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EP-3494077-B1 - ARTICLE SORTER

EP3494077B1EP 3494077 B1EP3494077 B1EP 3494077B1EP-3494077-B1

Inventors

  • DEVRIES, JEFFREY
  • STANISH, Martin
  • TRIESENBERG, Thomas
  • CARLSON, RANDALL

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20170728

Claims (4)

  1. An article sorter (30) comprising an endless web (32) that travels in a longitudinal direction defining an article-conveying surface (34), a plurality of article moving members (38) each having a diverting member (39) extending below said conveying surface (34), a plurality of diverting rails (42) below said conveying surface (34), each of said diverting rails (42) capable of engaging said diverting member (39) to divert an article travelling on said conveying surface (34), and a plurality of diverters (43), each of said diverters (43) configured for selectively diverting at least one of said diverting members (39) from a non-diverting path (40) extending longitudinally along said sorter (30) to one of said diverting rails (42) in a diverting state, at least one of said diverters (43) comprising: a gate (72) having a diverting surface (74), said gate (72) selectively rotatable between the diverting state and a non-diverting state about a generally horizontal axis of rotation (75), an actuator (76) moving said gate (72) between the non-diverting state and the diverting state, said actuator (76) comprising an electrically operated rotary actuator having a shaft that is rotatable about another generally horizontal axis of rotation (77), which is offset from said generally horizontal axis of rotation (75), characterized in that the diverter (43) includes a speed increaser (80) coupled with said shaft and said gate (72), said speed increaser (80) rotates said gate (72) at a higher angular speed than said actuator (76) rotates said shaft, wherein said speed increaser (80) comprises a member (81) having a slot (83) therein that is rotatable with said shaft and a bearing (82) that is connected with said gate (72) riding in said slot (83).
  2. The sorter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said diverting member comprises a rotary bearing wherein said gate positions said diverting surface to engage said bearing (82) in the diverting state.
  3. The sorter as claimed in any of claims 1 or 2 wherein said rotary actuator (76) comprises a stepper motor.
  4. A method of sorting articles with an article sorter (30) having an endless web (32) that travels in a longitudinal direction defining an article-conveying surface (34), a plurality of article moving members (38) each having a diverting member (39) extending below said conveying surface (34), a plurality of diverting rails (42) below said conveying surface (34), each of said diverting rails (42) capable of engaging said diverting member (39) to divert an article travelling on said conveying surface (34), a plurality of diverters (43), each of said diverters (43) configured for selectively diverting at least one of said diverting members (39) from a non-diverting path (40) extending longitudinally along said sorter (30) to one of said diverting rails (42) in a diverting state, at least one of said diverters (43) comprising a gate (72) having a diverting surface (74), said gate (72) selectively rotatable between the diverting state and a non-diverting state, said method comprising: moving said gate (72) between the non-diverting state and the diverting state with an actuator (76) comprising an electrically operated rotary actuator that is rotatable about another generally horizontal axis of rotation (77), which is offset from said generally horizontal axis of rotation (75); wherein said rotary actuator comprises a stepper motor; and driving said stepper motor to rotate said gate from said non-diverting state to said diverting state and from said diverting state to said non-diverting state; characterized in that the diverter (43) includes a speed increaser (80) coupled with said shaft and said gate (72), said speed increaser (80) rotates said gate (72) at a higher angular speed than said actuator (76) rotates said shaft, wherein said speed increaser (80) comprises a member (81) having a slot (83) therein that is rotatable with said shaft and a bearing (82) that is connected with said gate (72) riding in said slot (83).

Description

The present invention is directed to an article sorter made up of a travelling web which defines a longitudinally travelling conveying surface, and a method of sorting articles. The invention is useful with a positive displacement sorter in which the web is defined by a series of interconnected laterally elongated slats and having pusher shoes that travel along the slats. An example of such positive displacement sorter and diverter for use with the sorter is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,469,177, disclosing the preamble of independent claim 1. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention facilitates faster sorter speeds which enhances article sortation rates. By enhancing the manner in which the diverter gate is moved between a home position and a divert position and home again and by optimal mechanical design of the diverting module, the diverting module avoids components whose characteristics change with age. Moreover, the operation of the diverting module is coordinated with sorter speed to reduce the likelihood of damage to the sorter and to facilitate faster sorter speeds. An article sorter includes an endless web that travels in a longitudinal direction defining an article-conveying surface. A plurality of article moving members each having a diverting member extending below the conveying surface and a plurality of diverting rails are below the conveying surface, each capable of engaging the diverting member to divert an article travelling on the conveying surface. A plurality of diverters selectively divert at least one of the diverting members from a non-diverting path extending longitudinally along the sorter to one of the diverting rails in a diverting state. At least one of the diverters includes a gate having a diverting surface and is selectively rotatable between the diverting state and a non-diverting state about a generally horizontal axis. An actuator moves the gate between the non-diverting state and the diverting state. The actuator includes an electrically operated rotary actuator that is rotatable about another generally horizontal axis of rotation. The diverting surface is at a maximum lateral distance from the another generally horizontal axis of rotation when said gate is in said diverting state. The another generally horizontal axis may be at least as vertically elevated as the diverting member and may defines a common horizontal plane with the diverting member. The diverting member may include a rotary bearing and the gate positions the diverting surface to engage the bearing in the diverting state. The rotary actuator may include a stepper motor. An article sorter, according to the invention, includes an endless web that travels in a longitudinal direction defining an article-conveying surface. A plurality of article moving members each having a diverting member extending below the conveying surface and a plurality of diverting rails are below the conveying surface, each capable of engaging the diverting member to divert an article travelling on the conveying surface. A plurality of diverters selectively divert at least one of the diverting members from a non-diverting path extending longitudinally along the sorter to one of the diverting rails in a diverting state. At least one of the diverters includes a gate having a diverting surface and is selectively rotatable between the diverting state and a non-diverting state about a generally horizontal axis. An actuator moves the gate between the non-diverting state and the diverting state. The actuator includes an electrically operated rotary actuator having a shaft that is rotatable about another generally horizontal axis of rotation. A speed increaser coupled with the shaft and the gate rotates the gate at a higher angular speed than the actuator rotates the shaft. The another horizontal axis is further offset from the horizontal axis. The speed increaser includes a member having a slot therein that is rotatable with the shaft and a bearing that is connected with the gate riding in the slot. The diverting member may include a rotary bearing wherein the gate positions the diverting surface to engage the bearing in the diverting state. The rotary actuator may be a stepper motor. An alternative article sorter not defined by the present invention may include an endless web that travels in a longitudinal direction defining an article-conveying surface. A plurality of article moving members each having a diverting member extending below the conveying surface and a plurality of diverting rails are below the conveying surface, each capable of engaging the diverting member to divert an article travelling on the conveying surface. A plurality of diverters selectively divert at least one of the diverting members from a non-diverting path extending longitudinally along the sorter to one of the diverting rails in a diverting state. At least one of the diverters includes a gate having a diverting surface and is selectively rota