Conveyor switch
US7878319B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 20, 2006 |
| Grant date | Feb 1, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 22, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G17/24
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A sorting switch for diverting articles from one or more infeed conveyors to two or more outfeed conveyors. A cannulae pre-alignment conveyor receives articles from one or more infeed conveyors and selectively diverts individual articles into two or more lateral regions for delivery to an alignment conveyor downstream. The alignment conveyor more precisely aligns the articles within each of the regions for delivery to outfeed conveyors at the downstream end of the alignment conveyor. The alignment and pre-alignment conveyors are realized as belt conveyors with rollers arranged to rotate universally or on axes in specific orientations. In some versions, a belt's rollers roll on bearing surfaces whenever the belt is advancing. In other versions, rollers are selective actuated by moving bearing surfaces. In yet other versions, rollers are not contacted by bearing surfaces at all.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.