Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US4413721?dq=6,049,612
Timestamp: 2016-09-27 23:17:58
Document Index: 79530397

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'arts 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'arts 2']

Patent US4413721 - Sorting conveyor for individual objects - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsIn a guide track (1) there travel a plurality of carts (2) which are driven by an endless chain (8). Each cart (2) carries a load bearing tray (3), which is intended to receive a package or the like. At predetermined discharge locations the load bearing trays are tilted into an inclined position so that...http://www.google.com/patents/US4413721?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US4413721 - Sorting conveyor for individual objectsAdvanced Patent SearchTry the new Google Patents, with machine-classified Google Scholar results, and Japanese and South Korean patents.Publication numberUS4413721 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 06/287,742PCT numberPCT/CH1980/000140Publication dateNov 8, 1983Filing dateNov 17, 1980Priority dateJan 4, 1980Fee statusLapsedAlso published asDE3050102C2, EP0042839A1, WO1981001999A1Publication number06287742, 287742, PCT/1980/140, PCT/CH/1980/000140, PCT/CH/1980/00140, PCT/CH/80/000140, PCT/CH/80/00140, PCT/CH1980/000140, PCT/CH1980/00140, PCT/CH1980000140, PCT/CH198000140, PCT/CH80/000140, PCT/CH80/00140, PCT/CH80000140, PCT/CH8000140, US 4413721 A, US 4413721A, US-A-4413721, US4413721 A, US4413721AInventorsWilly BollierOriginal AssigneeDaverio A.G.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (3), Referenced by (24), Classifications (7), Legal Events (3) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetSorting conveyor for individual objects
US 4413721 AAbstract
In a guide track (1) there travel a plurality of carts (2) which are driven by an endless chain (8). Each cart (2) carries a load bearing tray (3), which is intended to receive a package or the like. At predetermined discharge locations the load bearing trays are tilted into an inclined position so that the packages slide into a collecting container. To the load bearing tray there is attached a shaft (12) which extends diagonally to the load bearing tray surface, and which is journalled rotatably in a bearing (11). To tilt the load bearing tray (3) the shaft (12) is tilted by a drive disc (15) which is connected to the shaft (12) through a shaft (14) and a universal joint (13). The drive disc (15) itself is braked by means of electromechanical or mechanical guide rails at predetermined discharge locations upon passage of the cart and is thereby rotated. The apparatus for tilting the load bearing trays is very simple and functions largely trouble free.
1. Sorting conveyor for individual objects having a plurality of carts circulating along an endless track, each cart carrying a load bearing tray for the conveyed objects, said tray being tiltable from the horizontal position in both directions into an inclined position at predetermined discharge locations by guidance means arranged along the track, said conveyor being characterized in that each said load bearing tray is supported from below by a support shaft which extends diagonally to the load bearing tray surface, said support shaft being rotatably journalled within a bearing fixedly attached to said cart, in that a drive disc mounted on a vertical shaft is rotatably journalled upon the cart, said vertical shaft being in drive connection with said support shaft of the load bearing tray by means of a universal joint, and in that said guidance means at said discharge locations are so constructed as to be capable of rotating said drive disc, thereby to tilt said load bearing tray.
2. Sorting conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that said guidance means comprise guide rails positioned along the conveyor track, said guide rails being so constructed as to be able to electromechanically or magnetically brake the drive disc upon passage of the cart on which the drive disc is mounted.
The invention relates to a sorting conveyor for individual objects in accordance with the preamble of patent claim 1.
Sorting conveyors of this type are known and are principally used in post office distribution centers for sorting of packages in accordance with their destinations. For example, from British Pat. No. 1,335,114 a sorting conveyor is known in which the bearing tray is tiltable about a shaft which extends lengthwise of the cart. The tilting movement is triggered by a linkage which is actuated by a separate guide rail which is deflected by switches positioned at the tilt locations. However, the guide rail which is required in addition to the rails for the cart, is relatively expensive and is subject to wearing out. In a sorting conveyor in accordance with British Pat. No. 1,544,570 the load bearing trays require no guidance in the horizontal position because they rest by means of bearing cups upon tilt shafts positioned on both sides of the longitudinal central axis of the cart. However, the triggering of the tilt motion again requires guidance rails, or switches. Moreover, additional springs must be used which maintain the load bearing trays in the horizontal or in the tilted position.
