Method and device for splitting-up a stream of piece goods

US6581752B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• FERAG AG · CH

Inventor

• Hans Frei · Jona, CH

Key dates

• Filing date: May 16, 2001
• Grant date: Jun 24, 2003
• Expiry date: May 16, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65H2405/551
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

For splitting-up a supply stream (2) of piece goods into a plurality of conveying away streams, the supplied objects (3) are guided onto a plurality of conveying away paths (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) in a predetermined splitting-up sequence. The device includes a supply device for serially supplying objects (3) to a split-up point (1) and for positioning the objects (3) for being taken over by holding device (6.1, 6.2, 6.3) in the split-up point (1). The device also has a plurality of conveying away systems, each one of which defines one of the conveying away paths. Of the conveying away systems advantageously each one has a closed-loop rail track (5.1, 5.2, 5.3) and holding devices (6.1, 6.2, 6.3) movable along the rail track independently of one another and with variable distances between one another. The rail tracks (5.1, 5.2, 5.3) of the conveying away systems converge toward the split-up point (1), run through the split-up point (1) parallel to one another, and diverge after the split-up point (1). The conveying away systems also have buffers that retain the holding devices upstream of the split-up point (1) and devices for releasing the holding devices from the buffers (7.1, 7.2, 7.3) i…