Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor section – Unit load conveying surface means moved about an endless or...
Patent
1996-08-21
1998-07-21
Bidwell, James R.
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor section
Unit load conveying surface means moved about an endless or...
1984781, B65G 4704
Patent
active
057823383
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a sorting or transfer device for moving items such as letters, postcards, packets and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to an axially-segmented paddle wheel arrangement which is interleaved with a multibelt first conveying device. The paddle wheel receives items delivered from the first conveying device and deposits the items in a predetermined manner on a second conveying device.
The machine-readable post codes which should be specified on items of mail, such as letters, postcards, packets and the like, as an identification for a postal location permit rapid, mechanical distribution of mail. In this arrangement, for example according to U.S. Pat. No. 3,031,062, sorting of the incoming items of mail takes place with the aid of controllable item carriers which are each loaded with an item of mail in special input locations and then discharge said item of mail to a sorting containing, or a corresponding sorting compartment, corresponding the respective post code. Since the sorting containers or sorting compartments may be arranged in various levels, the item carriers circulating on conveying devices must, if appropriate, also be capable of spanning various levels. After transfer of the item of the mail to the assigned sorting container or the assigned sorting compartment, the empty item carriers can then once again be loaded with items of mail when they pass an input location. When the mail is transferred to the abovedescribed sorting apparatus, the items of mail arriving on a conveying device, e.g. a belt conveyor, have to be discharged in a specific manner and, preferably, individually to the item carriers, which pass at relatively high speed.
It is known from GB-A-2 101 066 to provide the paddle wheel with gaps or slots in the paddles, the gaps being spaced along the axial direction and to guide segments of a conveying device into the pockets of the paddle wheel in the region of the gaps.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved sorting or transfer apparatus of a type which is particularly suitable for mail sorting operations.
In an embodiment, the transfer device includes a rotatable paddle wheel with a plurality of axially-aligned paddles between which are defined a plurality of pockets. Each of the paddles has a plurality of radially-extending segments spaced from each other by a plurality of respective gaps. Collectively, these gaps form concentric gaps in the paddle wheel, segmenting the paddle wheel into a plurality of axially-spaced segments. The transfer device also includes a first conveying device which has a plurality of parallel, spaced, endless belts which wrap over a center of said paddle wheel within the respective gaps between the radially extending paddle segments. The paddle wheel is thereby rotatable with the belts in an interleaved manner. The center of the paddle wheel preferably has a plurality of deflection wheels arranged at its center within the gaps, providing a friction surface for the belts of the first conveyor to wind over the paddle wheel axle.
The first conveying device delivers items into the pockets of said paddle wheel. A speed and the spacing of the items on the first conveying device are matched to a circumferential speed of the paddle wheel and the spacing of the pockets.
In an embodiment, a second conveying device is arranged under the paddle wheel for receiving items discharged from the paddle wheel. The second conveying device has a plurality of circulating receptacles for receiving items discharged from the pockets of the paddle wheel. These receptacles may be provided in grouped sections which are linked together. The speed of the second conveying device and spacing of the receptacles of the second conveying device are matched to the circumferential speed of the paddle wheel so that items are properly dispensed in an intended receptacle from a one of the pockets.
In an embodiment, the transfer device includes a first conveying device, a s
REFERENCES:
patent: 1952499 (1934-03-01), Howland et al.
patent: 3031062 (1962-04-01), Rabinow
patent: 3191748 (1965-06-01), Martin
patent: 3363741 (1968-01-01), Dierksheide
patent: 5123638 (1992-06-01), Mutov
Patent Abstracts of Japan, "Stacker For Sheet Counter", Nogi Hiroyoshi, vol. 9, No. 84, JP592123350, Publication Date Jan. 12, 1984.
Raschke Josef
Schuster Rudolf
Bidwell James R.
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
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