Apparatus for conveying, inspecting and stacking items
US9271505B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 5, 2014 |
| Grant date | Mar 1, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 30, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB07C5/342
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A machine for inspecting, sorting and stacking items includes a plurality of conveyor lanes for moving items through the machine. An imaging system is arranged relative to the conveyor lanes to view items moving along the conveyor lanes. A reject arrangement is downstream of the imaging system and includes a plurality of selectively actuatable reject mechanisms, each reject mechanism associated with a respective one of the conveyor lanes enabling items to be selectively dropped from each conveyor lane on an individual lane basis. Items that pass inspection are conveyed to a downstream stacker, then on to item stack conveyors before being moved onto a side transfer conveyor. A controller analyzes image data to make a determination of whether any item is below a defined quality threshold and, if so, to control the reject mechanism to drop the below quality item out of the conveyor lane.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.