| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 198370010 | By loading or unloading section at selected one of a plurality of pre-established locations along the length thereof | 88 |
| 20090272623 | Mail processing system and method of delivering articles to delivery locations therein - A mail processing system that delivers articles to delivery locations includes a predetermined number of casing towers arranged in parallel, wherein each casing tower has a plurality of slots to receive articles. A transport system is associated with the casing towers and configured to guide at least one transport vehicle loaded with an article along a delivery path towards a delivery location. At least one elevator device is coupled to the transport system and configured to receive the transport vehicle at a first level and to index the elevator device to move the transport vehicle from the first level to a second level, where the transport vehicle exits the elevator device to travel along the delivery path. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20110114444 | CONVEYOR SYSTEM AND METHOD OF LATERALLY DISPLACING ARTICLES - A conveyor system and method of laterally displacing articles includes a conveyor defining a conveying surface and conveying articles in a longitudinal direction with the conveying surface. A diverting assembly is positioned diagonally at least partially across the conveying surface. The diverting assembly travels generally vertically between a non-actuated position below the conveying surface and an actuated position extending above the conveying surface. The diverting assembly has a diverting surface that is adapted to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface when in the actuated position. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110203903 | APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING A FLAT ARTICLE - An apparatus for the discharge of an article, in particular of a flat mail item. A first conveyor device is able to transport the article in a primary transport path, a second conveyor device transports it in a branched transport path. A diverter is configured to leave the article either in the primary transport path or to discharge it into the branched transport path. A conveyor belt of the first conveyor device is guided around a roller. This roller is mounted onto the diverter. Thus a pivoting of the diverter from a standby position into a discharge position causes the roller and the conveyor belt resting upon the roller to be displaced perpendicular to the pivot axis of the diverter. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110226585 | LOGISTICS SYSTEM FOR A SHEET-PROCESSING MACHINE - A logistics system for a sheet-processing machine, in particular a printing press, permits pallets and sheet stacks on transport boards to be displaced along transport paths. Storage spaces are provided for the intermediate storage of sheet stacks and a corner transfer device is provided for the transverse displacement of pallets and sheet stacks. The corner transfer device has two height-adjustable conveying devices disposed at right angles with respect to one another. The transport boards cover the transport path at ground level and the corner transfer device is configured in such a way that all of the transport boards are conveyed at a common height level, for example the height level of the machine hall floor. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110259713 | SPIRAL CONVEYOR APPARATUS WITH AUTOMATIC FLOW CONTROL AND MERGE/DIVERT ATTACHMENT - A spur section for connecting a primary conveyor to a secondary conveyor is provided. The spur section includes a frame configured for attachment to a selected segment of a primary conveyor, a driving element and a driven element associated with the frame, and a driver that powers the driving element. A sensor is arranged on the selected segment of the primary conveyor that detects a conveyed article and selectively generates a divert signal or a merge signal. A controller receives the divert signal or merge signal from the sensor and controls the driving element in accordance with the divert signal or merge signal. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20120067695 | CONVEYING SYSTEM HAVING ENDLESS DRIVE MEDIUM, METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING CARRIER THEREOF, AND CARRIER - In a transport system, a plurality of carriers are attached to an endless belt configured to rotate in a circulating manner. The carriers hold articles for transportation. Each of the carriers includes an identification target for carrier identification. A plurality of stations are provided, and each of the stations includes a hand configured to load articles to or unload articles from the carriers and a sensor configured to detect the identification target at a predetermined position upstream of the hand along a rotation direction of the belt. The carrier is identified, and an appearance of the carrier is recognized based on a signal from the sensor to operate the hand for a desired carrier. The carrier can be identified using the sensor to detect the position of the carrier. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120228084 | Rolling Chip Conveyor - A rolling chip conveyor contains a body including a lower segment, a tilted segment, and an upper segment, two ends of the tilted segment connecting with the lower segment and the upper segment respectively, the upper segment including a first outlet to eliminate rough chips outside, a second outlet to eliminate fine chips, and a driving device, the second outlet being fixed on the body and facing downward, the first outlet being disposed on one side of the upper segment; a tracking belt arranged in the body to correspond to the lower segment, the tilted segment, and the upper segment, engaging with and being actuated by the driving device, the tracking belt including al least one hole; a scraper disposed proximate to the second outlet and contacting with the tracking belt; a first filter corresponding to the first outlet and beings fixed around an inner side of the tracking belt. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20120305364 | Article Transport Facility - An inter-travel-paths transport device transports articles between a first article transfer location and a second article transfer location. It extends in a space upwardly of the article processing devices and connects the first and second article transfer locations. A first transport device transfers an article to or from an article transferring point by vertically moving its holding portion and of transferring an article to or from the first article transfer location by slidingly moving the holding portion at a position which overlaps with the first travel path portion. A second movement slide transport device vertically transfers an article to or from an article transferring point in the same manner with respect to the second travel path portion. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20130140137 | AUTOMATIC STORE AND METHOD FOR STORING PLATES OF ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS - An automatic store and a method for storing plates of electronic circuits comprising a feed belt that feeds the plates of electronic circuits along a first plane (F); collection boxes positioned along at least one side of the feed belt and in which the plates of electronic circuits fed by the feed belt are grouped together according to quality classes; and one or more clearing stations disposed in cooperation with the feed belt in order to position the plates of electronic circuits in the respective collection boxes. The store comprises at least two rows of collection boxes disposed along at least one side of the feed belt, and a movement unit associated with the collection boxes to discharge the filled collection boxes and to position new collection boxes to be filled. | 06-06-2013 |
