removal locations, in that the removal conveyor is substantially radially oriented and rotates continuously about the central axle, and in that the supply conveyor is positioned below or above the removal conveyor and has an end portion that is upwardly or downwardly inclined toward the removal conveyor.
In the basic variant, the sorting device according to the invention is comprised of any desired number of removal locations which are arranged circularly about the central axle, a stationarily arranged linear supply conveyor, and a linear removal conveyor continuously rotating about the central axle. The linear removal conveyor and the linear supply conveyor are expediently in the form of conveyor belts, roller tables, slides etc. Since the removal conveyor rotates about a central axle, the energy supply and the signal transmission are realized at this location. The rotating configuration can be of a simple, long-lasting construction.
A further advantage is that it is not necessary to provide at each of the removal locations a removal conveyor. It is instead sufficient to start and stop the feeding action of the removal conveyor in a controlled manner.
According to an advantageous configuration of the invention, the transfer location between the supply conveyor and the removal conveyor is positioned in the vicinity of the central axle because here the tangential speed component is small. The transfer location is selected such that the speed with which the removal conveyor passes underneath the transfer location is identical to the transport speed of the supply conveyor. In this manner, the goods to be sorted are optimally transferred.
This is especially true when the supply conveyor and removal conveyor at the transfer location are positioned at an angle of approximately 90° to one another.
An especially problem-free transfer can be realized in that the removal conveyor in the area of the transfer location has a transverse slant which is matched to the incline of the end portion of the supply conveyor.
The end portion of the supply conveyor can be formed as a slide.
According to a further embodiment of the invention the longitudinal axes of the removal conveyors are pivoted against the rotation direction out of alignment with the radial line extending toward the central axle. The advantage of this arrangement is that the combination of tangential and radial movements of the goods positioned on the rotating removal conveyor results in a purely radial movement of the goods at the removal location. The goods to be sorted can thus not miss, even at greater rotational speeds, their removal location.
The same effect can also be achieved by curving the transport path of the removal conveyor.
According to one further embodiment of the invention, several removal conveyors can be provided for increasing the sorting efficiency. In this configuration, they rotate like spokes of a wheel about the central axle and are supplied via the central axle with energy and the control signals.
An increase of the number of removal locations is achieved in that they are arranged on several concentric circles about the central axle. In this case, the removal conveyors are embodied to be of different lengths, to be telescoping and/or linearly movable.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the removal locations are arranged at different levels. In this configuration, the removal conveyors are embodied so as to have different inclines.
As an alternative, the incline of the supply and/or removal conveyors can also be configured to be changeable in a controlled fashion.
According to one embodiment of the invention the supply and/or removal conveyors are conveyor belts. Alternative embodiments are roller tables or slides.
According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, a removal conveyor comprises at least one sub conveyor which in itself can be rotated, lifted and lowered, tilted and/or moved. With the aid of such a sub conveyor, the goods to be sorted can be brought by lifting, lowering, rotating etc. into an optimal position for further processing.
According to another embodiment of the invention, each of the sub conveyors can have its own removal location.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the removal locations rotate in a controlled manner about the central axle. With a suitable selection of rotational direction and rotational speed, the transfer from the removal conveyor to a certain removal locations can be accelerated or decelerated as needed.
According to a further embodiment in this context, the removal locations are located on an annular conveyor path. With this measure it is possible to use conventional boxes or baskets as removal locations.
According to an alternative embodiment, the removal locations themselv
Dietzel Michael
Klein Robert
Kölsch Ernst
Linge Niels
Möller Martin
Kueffner Friedrich
psb GmbH Materialfluss + Logistik
Rodriguez Joseph
Walsh Donald P.
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