Patent ID: 6484866
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A sorting conveyor for transporting objects and unloading objects at one or more unloading stations adjacent the conveyor, said sorting conveyor comprising:(a) a conveyor track; (b) a train of tilting conveyor carts connected end-to-end; (c) a power source for moving said conveyor carts on said conveyor track; (d) each of said tilting conveyor carts comprising: (i) a trailer frame base, including: a roller structure for engaging said conveyor track, a driven member responsive to said power source, and a hitch mechanism for connecting each tilting conveyor cart to an adjacent conveyor cart; (ii) a carrying tray for holding the objects; and (iii) a tiltable support apparatus for supporting said carrying tray above said trailer frame base and for allowing tilting of said carrying tray towards at least one side of the conveyor to unload objects into unloading stations on at least one side of the conveyor; and (e) a tilting mechanism for tilting said carrying tray on said tiltable support apparatus to thereby unload objects into one of the unloading stations adjacent the conveyor, wherein said tilting mechanism includes: (i) a pair of actuating arms attached to said carrying tray on opposite sides of said tiltable support apparatus; and (ii) a pull-down mechanism associated with each unloading station for selectively pulling down one of said actuating arms so as to pull one side of said carrying tray downwardly into a tilted position; wherein each of said actuator arms includes a cam follower on a lower end of said actuator arm, and wherein said pull-down mechanism includes a descending ramp adjacent said conveyor track, a laterally pivoting switch for directing the cam follower of a selected actuator arm into said descending ramp and a transverse guide for controlling the position of said actuator arm to reduce noise during tipping.