Patent ID: 6702121
Filing Date: 2004-03-09
Classification: B07C,B65G

Abstract:
A rotating sorting device for sorting packaged goods, the device comprising:at least one linear supply conveyor; a plurality of removal locations arranged circularly about a central axle; at least four linear removal conveyors positioned between the central axle and the removal locations and arranged substantially radially; wherein the linear removal conveyors are configured to rotate continuously about the central axle; wherein the at least one linear supply conveyor is arranged substantially radially and positioned above or below the linear removal conveyor; wherein the at least one linear supply conveyor has an end portion in a conveying direction of the linear supply conveyor, the end portion having an incline extending downwardly or upwardly toward the linear removal conveyors; a transfer location between the at least one linear supply conveyor and the linear removal conveyors, wherein the transfer location is in the vicinity of the central axle, wherein the linear supply conveyor and the linear removal conveyor are positioned approximately at a right angle to one another at the transfer location; wherein a speed of the linear removal conveyors at which the linear removal conveyors move relative to the at least one linear supply conveyor at the transfer location is identical to a conveying speed of the linear supply conveyor; a first sensor arranged on the at least one linear supply conveyor configured to detect features of the packaged goods to be sorted; a computing unit configured to compute the removal location for the packaged goods based on the features detected by the sensor; second sensors arranged on the at least one linear supply conveyor and the linear removal conveyors, wherein the second sensors are configured to detect an actual position of the packaged goods on the at least one linear supply conveyor and the linear removal conveyors and to signal the actual position to the computing unit; a third sensor configured to signal an actual angular position of the rotating linear removal conveyors to the computing unit; and a control unit configured to synchronize the transfer of the packaged goods from the at least one linear supply conveyor to the removal conveyors, to stop the linear removal conveyors before the packaged goods have reached the end of the linear removal conveyors, and to start the linear removal conveyors again when the computed removal location has been reached.