Patent ID: 6095314
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A multi-cell discharge chute for a material handling system including a plurality of tilt trays, said chute comprising:(a) a plurality of cells arranged generally perpendicular to the travel of the material handling system and aligned with respect to one another;(b) a plurality of guide pans associated with each of said cells;(c) a diverter door located between said material handling system and the inlet of each of said plurality of guide pans, said diverter door being movable between each of said inlets whereby said multi-cell discharge chute is operable to selectively discharge articles from said material handling system into each of said plurality of cells; and(d) a discharge control system interfaced with said material handling system for preventing said material handling system from discharging an article into more than one of said cells within a predetermined delay time thereby preventing said material handling system from discharging an article into a cell before said discharge chute is positioned with respect to said cell, wherein said discharge control system includes a delay look-up table, said delay look-up table including the times for said discharge chute to move between any two of said plurality of cells in either direction of movement; a tray status look-up table, said tray status look-up table including a tray number, a cell number associated with a destination of the article on said tray, and the time before said tray arrives at said cell; and a comparator connected between said delay look-up table and said tray status look-up table for comparing the times in each of said look-up tables with one another and providing a control signal when the time for said discharge chute to move to its next cell is greater than the time before said tray arrives at said cell.