A SORTING MACHINE, IN PARTICULAR FOR SMALL PARCELS

Abstract: In sorting machine with trays (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d ...), which are moved in a endless path extending in a vertical plane in such a manner that the trays face upwardly both in the upper and the lower run of the path, said trays being pivotally suspended between two synchronously driven conveyors (7, 8), there is provided a plurality of stationary chutes (14) below one run of the path or both of said runs, and selectively controllable, pivotable levers (16, 16a) are provided for each chute (14), which are caused, in the activated state, to engage a passing tray (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d ...) which is hereby pivoted to empty the contents onto a predetermined one of the chutes (14). At least one side of each tray carries at least two wheels (12, 13) which are placed above and below the pivot axis (11), respectively, in the tray equilibrium position, so that each tray can optionally be emptied forwardly or rearwardly with respect to the direction of motion, said direction of emptying being dependent upon whether it is the upper or the lower wheel (12, 13) which is caused to engage an activated lever (16, 16a).

Description: A sorting machine, in particular for small parcels The invention concerns a sorting machine of the type stated in the introductory portion of claim 1. The DE-AS 25 46 748 discloses a bucket elevator or con- veyor which is constructed in the same manner as is stated in the introductory portion of claim 1, although it is intended for bulk goods and not individual articles, such as small parcels and the like. The US Patent Specification 3 055 486 discloses a bucket conveyor of a similar type for transport of bulk goods from a supply station to one of a plurality of unloading stations. The object of the invention is to provide a sorting machine of the type stated in the opening paragraph, which requires little space and has a great sorting capacity, while the activation means used and their cooperation with the individual trays during emptying are simpler than in the first-mentioned prior art, and which enables the individual trays during emptying to be optionally pivoted with the opening in a forward direction (headwind) and in a rearward direction (tail wind). This object is achieved according to the invention in that the sorting machine stated in the opening paragraph is characterized by the subject-matter defined in the characterizing portion of claim 1. The invention will be described more fully below with reference to the drawing, in which fig. 1 is a lateral view of one end of a sorting machine according to the invention, and fig. 2 is a top view, on a larger scale, of the same end of the sorting machine of the invention. The sorting machine shown in the drawing contains a plu- rality of trays, la, lb, lc, Id, le, lg pre¬ ferably of aluminium and with a U-shaped bottom 2 and side members 3 and 4. These trays are at both sides pi- votally suspended from arms 5 which are secured at the top, at 6, to their respective ones of chains 7 and 8 driven, in synchronism and by the same drive motor (not shown), said chains being indicated in the drawing in broken lines. The chains 7 and 8 preferably consist of steel wires placed around a chain wheel at each end of . the sorting machine. Since only one end of the sorting machine is shown in the drawing, only one chain wheel 9 and 10 is visible for each steel wire 7 and 8, respectively. As mentioned, the trays are pivotally suspended from arms 5. The suspension point 11 of the trays is disposed above the centre of gravity of the trays, so that their V-shaped bottom 2 usually assumes a horizontal position. Projections in the form of wheels 12 and 13, respectively, are secured above and below the suspension point 11 on the external side member 4. Below the trays in both the upper and the lower run of the path, a plurality of stationary chutes 14 is placed at even intervals in a machine frame (not shown), in which a corresponding number of levers 16 is secured, said levers being pivotable about a horizontal shaft 15. The levers 16 can be caused to assume an activated state by means of their respective pneumatic cylinders 17, during which the levers 16 associated with the upper path run are caused to engage the lower wheel 13 o.n each passing tray, as shown e.g. at the tray lb in fig. 1, and during which the levers 16 associated with the lower path run are caused to engage the upper wheel 12 on each passing tray, as shown e.g. at the tray If in fig. 1. Consequently, the trays lb and If in question are pivoted to empty their contents onto the chutes 14 disposed below, Further, in an additional embodiment of the invention, a plurality of levers 16a (only one is visible in the drawing) is provided, said levers 16a being pivotable about a horizontal shaft 15a and, seen in a vertical direction, disposed at the opposite side of the pivot axis 11 of the tray with respect to the first-mentioned levers 16, so that the trays can optionally be emptied both in the upper and the lower run of the path at one or the other side, depending upon whether a lever 16 or a lever 16a is activated and engages one or the other of the wheels 12 and 13. When the levers 16 or 16a are not activated, the trays just pass unaffected, as shown in respect of the other trays la, le and lg. Feeding to the conveyor is effected from a feeding unit (not shown), which may be placed in any desired stationary position above the upper or lower run of the path, and the contents of the trays are automatically controlled for emptying into a chute 14 determined by an identifi- cation t code on each parcel. Activation means and projections may be arranged at both sides of the trays so that the trays are hit by activa¬ tion means simultaneously at each side.

Claims: P a t e n t C l a i m s 1. A sorting machine, in particular for small parcels, with trays which are moved in an endless path extending in a vertical plane in such a manner that the trays face upwardly both in the upper and the lower run of the path, the trays being pivotally suspended between two synchro¬ nously driven conveyors, a plurality of stationary un¬ loading means being provided below the upper and/or lower run of the path and for each unloading means a selectively controllable activation means which is adapted, in its activated state, to be caused to engage a passing tray so that said tray is pivoted for emptying the contents onto the associated unloading means, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d in that at least one side of each tray carries two wheels (12, 13) which are placed above and below the pivot axis (11) of the tray, respectively, in the tray equilibrium position, and which are adapted to be caused to engage an activation means disposed above and below the pivot axis (11) of the tray, respectively, and consisting of a lever (16) which is mounted for pi¬ votal movement about a horizontal shaft (15) in the sorting machine. 2. A sorting machine according to claim 1, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that an additional selectively control- lable activation means is provided for each stationary unloading means, said additional activation means like¬ wise consisting of a lever mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal shaft in the sorting machine, said additional activation means being disposed at the oppo- site side of the pivot axis (11) of the tray with respect 4 to the first-mentioned activation means.

Inventors: SOELUND JOERGEN, SOELUND, JOERGEN
Applicants: INT TRANSPORT SYST ITS, ITS-INTERN TRANSPORT SYSTEM A/S
Application year: 1986
Main classification: B07C3
IPC codes: B07C3, B07C5, B65G17, B65G47