Patent BE-1018048-A6 (BE)
Title: Piece goods sorting device, used in automatic storage systems, uses rotary feed device to transport goods from magazine into transfer opening in stationary disc
Inventor: BONTE PHILIP LIEVEN MARCEL
Filed: 2008-03-14
Granted: 2010-04-06
Abstract: The device (1) comprises a stationary transfer disc (6) containing a transfer opening which is partly bordered by a transfer edge, and a rotary feed device (5) adapted to transport piece goods from a magazine and into the transfer opening. Independent claims are also included for two sorting methods using this device. The first method is carried out using a sorting device in which the rotary feed device is a disc and the sorting device also includes a first sensor for detecting the presence of goods at the transfer edge of the disc, and a second sensor for detecting the presence of goods at the dosing edge of a rotary dosing disc (7) containing a dosing opening which is partly bordered by this edge. This method comprises the following steps: (1) introducing the piece goods onto the feed disc next to the transfer opening; (2) rotating the feed and dosing discs in a first direction so that the goods are added to the transfer opening above the dosing disc, until the latter completely seals this opening; (3) detecting the presence of goods at the transfer edge of the transfer disc during step (2); (4) rotating the feed and dosing discs in a second opposite direction so that the goods are added to the dosing opening; and (5) stopping the rotation of the discs once the second sensor detects the presence of the goods at the dosing edge of the dosing disc, or once the number of piece goods detected by the second sensor is equal to the number detected by the first sensor in step (3). The second method is carried out using a sorting device in which the rotary feed device is a disc and the sorting device also includes a second feed disc (8), a first sensor for detecting the presence of goods at the transfer edge of the disc, and a second sensor for detecting the presence of goods at the dosing edge of a rotary dosing disc (7) containing a dosing opening which is partly bordered by this edge. This method comprises the following steps: (1) introducing the piece goods onto the second feed disc and a second transfer disc (9) inside a goods storage container (3), next to the transfer opening in the second transfer disc; (2) rotating the feed and dosing discs in a first direction so that the goods are added to the transfer opening in the second transfer disc and drop into the dosing compartment (4) above the first feed disc and first transfer disc; (3) rotating the feed and dosing discs in a second opposite direction so that the goods are added to the transfer opening in the first transfer disc above the dosing disc, until the latter completely seals this transfer opening; (4) detecting the presence of goods at the transfer edge of the first transfer disc during step (3); (5) rotating the feed and dosing discs in the first direction so that the goods are added to the dosing opening in the dosing disc; and (6) stopping the rotation of the first transfer disc and dosing disc once the second sensor detects the presence of the goods at the dosing edge of the dosing disc, or once the number of piece goods detected by the second sensor is equal to the number detected by the first sensor in step (3).