| 20130186731 | Mail Sorter with Output Container Exchange - Mail processing systems, methods, and computer-readable media. A method includes assigning first and second delivery points to a single output at the same time. The method includes sorting a first mail piece sorted to the first delivery point and a second mail piece sorted to the second delivery point. The method includes placing both first and second output containers, associated with the first and second delivery points, into a position proximate to the output. The method includes moving the first output container into a position to receive the mail pieces sorted to the first delivery point from the output and to moving the second output container into a position to receive the mail pieces sorted to the second delivery point from the output. | 07-25-2013 |
| 20130220769 | CONVEYING OF PRE-FORMS WITH INDIVIDUAL EJECTION ABILITY - An apparatus for conveying of plastics material pre-forms, with a plurality of holding devices which engage in apertures of the plastics material pre-forms and hold them, wherein these holding devices are movable along a pre-set conveying path, with a movement mechanism which has the effect that, in addition to the movement along the conveying path, the holding devices are also movable in a direction at a right angle to this conveying path. The apparatus has at least one detection device which is suitable for detecting a defective state of a plastics material pre-form held by a holding device, and at least one first removal apparatus which is arranged downstream along the conveying path of the at least one detection device and which—in reaction to a signal of the detection device—permits individual removal of a defective pre-form from the holding device. | 08-29-2013 |
| 20130240325 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ARRANGING CIGARETTE PACKS - Method and system for arranging cigarette packs according to the position of the filters of the cigarettes contained in the packs, each pack being provided on its outside with a detectable indicator ( | 09-19-2013 |
| 20130256095 | CONVEYOR SYSTEM - A conveyor system for conveying at least one product comprises a spiral first conveyor having a vertically extending central axis. The first conveyor comprises a number of conveying elements extending substantially parallel to each other. Each conveying element comprises at least one supply end for receiving the product and at least one discharge end for discharging the product. The discharge ends of the individual conveying elements are positioned at different vertical levels. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130313070 | Article Transport Facility - A travel guide member which forms travel paths for an article transport vehicle is provided on a ceiling side. The travel guide member defines a plurality of travel paths along which the article transport vehicle travels in the same direction such that the travel paths are spaced apart from each other in a path lateral direction and defines a first diverging path and a second diverging path for connecting with each other a first travel path that is one of a pair of adjacent travel paths among the plurality of the travel paths and a second travel path that is the other of the pair of the adjacent travel paths. The first diverging path and the second diverging path are formed such that both extend in directions that are slanted with respect to the travel path in plan view and such that they intersect each other in plan view. | 11-28-2013 |
| 20140353117 | CONTAINER CONVEYING CARRIAGE AND CONVEYING SYSTEM INCLUDING A CONTAINER CONVEYING CARRIAGE - A container conveying carriage includes a supporting section which supports a container, a container transfer device which transfers the container, and an item supply device which supplies an item stored in the container. The carriage can travel along a traveling path. Also, the container transfer device transfers the container between the supporting section and a container transfer point outside the carriage. Moreover, the item supply device takes out the item from the container and supplies the item to an item supply point outside the carriage. | 12-04-2014 |
| 20150060233 | ASSEMBLY FOR SORTING OPTOELECTRONIC DEVICES - An assembly for sorting optoelectronic devices ( | 03-05-2015 |
| 20160046451 | RIGHT ANGLE TRANSFER - A right angle transfer and method of transferring articles includes a plurality of conveying members that define a conveyance surface and are driven to convey objects in a conveyance direction and a plurality of diverting members. The diverting members are driven to divert objects at an angle from the conveyance surface. A frame mounts the diverting members for general vertical movement with respect to the conveying members. A lifting system including a plurality of spaced apart vertical actuators selectively raises and lowers the frame with respect to the conveying members. Each of the vertical actuators may include a cylinder that is positively driven in each of opposite directions by application of a fluid to opposite sides of the cylinder in order to positively drive the frame to both a raised state and a lowered state. The diverting members may be driven prior to being vertically moved into contact with an article being diverted. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160107846 | CHIP HANDLING DEVICES AND RELATED METHODS - Chip sorting devices and methods of ejecting chips from chip wells are disclosed. In some embodiments, chip sorting devices may include at least one chip ejection unit including at least one finger member selectively movable between a first position outside of at least one channel of a chip conveying unit and a second position within the at least one channel. In additional embodiments, a chip sorting device may include a separating wheel comprising a plurality of chip wells, each chip well configured to hold a plurality of chips. In yet additional embodiments, methods of ejecting a chip from a chip well may include urging a selected chip out of the chip well with the at least one finger member and at least one wall segment of a trailing segmented wall of the chip well. | 04-21-2016 |
| 198370020 | Conveyor has independent lateral pushers | 25 |
