Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor arrangement for selecting among plural sources or... – By passive material-diverting means placed across the flow path
Patent
1992-07-01
1994-05-03
Dayoan, D. Glenn
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor arrangement for selecting among plural sources or...
By passive material-diverting means placed across the flow path
198370, 198680, B65G 4746
Patent
active
053079213
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention pertains to parcel sorting and more particularly to a an accessory for a tilt tray sorter arrangement which would provide multiple level sorting.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Commercially available sorters consist of a transport system, usually of a chain conveyor construction, which carries trays on the top of an endless chain. These trays are loaded with items to be sorted, carried to a selected outlet (i.e., receiving) position (i.e., station) and tipped, whereby the item carried is dropped into a receptacle. The trays are reset before re-entering the loading area. However, existing transport systems are limited to a single level of trays.
One conventional tilt tray sorter generally comprises a moving chain which can carry a tilting element which includes a tray and a tilting mechanism. Such a parcel handling device, for example the 3D Tilt Tray Sorter is available from Beumer Pty Limited, 293A Seaview Road, Henley Beach, South Australia, 5022.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to substantially ameliorate some of the disadvantages of prior art tilt tray sorters.
Accordingly, the invention provides an accessory for a tilt tray sorter including a transport mechanism, the accessory comprising a frame which carries two or more tilting trays arranged one above the other, an independent tipping mechanism associated with each tray for tipping the tray and mounting means on the frame for mounting the accessory on the transport mechanism.
In a preferred embodiment, the frame is provided with three trays each arranged to pivot about a substantially horizontal axis with respect to the frame. Preferably, each independent tipping mechanism comprises a cam member pivotally mounted on the frame and engaging a cam engaging means on the tray, whereby when the cam member is pivoted, the tray is tipped.
The cam member preferably comprises a pivoting plate provided with an arm member which engages between two rods mounted on an underside of the tray. The pivoting plate is preferably arranged for riding over a cam actuator provided on the sorter for pivoting the cam and therefore tipping the tray. The cam actuator is selectively movable into a position where the pivoting plate rides over the cam actuator.
Preferably also, each tipping mechanism is provided with a latch to hold the cam member in a pivoted position so that the tray remains tipped until the latch is released.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One embodiment of an accessory for a tilt tray sorter according to the invention will now be more fully described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 is a front elevation of an accessory according to one embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the accessory depicted in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
As shown in FIG. 1, the accessory 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a frame 11 and an upper fixture 12. The accessory 10 is adapted to be suspended by the fixture 12 from a transport mechanism of the type usually associated with conventional parcel sorting equipment. If required, the frame 11 may include additional means 13, located at the base of the frame 11 for fixing the frame to guide rails or a second transport track to ensure that the frame 11 remains erect. The frame 11 carries two or more tilting trays 14 which are attached by pivots 15 to the frame 11. Each of the tilting trays 14 has associated with it, a tilting mechanism 16. The method used to tip the trays, that is the tilting mechanism, may be any one of a number of conventional tipping mechanisms presently in use. One particularly advantageous mechanism is described herein by way of example.
In this particular embodiment, the tilting mechanism comprises a pair of parallel rods 17 which are suspended below each tray. In addition, a bracket 18 is provided above each tray 14. The bracket carries a cam 19. The cam 19 pivots about an upper axis 20. The side of the cam which faces the tra
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Australian Postal Corporation
Dayoan D. Glenn
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