Patent ID: 9376301
Filing Date: 2016-06-28
CPC Classification: B65G

Claim Text:
1. A cap sorter for sorting caps, said cap sorter comprising: first and second belts, said first and second belts being in a substantially adjacent and substantially parallel relationship relative to each other, said first and second belts traveling along a closed loop belt path defining a longitudinal direction therealong, said belt path defining a cap receiving section inclined from the vertical, a sorting section extending substantially upwardly from said cap receiving section, a discharging section provided above said sorting section and a return section extending from said discharging section and returning to said cap receiving section; and first and second belt actuators operatively coupled respectively to said first and second belts for moving respectively said first and second belts along said belt path; said first and second belts being each provided with a plurality of cleats mounted outside of said belt path, each of said cleats extending substantially laterally across both said first and second belts, said cleats being each secured to one of said first and second belts while being movable relative to an other one of said first and second belts, said cleats alternating between being secured to said first and second belts along said belt path; said first and second belts being selectively movable disjointly and jointly, wherein said first and second belts are moved disjointly by changing a phase between said first and second belt actuators to change a spacing between adjacent ones of said cleats and wherein said first and second belts are moved jointly along said belt path to sort said caps.