| 20080202893 | POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT SORTER - A positive displacement sorter apparatus includes a plurality of interconnected slats defining an endless traveling web. An upper run of the web defines a first conveying surface traveling in a longitudinal direction. A plurality of pusher shoes are provided, each moving along at least one of the slats to laterally displace an article on said conveying surface. A web end portion of the web is extendable and contractible in the longitudinal direction. A product handling conveyor at the web end portion has a second conveying surface that is adapted to supply product to, or receive product from, the first conveying surface. The product handling conveyor has a conveyor end portion that is adjacent to the web and is moveable with extension and contraction of the web end portion. In this manner, the first and second conveying surfaces maintain a constant relative relationship. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20090120764 | Sortation Conveyor Apparatus and Methods - Sortation conveyor apparatus and methods for selectively diverting articles from a primary conveying surface onto branch lines are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises assigning memory cells to first and second articles based upon the location of the articles along the primary conveyor, and determining if the second article is to be diverted to the same location as the first article, and if so, assigning the trailing cell assigned to the trailing end of the first article to other than the first article. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090139834 | RETRACTABLE DIVERTER NOSE - A diverter assembly for a positive displacement sorter apparatus having a plurality of interconnected slats that define a conveying surface adapted to convey articles in a longitudinal direction and having a plurality of pusher shoes adapted to move along at least one of the plurality of slats to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. The diverter assembly includes a diverting track extending diagonally under the conveying surface and an actuator is provided for selectively diverting at least one of the pusher shoes toward the diverting track. A diverter nose is adapted to guide the pusher shoe to the diverting track when diverted by the actuator or to guide the pusher shoe away from said diverting track when not diverted by said actuator. At least a portion of said diverter nose is adapted to move laterally and longitudinally when struck generally head-on by a portion of a pusher shoe. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20100006393 | Diverter Assembly - A diverter assembly for conveyor systems that moves in a substantially linear direction in and out of the path of loads on the conveyor system. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100059333 | SORTING DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR FOR PIECES OF LUGGAGE - A sorting device for sorting products, for example pieces of luggage, including a removing mechanism moving the product to be sorted off the supporting surface at a desired sorting location, wherein the removing mechanism includes a pusher element and a moving mechanism moving the pusher element laterally at a sorting location so as to have the pusher element push the product to be sorted off the supporting surface. The removing mechanism further includes two guides each sorting unit for guiding two respective guide members of the pusher element during the lateral movement of the pusher element. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100116620 | SORTATION CONVEYOR - A sortation conveyor has a divert guide path which is configured to guide pushers to engage articles disposed on an endless conveying surface at an initial impact which does not result in an out of control situation even at high speeds. The divert guide path is disposed at a plurality of divert angles, and guides pushers to engage articles at a low initial contact divert angle and first lateral speed and to accelerate the articles to a final divert angle and second, higher, lateral speed. The pushers may be undergoing lateral acceleration at the time initial contact is made with the articles. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100276248 | Device and method for removing objects from a moving transport device - A device and a method for removing objects ( | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100300835 | REDUCING DRAG ON THE WEB OF A POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT SORTER - A method of reducing drag on the web of a positive displacement sorter is used with a web made up of a plurality of parallel slats interconnected at their opposite ends with chain assemblies in an endless loop. A plurality of pusher shoes each travel along at least one of said slats. The sorter further includes a driven sprocket assembly and a non-driven sprocket assembly. Each of the sprocket assemblies includes at least two sprockets on a shaft, each for engaging one of the chain assemblies. The sprocket assemblies support the chain assemblies at opposite ends of the web. The method includes auditing the sorter including determining if the slats are skewed with respect to the direction of travel of the web. If it is determined that the slats are skewed, then the chain assemblies and the non-driven sprocket assembly are modified. The chain assemblies are modified by adding side thrust wheels on opposite sides of the web. The non-driven sprocket is modified by locking the sprockets to the shaft such that the sprockets rotate together. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20110108388 | SORTING DEVICE - A sorting device for sorting products, including successive load carrying platforms having a front edge and a rear edge for supporting products to be sorted on a supporting surface thereof, a conveying mechanism conveying the load carrying platforms in a conveying direction along a conveying path, a sorting mechanism including plural pusher elements pushing a product to be sorted sideways off at least one supporting surface at a desired sorting location using at least one pusher element. The pusher elements each extend above at least part of the at least one load carrying platform and are arranged for being jointly conveyed with the at least one load carrying platform in the conveying direction. A drive mechanism moves the at least one pusher element sideways at a desired sorting location. Both the front and rear edge of each load carrying platform are arcuate in shape, seen in top plan view, the arcuate shape of the front edge of a load carrying platform abutting the arcuate shape of the rear edge of a next load carrying platform located at the front of the respective load carrying platform. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110220459 | SWEEPER SORTING APPARATUS AND METHOD - A sweeper sorting apparatus for use with a transport belt includes first and second drive belts and a sweeper. The first and second drive belts are positioned adjacent to first and second ends, respectively, of the transport belt and have upper portions oriented substantially parallel to and below an upper surface of the transport belt. The second end of the transport belt is opposite the first end of the transport belt. The sweeper is coupled at a first end to the first drive belt and at a second end to the second drive belt. The sweeper is positioned above the upper surface of the transport belt. At least one of the first drive belt and the second drive belt is operable to move the sweeper across the upper surface of the transport belt to push an item off the upper surface of the transport belt. