Dynamic gap establishing synchronous product insertion system
US6435331B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 30, 2001 |
| Grant date | Aug 20, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 30, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H2701/1916
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A conveyor system for synchronously combining the conveying paths of at least two asynchronously operated upstream conveyors for synchronized merger into at least one downstream conveyor comprises a synchronizing conveyor belt disposed upstream of the merger point of the at least two upstream asynchronously operated conveyors. When articles, such as, for example, postal mail pieces being conveyed along the at least two upstream asynchronously operated conveyors are detected as being likely to undergo a collision or overlap at the merge point of the at least two upstream asynchronously operated conveyors, the synchronizing conveyor belt is appropriately sped up or slowed down so as to not only avoid such interference, collision, or overlap of the postal mail pieces, but in addition, to provide sufficient spacing of the same upon the at least one downstream conveyor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.