Line sorter with adjustable track length

US10604349B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BEUMER Group A/S · DK

Inventor

• Uffe Lykkegaard · Aarhus, DK

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 14, 2016
• Grant date: Mar 31, 2020
• Expiry date: Dec 14, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65G21/14
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to a line sorter for sorting items of various shapes, sizes and weights, in particular postal parcels or airport baggage. The line sorter (102) has a closed loop of coupled sorting carts or slats provided for moving along a loop track formed by an upper track section (104), a lower track section (106), one end track section connecting the upper and lower track sections at each of two ends of the line sorter, and one or more adjustment elements also forming part of the track loop. One of the end track sections 108, 109 can be longitudinally displaced relative to the upper and lower track sections to increase or decrease the resulting length of the track loop. The adjustment element(s) (210, 211) is movably mounted between said end track section and an adjacent upper or lower track section. A wedge shaped portion of the adjustment element is arranged for adjustable engagement with a correspondingly shaped portion of said end track section, or the upper or lower track section. This allows adjustment of a length of the track loop in accordance with displacement of said end track section, and still close a gap in the track by means of the adjustment element.