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20120006649 | ARTICLE SORTING DEVICE - In an article sorting device including a plurality of slats (article support bodies) overlaying between a pair of endless chains (endless rotation bodies) arranged along a main conveyance route, slats having a longitudinal direction at a right angle to the main conveyance route, and shoes (article lateral pressing bodies) fitted onto the slats slidably in the longitudinal direction of the slats, and guided by a branch guide member provided in a fixed direction relative to the main conveyance route, sliding sections for each of the shoes slidably in contact with each of the slats are positioned in the vicinity of both left and right ends in a sectional view relative to the longitudinal direction of the slats, and the sliding sections are positioned in the vicinity of a lower end in the sectional view. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120031731 | ARTICLE SORTING EQUIPMENT - Article sorting equipment of the present invention comprises: a rotation drive device; endless chains rotated on a conveyance route by the rotation drive device; a plurality of slats on which the article is placed and conveyed; and shoes attached to the slats. In the present invention, detected plates are attached to the slats, and a detection device for detecting the detected plates is provided. Based on timing of detecting the detected plates, positions of the slats are obtained. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20130001043 | SORTING DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR FOR PIECES OF LUGGAGE - A sorting device for sorting products, for example pieces of luggage, including a removing mechanism moving the product to be sorted off the supporting surface at a desired sorting location, wherein the removing mechanism includes a pusher element and a moving mechanism moving the pusher element laterally at a sorting location so as to have the pusher element push the product to be sorted off the supporting surface. The removing mechanism further includes two guides each sorting unit for guiding two respective guide members of the pusher element during the lateral movement of the pusher element. | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130140138 | SORTATION CONVEYOR - A sortation conveyor has a divert guide path which is configured to guide pushers to engage articles disposed on an endless conveying surface at an initial impact which does not result in an out of control situation even at high speeds. The divert guide path is disposed at a plurality of divert angles, and guides pushers to engage articles at a low initial contact divert angle and first lateral speed and to accelerate the articles to a final divert angle and second, higher, lateral speed. The pushers may be undergoing lateral acceleration at the time initial contact is made with the articles. | 06-06-2013 |
| 20130161154 | SORTER SLAT ATTACHMENT - A positive displacement sorter includes a plurality of parallel laterally extending slats and a pair of wheel assemblies, each interconnecting common end portions of the slats thereby defining an endless web that travels in a longitudinal direction. An upper surface of the web defines an article-conveying surface. A plurality of pusher shoes travel along the slats in order to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. A plurality of attachment mechanisms are provided. Each of the attachment mechanisms attaches an end portion of one of the slats to one of the wheel assemblies. Each of the attachment mechanisms includes a shoulder and a collar and at least one locking member. The collar engages the shoulder thereby providing retention of the slat to the wheel assembly. The locking member provides retention of the collar on the shoulder. | 06-27-2013 |
| 20130220770 | RELEASABLE SHOE AND METHOD FOR SHOE SORTER - A sorter conveyor system includes a conveyor forming an upwardly facing support surface for conveying objects. The support surface includes slots oriented transversely to the conveying direction and a plurality of shoe assemblies mounted for sliding movement along respective slots for transversely discharging objects from the conveying surface. Each shoe assembly includes a carrier disposed below the conveying surface, and a shoe disposed above the support surface. The shoe and the carrier together form a releasable connection therebetween. The releasable connection is configured to enable the shoe, in response to an undesirable force applied thereto, to detach completely from the carrier without breakage or failure of any part of the shoe assembly, and to be manually reattached without the use of tools or special skills. Various related methods are additionally disclosed. | 08-29-2013 |
| 20130220771 | SHOE SORTER CONVEYOR SWITCH AND METHOD - A shoe sorter switch for a conveyor includes a main body member positioned relative to the conveyor away from contact with any passing shoe of the conveyor. A plurality of subcomponents are mounted to the main body member and positioned to contact and direct passing shoes of the conveyor. The main body member and each of the plurality of subcomponents together define a plurality of precision fit couplings that each comprise a precision protrusion that is fit into a corresponding precision aperture. Related methods for assembling and installing the switch, including replacing damaged switch subcomponents without the need for any calibration to adjust the position of the replacement subcomponent relative to the main body member and to the conveyor are also provided. | 08-29-2013 |
| 20130327612 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR REMOVING OBJECTS FROM A MOVING TRANSPORT DEVICE - A device and a method for removing objects from a moving transport device having objects standing in a row thereon, including a removing device for pushing and thus removing selected objects at a right angle or any other angle with respect to the direction of travel of the transport device. The removing device is formed by a position-controlled linear actuator. | 12-12-2013 |
| 20140116842 | METHOD FOR REJECTING AN ARTICLE - A method for rejecting an article from a sequence of transported articles, wherein the establishment of a first contact between a pusher and the article to be rejected is detected by at least one measurement signal, and wherein a desired stroke is carried out for diverting the article, starting from the detected contact. Errors regarding a different lateral offset of the articles to be rejected and blind strokes caused thereby can thus be reduced. | 05-01-2014 |
