Patent ID: 6651820
Filing Date: 2003-11-25
Classification: B07C,B65G,Y10S

Abstract:
An article sorting system comprising:a first conveyor to convey trays each containing articles to be sorted; a plurality of sorting lines each containing a second conveyor branching off from the first conveyor, and a sorting rack having a plurality of slots leading to containers into which articles are placed according to their sorting categories and placed opposite to the second conveyor; a sorter to guide a tray conveyed through the first conveyor to one of the plurality of sorting lines; a reading means to read the identification information of a tray conveyed by the first conveyor; a memory means to store an article information table connecting the identification information of a tray with the information of the articles contained in that tray and the arrangement pattern of the slots of each of the plurality of sorting line; a sorter control means to determine an appropriate sorting line for a tray and control the sorter to guide the tray to the sorting line, after having referred to the identification information of the tray read by the reading means, and the article information table and the arrangement patterns of slots stored in the memory means; and a direction indicating means to provide each article introduced into the sorting rack with an arrow to indicate a direction towards a nominated slot and a number of the nominated slot for the article.