Patent ID: 6554121
Filing Date: 2003-04-29
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A method for displacing at least one container using a conveyor system from a put-on location to a put-off location, independently of previous or following containers at said put-on location, comprising the steps of:unloading said container at said put-on location; placing said container onto a first set of conveyor tracks at said put-on location, wherein said conveyor tracks at said put-on location are designed to support and transport a plurality of containers following each other one at a time; transferring said container along set tracks in a first direction onto a second set of conveyor tracks, interconnected with said first set of conveyor tracks and designed to support and transport a plurality of containers following each other one at a time, wherein said second set of conveyor tracks is capable of displacing said container in a plurality of different directions, independently of the previous or following containers, at least one of said directions situated at an angle to said first direction; determining which of said plurality of directions is to be chosen for a transfer of said container from said second set of conveyor tracks; displacing said container from said second set of conveyor tracks onto a third set of conveyor tracks being designed to support and transport a plurality of containers following each other one at a time in a second direction that is at an angle to said first direction, if it is determined that said container is to be transferred in a direction that is at an angle to said first direction; alternatively, displacing said container from said second set of conveyor tracks onto a fourth set of conveyor tracks, being designed to support and transport a plurality of containers following each other one at a time and maintaining said first direction, if it is determined that said container is not to be transferred in a direction that is at an angle to said first direction; and transferring said container to an intended take-off location.