| 20140182997 | Apparatus for Transport and Controlled Discharge of Products - An apparatus for comprises a frame having a guide, a transport unit including a support tray and a drive to transport the transport unit with respect to the frame. The transport unit includes pushing member displaceable with respect to the tray transversely with respect to a transporting direction. The pushing member includes a pushing portion that pushes against a product on the tray and an actuator which is guidable along said guide such that the pushing portion displaces with respect to the tray upon moving the transport unit in the transporting direction when the actuator contacts the guide. The pushing portion is resiliently connected to the frame when the actuator contacts the guide under operating conditions. The damping factor of said connection has such a low value that the process of compression/expansion of the resiliency at least partly occurs within a period of contact of the actuator and the guide. | 07-03-2014 |
| 20140291115 | SORTER SLAT ATTACHMENT - A method of disconnecting a slat from a wheel assembly that is used with a positive displacement sorter having a plurality of parallel laterally extending slats and a pair of wheel assemblies, each interconnecting common end portions of the slats thereby defining an endless web that travels in a longitudinal direction. An upper surface of the web defines an article-conveying surface. The sorter has a plurality of pusher shoes travelling along the slats in order to laterally displace articles on said conveying surface. The sorter further has a plurality of attachment mechanisms, each attaching an end portion of one of the slats to one of the wheel assemblies. Each of the attachment mechanisms includes at least one locking member. The locking member includes a pin on the slat engaging an opening in one of the wheel assemblies. A retraction tool is positioned against one of the wheel assemblies adjacent to the slat to be disconnected. The retraction tool is pivoted about the wheel assembly to retract the pin from the opening. The slat is disconnected from the wheel assembly with the pin being retracted from the opening. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140360838 | SORTATION CONVEYOR WITH PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATION - A sortation conveyor for transporting and diverting a plurality of articles includes a first conveying path and a second conveying path angularly positioned relative to the first conveying path. A plurality of pusher elements may be selectively diverted laterally across the first conveying path to divert articles to the second conveying path. A piezoelectric actuated switch assembly positioned adjacent to the second conveying path selectively engages the pusher elements to divert the selected article to the second conveying path. | 12-11-2014 |
| 20150329294 | DISTRIBUTED SORTER DRIVE USING ELECTRO-ADHESION - A sorter drive for propelling travelling members of a sorter along a path, in which the sorter has a plurality of interconnected travelling members that travel along a path and sortation members carried by the travelling members, with the sortation members adapted to discharge articles to particular destinations, according to an aspect of the invention, includes an endless drive member and an electro-adhesion system. The endless drive member engages the travelling members. The electro-adhesion system increases attraction of the endless drive member and the travelling members. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20160001978 | DIVERTING CONVEYOR WITH MAGNETICALLY DRIVEN MOVERS - A conveyor and method for moving articles across a conveying surface using electromagnetically operated movers in a conveyor belt. The movers are retained in tracks in the conveyor belt. A magnetic field source produces a magnetic field that varies across the width of the belt. The magnetic field interacts with electrically conductive material, ferromagnetic material, or permanent magnets in the movers to propel the movers and divert articles engaged by the movers across the belt. Movers with retractable pushers fold down at the sides of the belt to allow articles pushed by other movers to pass over and off the side of the belt. | 01-07-2016 |
| 20180022555 | Very High Speed Linear Sortation Conveyor with Dynamic Recirculation Capacity | 01-25-2018 |
| 198370030 | Conveyor has independently movable load supporting portions | 19 |
| 20090090600 | Alignment mechanism for food products - An apparatus and method are described for aligning food products in a plurality of rows for feeding a subsequent processing operation in a production process. The apparatus includes first and second continuous belt conveyors adjacent to each other, a dispensing plate operable to delay movement of the plurality of food products and cluster the food products together. The food products are then periodically distributed onto the second continuous belt conveyor, improving dispersion of the food products thereon. Guide fingers that extend and retract over the second continuous belt conveyor contact and displace the food products into rows within channels formed by longitudinal members extending over at least a portion of the second continuous belt conveyor. The rows of food products are then conveyed to the next processing operation. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090139835 | SORTING CONVEYOR SYSTEM - A conveyor system for sorting items that are supplied in a random sequence via a feeding conveyor, and including sorting means ( | 06-04-2009 |
| 20100006394 | Transitions between conveyance paths - Various exemplary systems and methods provide for the smooth conveyance of an article and transfer of an article on or off a conveyance path. In one example, a system comprises a first conveyance path having two ends, in which the conveyance path includes a plurality of conveyance rollers arranged to convey the article from the first end to the second end, and at least one of the rollers is configured to rotate at a first rate to drive the article. The system further comprises a transition mechanism disposed proximate to the second end of the first conveyance path. The transition mechanism includes a transition wheel positioned to receive the article from the second end, and the transition wheel is configured to be driven at a second rate that is coordinated with the first rate. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20130062160 | ARTICLE TRAY AND HANDLING OF ARTICLES WITH THE TRAY - An article-handling system and method of handling articles with article trays having a support surface and a plurality of generally parallel grooves in said support surface includes loading articles on trays with an article-traying subsystem and unloading articles from trays with an article-detraying subsystem. The article-traying subsystem has a tray conveyor and a loading article conveyor. The loading article conveyor has a plurality of fingers adapted to fit within the grooves of a tray traveling on the tray conveyor at the article conveyor. An article is transferred to the tray support surface with the loading article conveyor. The article-detraying subsystem has a trayed article conveyor and an unloading article conveyor. The unloading article conveyor has a plurality of fingers adapted to fit within the grooves of the tray of a trayed article traveling on the trayed article conveyor at the unloading article conveyor. An article is removed from the tray support surface with the unloading article conveyor. | 03-14-2013 |
