Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for putting articles into a queue

US6464065B2 · kind B2 · utility

24Cited by
8References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 16, 2001
Grant dateOct 15, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 16, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65G47/31
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of putting articles into a queue and apparatus enabling he method to be implemented. According to the invention, apparatus for putting articles into a queue comprises a plurality of parallel transfer conveyors which are suitable, together or separately, for transferring an article from the outlet of an inlet conveyor to the inlet of an outlet conveyor, between which and in line with which the transfer conveyors extend, and which includes a camera for observing articles on the inlet conveyor and a device for deriving article outline and identity data from images taken by the camera, and a device for selectively actuating the transfer conveyors as a function of the outline and identity data.

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