Patent ID: 6050390
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A package sorting conveyor system having at least one conveyor cart movable along a continuous track and at least one unloading station, said conveyor system comprising:(a) a two-axis tiltable support apparatus for supporting a carrying tray on said conveyor cart and for allowing tilting of said carrying tray towards at least one side of the package sorting conveyor system to unload a package into unloading stations on at least one side of the sorting conveyor, said tiltable support apparatus including: (i) an upper support structure joined to said carrying tray; (ii) a lower support structure mounted atop a frame structure of the conveyor cart; (iii) an angled pivot structure pivotally connecting said upper support structure to said lower support structure along a pivot axis, wherein the pivot axis is disposed at an angle to a line of travel of the sorting conveyor so as to impart a motion to the tilting of said carrying tray, said motion having a first axial component around a vertical axis of said carrying tray, said vertical axis being perpendicular to a line of travel of said two-axis tiltable support apparatus, and a second axial component along a horizontal axis, said horizontal axis being parallel to said line of travel of said carrying tray; and(b) a transition zone funnel upstream of said unloading station to receive said package from said conveyor cart, said transition zone funnel including: (i) an inlet adapted to receive said package from said conveyor cart; (ii) an upwardly inclined concave downstream wall for smoothly reducing the forward momentum of said package, said upwardly inclined concave downstream wall being located downstream of said inlet; and (iii) an outlet upstream of said unloading station.