| 20130180826 | SORTING APPARATUS - A sorting apparatus sequentially receives and holds a plurality of transported items that are transported and sorts and supports the transported items, and includes an endless movement member disposed so as to form a constant revolving movement pathway, and a plurality of support members that are attached to the movement member so as to be arranged along the direction in which the movement member revolves and that are capable of supporting respective transported items. In a support region that is a region of the revolving movement pathway of the movement member in which the transported items are supported by respective support members, the highest position of the support members decreases the closer the support members are to the downstream side of the direction in which the movement member revolves. | 07-18-2013 |
| 20140001009 | APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING A STREAM OF PRODUCTS | 01-02-2014 |
| 20140014468 | CROSSBELT SORTER SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SORTING ARTICLES - A crossbelt sorter system and method of sorting articles includes a track assembly and a plurality of carriers attached to each other to travel along the track assembly. Each of the carriers includes at least front and rear corner portions thereof and a trolley at each of the front and rear corner portions. Each trolley is configured to travel along the track assembly. A hitch assembly joins adjacent ones of the carriers. A propulsion system propels the carriers along the track assembly. Each trolley is mounted to the associated carrier to pivot in at least two different directions. In this manner, the track assembly may have one or more spiral portions thereof. Each trolley is adapted to pivot in the two different directions to support the associated carrier as it moves through the spiral portion. | 01-16-2014 |
| 20140076689 | 4-WAY CROSSED BELT AND AUTOMATIC PARCEL SORTING APPARATUS USING THE SAME, AND SORTING METHOD THEREOF - An automatic parcel sorting apparatus and a sorting method thereof that use a 4-way crossed belt instead of a unidirectional or bidirectional crossed belt which is generally used in an automatic parcel sorting apparatus such as an automatic parcel sorting machine. | 03-20-2014 |
| 20150060234 | ARTICLE DROPPING APPARATUS - An article dropping apparatus may include a first shutter and a second shutter. A first movable member is movable relative to the first shutter. A second movable member is movable relative to the second shutter. An article may be supported by the first shutter and the second shutter to extend therebetween when the first shutter and the second shutter are positioned at closed positions. The first movable member and the second movable member may apply forces in opposite directions away from each other so that as the first and second shutters move from closed positions to open positions. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150298175 | ARTICLE CARRIER FOR A GRADING APPARATUS - An article carrier ( | 10-22-2015 |
| 198370040 | Supporting portions tilt about an axis parallel to path of travel | 7 |
| 20090294250 | Method for Sorting Object, and Sorting Plant for Carrying Out Said Method - To sort objects, an object is transferred onto a transport device of a sorting plant, and conveyed in accordance with predetermined sort criteria from the transport device to one of a number of outputs of the sorting plant. At the output, the object is transferred to a receptacle assigned to the output. A receptacle is removed from the output as soon as a predetermined fill level has been reached, or no further objects are delivered to the output. An empty receptacle is replaced for the removed receptacle. The empty receptacle is directed via the transport device to the output. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20120125735 | VERTICAL ACTION SORTER AND METHOD OF SORTING ARTICLES - A vertical action sorter is provided along a transport conveyor for selectively diverting articles from the conveyor to a different location, such as a bin or another conveyor. Each sorter includes a sorter module that is selectively raised and lowered in response to an actuator, such as a linear actuator, that drives actuator members along respective tracks associated with the sorter module. Each track includes a contoured surface that controls the rate at which the sorter module will be raised and lowered in response to the linear actuator. A cross member may be provided for evenly supporting the sorter module as it is raised and lowered. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20130248323 | HIGH EFFICIENCY SORTING CONVEYOR WITH IMPROVED FRICTION DRIVE MOTOR ASSEMBLY - A sorting conveyor for transporting objects and unloading objects at one or more unloading stations adjacent the conveyor. The sorting conveyor includes a conveyor track, a train of conveyor carts connected end-to-end, and an opposed roller motor assembly. The opposed roller motor assembly may include a motor; a support frame attached to the conveyor track for supporting the motor; and a pair of cantilevered, drive rollers connected to the motor and to one pivot block assembly and another pivot block assembly adapted for positioning the drive roller adjacent to one surface of an extended fin driven member. The pivot block assemblies may be coupled together with a self-tensioning adjustment assembly. In some examples, the self-tensioning adjustment assembly may be adapted so that movement of each pivot block assembly mirrors movement of the other pivot block assembly. | 09-26-2013 |
| 20130341157 | INDEPENDENT DISCHARGE SORTING CONVEYOR - A sorting conveyor for transporting objects and unloading objects at one or more unloading stations adjacent the conveyor. The sorting conveyor includes a conveyor track and a train of conveyor carts connected end-to-end. At least one of the conveyor carts may include a frame base for engaging the conveyer track; a carrying tray for holding the objects; and a support for supporting the carrying tray above the frame base. A tilting mechanism including at least one gear having at least one cam is adapted for tilting the carrying tray toward at least one side of the conveyor. The present inventions may further include a tilt sensor for determining the direction of tilt of the tray. In addition, a drive motor and a driven member attached to the frame base may be included for moving the conveyor carts around the track. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20150368049 | LINEAR CROSS-BELT SORTER USING ELECTRO-ADHESION - An article sorter and method of sorting articles includes a conveyor having a conveying surface travelling in a longitudinal direction and a plurality of lanes extending laterally from the conveyor. A plurality of tilting devices are each adapted to tilt the conveying surface in the direction of one of the lanes in order to discharge an article to that lane. An electro-adhesion system is adapted to be applied to the conveying surface adjacent to at least one of the lanes in order to retain an article at the conveying surface while the conveying surface is being tilted by one of the tilting devices to discharge another article. | 12-24-2015 |
