Collecting items via a chute in a material handling environment
US10961055B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 2, 2019 |
| Grant date | Mar 30, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 2, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G2811/098
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A material handling system includes a conveyor, an actuation unit, and a chute. The chute is mechanically coupled to the conveyor at a defined angle with respect to a surface of the conveyor. The chute includes an inlet defining a first end and a second end, where the first end of the inlet is mechanically coupled to the surface of the conveyor. Further, the chute includes at least one tube configured to be rotated by the actuation unit at a defined rotational speed. The chute also includes an outlet mechanically coupled to the at least one tube. In this aspect, the defined angle and the defined rotational speed is based on at least one of: physical characteristic of an item to be passed through the chute, a rate of inflow of the item through the inlet, and a rate of outflow of the item through the outlet.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.