Patent ID: 6964330
Filing Date: 2005-11-15
Classification: B65G,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A material handling system comprising: a plurality of conveyor sections for conveying workpieces downstream at a variable transfer speed along and between said plurality of sections according to control instructions provided by a control system, wherein output from at least one workpiece position sensor cooperates with corresponding upstream conveyor sections of said plurality of conveyor sections and provides workpiece position data to said control system, wherein each conveyor section of said plurality of conveyor sections has a corresponding variable frequency drive cooperating in variable speed driving engagement therewith, said control system controlling each said variable frequency drive by said control instructions so as to interlock adjacent conveyor section of said plurality of conveyor sections for smooth translation of the workpieces between said adjacent conveyor sections without crushing or binding the workpieces between said adjacent conveyor sections, wherein said plurality of conveyor sections include a plurality workpiece inspection conveyor sections for the simultaneous inspection of workpieces fed from an infeed section of said plurality of conveyor sections, wherein workpiece diverting means are provided for diverting workpieces from said infeed section to disperse said workpieces for inspection along said plurality of workpiece inspection conveyor sections, wherein said workpiece diverting means include a lugged inclined conveyor section for transporting workpieces from said infeed conveyor section to and past selectively actuable workpiece flow diverters for selectively diverting workpieces according to said control instructions to said plurality of said inspection conveyor sections so as to divide an infeed piece rate of said infeed conveyor section by the number of said inspection conveyor sections to thereby reduce the workpiece flow rate of workpieces on each workpiece inspection conveyor of said plurality of workpiece inspection conveyors.