| 20160046450 | CONVEYOR SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A conveyor system and methods for conveying and unstacking flat and non-flat packages. The conveyor system includes an inclined conveyor belt delivering packages to a tilted conveyor belt that conveys flat packages along its length while non-flat packages tumble off its lower side edge to initially cull flat packages from a bulk flow of packages. Retention means, such as a high-friction outer conveying surface or a raised barrier along the length of the outer conveying surface of the tilted conveyor belt, holds flat packages on the tilted conveyor belt. The inclined conveyor belt has stop elements spaced apart along the belt's length and is advanced in stop-and-go fashion to help unstack piggy-backed packages as they are conveyed up the incline. The initially separated packages are more fully culled in a conveyor comprising a roller conveyor belt with package-supporting belt rollers rotated in a direction to push packages sidewise toward a culling element that extends along the length of the roller conveyor belt. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160137429 | Tilt-Tray Conveying Carriage And Tilt-Tray Sorting Installation - A tilt-tray sorting installation for articles and a tilt-tray conveying carriage for use in a tilt-tray sorting installation. The tilt-tray conveying carriage has a basic carriage, which is configured for displacement in the tilt-tray sorting installation, a carrying tray, which can be pivoted about a tilting axis relative to the basic carriage, and a tilting drive. A drive device of the tilting drive is fixed in relation to the basic carriage. A traction device is operatively connected to the drive device and the carrying tray. In order to render the devices suitable for heavy articles, the tilt-tray conveying carriage is provided with a traction-device guide which is arranged in a rotatably fixed manner on the carrying tray, against which the traction device abuts, at least in part, and which deflects the traction device. | 05-19-2016 |
| 198370060 | Supporting portions are laterally extending belts | 2 |
| 20100101917 | Container for Transporting Piece Goods, Particularly Pieces of Luggage - A loading and unloading station for a container that transports piece goods, particularly pieces of luggage on a conveyor belt is provided. The upper part of the container receiving the piece goods is formed by a storage surface for the piece goods, the surface including an continuous carrying belt spanning the lower part of the container and capable of bearing a load, the carrying belt is arranged transversely to the transport direction of the container and drivably guided around a plurality of deflection rollers provided on both sides of the container. A method for transporting piece goods on a conveyor track including supporting and guide elements for the container is also provided. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20150321852 | ARTICLE DIVERTING CONVEYOR BELT - An article-diverting modular conveyor belt employs a gear-driven article mover on a conveyor belt module for selectively moving a conveyed article towards a side of the module. The article mover may be a transversely-extending flexible band or helical blade for carrying articles across the belt towards a side of the module. A toothed wheel connected to the article mover is selectively driven by a gear to induce movement of the article mover. | 11-12-2015 |
| 198370070 | By separate reciprocating or oscillating pusher | 7 |
| 20080271975 | Transfer Device for the Lateral Ejection of Transported Goods and Transport Unit - The invention relates to a transfer mechanism ( | 11-06-2008 |
| 20090159400 | APPARATUS FOR PUSHING ITEMS RELATIVE TO A SURFACE - An apparatus for pushing items relative to a conveyor includes a pushing member for abutting against the items so as to push the items in a direction generally transverse to the conveyor, drive means for driving movement of the pushing member, and a linkage coupling the drive means to the pushing member. The linkage is arranged such that in response to operation of the drive means the pushing member moves from a rest position to an extended position in a first stroke substantially horizontally in the direction transverse to the conveyor so as to push the items relative to the conveyor, and with further operation of the drive means the pushing member returns to the rest position in a second stroke with an arcuate motion for passing over the top of items on the conveyor. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20120024661 | HIGH SPEED DIVERTER FOR BAGGAGE CONVEYOR - An apparatus is provided to facilitate the transfer of baggage on conveyor systems at the junction between a sort conveyor and a take-away conveyor. The transfer apparatus includes a sweeper arm that rotates across the sort conveyor to sweep a baggage article thereon toward the take-away conveyor. The sweeper arm translates linearly relative to the sort conveyor so that the baggage remains in continuous contact with the sweeper arm. The rotation of the arm is coordinated with the translation so that the baggage will be fully diverted from the sort conveyor by the time the sweeper arm reaches the end of its translation. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120152694 | DIVERTER SWING ARM - A diverter swing arm for diverting an article from a conveying surface comprises a central body having a unitary construction and including a pusher portion that has an external face for engaging and diverting a particular article from the conveying surface, and a linkage arm that facilitates connection to an actuator, and a pivot pin received in an opening defined by the central body, said pivot pin defining a pivot axis for rotation of the diverter swing arm relative to the conveying surface. There is no molded-in metal skeleton or frame in the diverter swing arm. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20140332342 | CLEANABLE DIVERTER - A cleanable shoe-type diverter belt having narrow translatable pushers forming article-diverting shoes. Cam followers on the shoes below the pushers follow guides under the belt along an upper carryway run to translate the shoes along one or more transverse tracks across the width of the belt. Monolithic diverters support the belt on the carryway run and direct the shoes along different paths. Pusher returns in a lower returnway run guide diverted pushers back to a home position. | 11-13-2014 |
| 20140339047 | WOOD VENEER DIVERTER AND PROCESSING SYSTEM - A wood veneer diverter system comprises a plurality of veneer diverters operable to divert veneer downwardly and away from a belt based on the category or grade of the veneer. These veneer diverters are desirably rotated so that they pass through a veneer flow path in the direction of veneer flow. The veneer diverters may be configured to enhance their effectiveness in diverting veneer away from belts that move the veneer. | 11-20-2014 |
