Patent · US Expired

Feeding station for a sorting conveyor

US4168133A · kind A · utility

2Cited by
2References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 20, 1977
Grant dateSep 18, 1979
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 20, 1997

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB07C3/20
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A sorting conveyor for flat rectangular items has a guide surface extending in a conveying direction; a drive continuously moving along the guide surface in the conveying direction; a plurality of pusher fingers attached in a spaced relationship to the drive for individually engaging and serially conveying the items along the guide surface in the conveying direction; and at least one feeding station operatively coupled to the sorting conveyor for introducing items thereinto. Each feeding station comprises a feeding panel disposed laterally of the guide surface for receiving the items to be introduced into the sorting conveyor; a feeding conveyor arranged in the zone of the feeding panel for advancing each item onto the guide surface such that a lower, support edge of the advanced item forms an acute angle with the guide surface and a leading edge of the advanced item is substantially parallel to the guide surface and perpendicular to the conveying direction; and a control circuit connected to the feeding conveyor and including sensors and signaling arrangements generating output signals for initiating a feeding cycle of the feeding conveyor at such a moment as to effect the introdu…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.