It is an object of the present invention to construct a sorting conveyor of the initially described kind in such a manner that the tilting of the load bearing trays into the desired position at the respective discharge locations requires the least possible structural effort.
This object is achieved in accordance with the invention by an embodiment in accordance with the characterizing portion of patent claim 1.
By tilting of the shaft which extends diagonally to the load bearing tray, there is automatically obtained the desired inclinaton of the tray, which permits the downward sliding of the individual objects into a collecting container. To pivot the shaft there is preferably rotatably attached to the cart a drive disc, whose axle, e.g. by way of a universal joint, is in drive connection with the shaft of the tray. At the discharge locations, there can then be located guide rails which cooperate with the drive disc to rotate the latter.
By virtue of this construction, the mechanism for the tilting of the load bearing trays into the desired position becomes extremely simple and is characterized by a low susceptability to failure.
The drawing diagrammatically shows an embodiment of the invention, as well as a varient thereof. There is shown in:
FIG. 1 in perspective view a portion of a conveyor at a discharge location,
FIG. 2 a side view of a cart with chain drive,
FIG. 3 a top view of the cart of FIG. 2,
FIG. 4 a rear view of the cart of FIG. 2,
FIG. 5 a side view of a cart with drive provided by a linear electric motor, and
FIG. 6 a rear view of the cart of FIG. 5.
FIG. 1 shows, in perspective representation, a portion of the conveyor path of a sorting conveyor having a guide track 1, within which the carts 2 are propelled. Each cart 2 supports a load bearing tray 3, which is intended to receive a package 4. At two locations, the load bearing trays 3 are shown tilted so that the transported packages 4 are discharged into collection stations 5.
FIGS. 2 through 4 show the construction of a cart 2 with load bearing tray 3. The cart 2 has four support rollers 6, by means of which it rolls within a level guide path 1a of track 1. Horizontal guidance is provided by two guidance rollers 7, which are supported on vertical shafts and are guided by vertical walls 1b of track 1. The drive for carts 2 is provided in known manner by an endless, circulating chain 8 to which each cart 2 is coupled by a follower 9. Each cart 2 has an arm 10 which extends upwardly from the guide track and which provides a support head 11 for a shaft 12 which extends at an angle α inclined to the horizontal load bearing tray 3 and is rigidly connected with the latter. The angle α suitably has a value from about 40� to about 50�. The lower end of shaft 12 is connected through a universal joint 13 with a vertical shaft 14 which is rotatably supported upon cart 2 in a bearing 14a.
A horizontal drive disc 15 is connected to shaft 14 in a rotatably united manner. When this drive disc 15 is rotated relative to the cart, the load bearing tray 3 is tilted into its inclined position, as shown in FIG. 1. The drive disc 15 has stop projections 16a, 16b which cooperate with a central projection serving as a stop member and which maintains drive disc 15 in its centered position, until it is deflected.
At the discharge locations, brake rods 18 are positioned. These, as indicated by double-headed arrows, are pressed, e.g. electromechanically, against the circumference of drive discs 15 and deflect these up to projections 16a or 16b, so that the load bearing tray 3 is inclined toward the left or the right and discharges the package which it carries. Brake rods 18 can also take the form of electromagnets which electromagnetically brake the drive disc 15. Through additional brake rods the load bearing trays 3 are tilted back into their horizontal position after passing the sorting location.
Whereas, in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 through 4, the drive for cart 2 is provided in known manner by a circulating chain 8, FIGS. 5 and 6 show an embodiment in which the drive for the cart is provided by a linear electric motor. The rotor of a squirrel cage induction motor takes the form of a steel track 19, above which the flat stator 20, which is formed by cart 2, moves longitudinally. The construction of cart 2 is exactly the same as in FIGS. 2 through 4.
