Patent · US Expired

Positive displacement sorter

US7240781B2 · kind B2 · utility

22Cited by
38References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 23, 2005
Grant dateJul 10, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 23, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65G2207/36
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A positive displacement sorter includes a conveying surface, a plurality of pusher shoes capable of traveling laterally of the conveying surface travel direction, a diverting assembly selectively diverting the pusher shoes and a control. The pusher shoes are generally separated from each other and the travel of direction by a shoe pitch. The diverting assembly includes a plurality of diverting rails extending generally diagonally under the conveying surface and a plurality of actuators associated with the diverting rails. The control is capable of controlling at least two of the actuators in a manner that selectively diverts at least two of the pusher shoes that are spaced apart in integer increments of the shoe pitch notwithstanding that the actuators are separated from each other by more than the shoe pitch.

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