Patent · US Active

Sorting machine for sorting flat articles on edge, with article bunching being detected

US9180494B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
13References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 28, 2012
Grant dateNov 10, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 28, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65H2701/1916
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A sorting machine (1) for sorting flat articles (2) on edge, which machine includes an upstream conveyor (10), and a downstream conveyor (30) that conveys the flat articles (2) by nipping them, the upstream conveyor (10) and the downstream conveyor (30) being separated by detector means (100) including an intermediate conveyor (20) provided with intermediate belts (22) that convey said flat articles (2) by nipping them, and that are associated individually with suction means (24, 25) pressing any flat article (2) against one or the other of said intermediate belts (22), image capture means (26) for capturing images of the bottoms of said flat articles (2) passing between the intermediate belts (22), and analysis and processing means (4) for analyzing and processing said images to detect any bunching of said flat articles (2).

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