The tilting of load bearing trays 3 about their inclined shafts 12 makes possible a substantially simpler structural embodiment of the individual carts 2, as compared with known embodiments of carts in which the load bearing tray is tilted about one or two longitudinal shafts.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS4004681 *Apr 5, 1976Jan 25, 1977American Chain & Cable Company, Inc.Tilting tray sorting systemUS4081071 *Sep 19, 1975Mar 28, 1978Kosan Crisplant A/SConveyor systemsUS4139088 *Apr 12, 1977Feb 13, 1979Kosan Crisplant A/SConveyer of the tilt tray type* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS4729466 *May 29, 1987Mar 8, 1988Daverio Ag.Distribution conveyor for productsUS4744454 *Jan 29, 1987May 17, 1988Bernhard Beumer Maschinenfabrik KgTipping conveyor element for a package conveyorUS5086905 *Mar 16, 1990Feb 11, 1992Bernhard Beumer Maschinenfabrik KgTipping-conveyor element for a package conveyorUS5255774 *Nov 23, 1992Oct 26, 1993Yoyokanetsu Kabushiki KaishaSorting apparatusUS5335767 *Oct 29, 1992Aug 9, 1994Muller Martini Versand Systeme AgArrangement for the sorting of piece goodsUS5353912 *Jan 28, 1993Oct 11, 1994Grapha-Holding AgArrangement for the sorting of piece goodsUS5474415 *Jul 29, 1993Dec 12, 1995Mannesmann AktiengesellschaftApparatus for the emptying of containersUS5836436 *Apr 15, 1996Nov 17, 1998Mantissa CorporationTilting cart for a package sorting conveyorUS6003656 *Mar 2, 1998Dec 21, 1999Mantissa CorporationLow wear tilting mechanismUS6012566 *Oct 22, 1996Jan 11, 2000Itab Insustri AbMeans and method for conveyance of individual objectsUS6050390 *Aug 6, 1997Apr 18, 2000Mantissa CorporationChute for a tilt tray sorterUS6193074Nov 4, 1998Feb 27, 2001Mannesmann AgConveyor for the sorting of mixed cargoUS6206170Nov 4, 1997Mar 27, 2001Mantissa CorporationControl system for a tilt tray sorterUS6231293Dec 9, 1997May 15, 2001Mannesmann AktiengesellschaftTipping device for emptying containers for piece goodsUS6298975Mar 3, 2000Oct 9, 2001Mantissa CorporationLim sorting conveyorUS6367610Feb 14, 2000Apr 9, 2002Mantissa CorporationHigh efficiency sorting conveyorUS8807320Jun 21, 2012Aug 19, 2014Mantissa CorporationIndependent discharge sorting conveyorUS8851267Mar 26, 2012Oct 7, 2014Mantissa CorporationHigh efficiency sorting conveyor with improved friction drive motor assemblyUS9067743Jul 21, 2014Jun 30, 2015Mantissa CorporationHigh efficiency sorting conveyorUS9409726 *Sep 17, 2010Aug 9, 2016Reddy Ice Technology LlcMethod and apparatus for distributing articles in a storage compartmentUS9422119Jul 14, 2014Aug 23, 2016Mantissa CorporationIndependent discharge sorting conveyorUS20120070264 *Sep 17, 2010Mar 22, 2012Schur International A/SMethod and apparatus for distributing articles in a storage compartmentUS20160176680 *Jun 11, 2014Jun 23, 2016Thyssenkrupp Elevator Innovation Center S.A.Safety chain for pallets for conveyors used to transport people and goodsDE3516229A1 *May 6, 1985Jul 31, 1986Francesco CanzianiWagen fuer eine sortiervorrichtung* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification198/370.03, 198/802International ClassificationB65G47/46, B65G47/96, B65G47/38Cooperative ClassificationB65G47/96European ClassificationB65G47/96Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionDec 31, 1981ASAssignmentOwner name: D A V E R I O A.G., HEINRICHSTRASSE 217, CH-8031 ZFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:BOLLIER, WILLY;REEL/FRAME:003941/0031Effective date: 19810619Nov 5, 1995LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesJan 16, 1996FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 19951108RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services