Patent ID: 8489230
Filing Date: 2013-07-16
Classification: B07C

Abstract:
1. A recirculating sorting apparatus, comprising: a first or infeed conveyor capable of bringing identifiable items to a recognition apparatus comprising a part of a controlling computer system that is capable of identifying said identifiable items and causing said identifiable items to be delivered by a first transfer means to a selected shelf of a first, smaller array of at least two sorting shelves thereby fanning a set of at least partially sorted items on any one sorting shelf; a second, larger array of deep holding shelves having a combined width comprised of a plurality of shelves and a combined height comprised of a plurality of levels; second transfer means capable of transferring a set of at least one item from a selected sorting shelf to a selected holding shelf; and third transfer means capable of selectively carrying and delivering a set of at least one item from a selected holding shelf either to a second outfeed conveyor, or to a third recirculating conveyor capable of selectively recirculating said sets of items to the recognition apparatus, so that any set that is incompletely sorted after an earlier pass through the recirculating sorting apparatus becomes more completely sorted after a later pass.