| 20140360839 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FEEDING LOOSE STACKS OF SHEETS INTO A TRANSPORT DUCT - A device for feeding a book block, which is formed of at least one printed sheet and transported flat, to a processing station in a clocked manner includes a first and a second transport device. The first transport device has a comb-shaped introduction flap and transport units. The introduction flap includes teeth disposed on a base part and recesses formed between the teeth. The second transport device has a transport duct and a transport finger. The transport duct has a contact surface, a clearance and a gap. The first transport device engages, by the introduction flap, in the clearance. The recesses are open in a direction facing away from the transport duct. The transport units are disposed on a first side of the introduction flap. The introduction flap is connected to a controllable drive and has a pivot axis disposed on a second side of the introduction flap. | 12-11-2014 |
| 198370080 | By separate endless or rotary pusher | 3 |
| 20080251350 | Apparatus and Method of Transporting Food Products to a Loading Head - An apparatus and method of transporting food products ( | 10-16-2008 |
| 20120067696 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIVERTING SHINGLES - A method of diverting shingles including moving a plurality of shingles along a first path on a moving belt, and urging every other one of the plurality of moving shingles into a second path. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120234647 | APPARATUS FOR DIVERTING PRODUCTS AND METHODS OF HANDLING PRODUCTS - A product handling system includes a product conveyor capable of transporting a plurality of products. An overhead diverter assembly includes a flighted conveyor situated substantially orthogonal to the product conveyor that includes a flight. A transport containment device is located at least partially below the flighted conveyor. A control system operates the overhead diverter such that the flighted conveyor has a diverting mode and a cassette filling mode. When the flighted conveyor is in the diverting mode, the flight moves in a profiled motion to acquire the product from the product conveyor at a location beneath the overhead diverter and transports the product along the transport containment device. | 09-20-2012 |
| 198370090 | By separate supporting rollers | 8 |
| 20080302634 | Conveyor Switch - A sorting switch for diverting articles from one or more infeed conveyors to two or more outfeed conveyors. A 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. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20090114507 | Integrated overhead transport system with stationary drive - A transport system is provided to move an article from a conveyance section to a location. The conveyance section transports the article using a pair of transport belts. A lift lowers the article downward between the pair of transport belts. A hoist translates the article beneath the conveyance section to the location while supporting the article from above. The article may include a FOUP, semiconductor wafer, substrate for the manufacture of display devices or photovoltaics. The hoist may comprise a carriage and a gripper configured to grasp and vertically move the article while suspended beneath the carriage. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090200138 | Apparatus for and Method of Arranging Bakery Products - An apparatus for longitudinally arranging elongated items may include a plurality of parallel rotatable members having at least two radially enlarged portions and a channel portion disposed between adjacent radially enlarged portions. The rotatable members are disposed transverse to the desired longitudinal arrangement. The apparatus may also include a drive mechanism coupled to at least one of the rotatable members. Longitudinally arranging items, such as bakery products having an elongated shape, may be accomplished by receiving a plurality of items that are randomly oriented, introducing the plurality of items into at least one longitudinal channel formed by a plurality of channels portions on parallel rotating members, conveying the items along the at least one channel, narrowing a width of the at least one channel while conveying the items, aligning the items within the at least one channel, and outputting at least one row of longitudinally aligned items. | 08-13-2009 |
| 20100126826 | Package diverting mechanism for conveyor systems - This invention presents a unique design for a mechanism to be used in conveyors systems to selectively divert or re-direct packages off of the main conveyor and onto a secondary conveyor. This design utilizes a set of discs mounted eccentrically on an axis underneath and perpendicular to the conveying rollers. The discs are positioned edgewise and spaced between the conveying rollers. The rotation of the discs is triggered by the control system to coincide with the presence of the package selected to divert when it is on the conveying surface. The discs are mounted eccentrically in their common axis so when the array of discs is rotated the eccentricity of their rotation makes the edge of the discs extend above the conveying surface to lift the package and change its direction of motion with the tangential speed and direction of the rotating disc(s). A secondary conveyor is positioned next to the main conveyor to receive the package diverted off of the main conveyor. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20130126300 | TRANSFER CONVEYING APPARATUS - The invention describes a transfer conveying apparatus ( | 05-23-2013 |
| 20140311859 | SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR CHANGING THE DIRECTION/SPEED OF A WORKPIECE - The present disclosure provides systems, methods and assemblies comprising one or more tapered feed rolls. Tapered feed rolls may be used to change the rate and direction of workpiece travel along a processing line while retaining the workpieces in sequential order. Routing workpiece flow with tapered feed rolls may allow the workpieces to be tracked along one or more processing lines, and may reduce the operational space required for workpiece processing. | 10-23-2014 |
| 20140332343 | DIVERTING CONVEYOR WITH BIDIRECTIONAL ASSIST ROLLER - A sorting conveyor including a diverting conveyor and a bidirectional assist roller to help sort articles over the side of the diverting conveyor. The diverting conveyor includes, in one version, a conveyor belt with diverting rollers selectively actuated to push articles toward a side of the diverting conveyor. The bidirectional assist roller rotates on an axis parallel to the main conveying direction. As articles to be diverted reach the side of the diverting conveyor, the bidirectional roller rotates in a direction to assist articles over the side of the diverting conveyor and the bidirectional roller and onto an exit conveyor. When the diverting rollers are not actuated, the bidirectional roller rotates in the opposite direction to prevent articles from exiting the side of the diverting conveyor. In some instances, the bidirectional roller can be raised above the level of the diverting rollers to further block articles not selected for sorting from exiting over the side and onto the exit conveyor. | 11-13-2014 |
| 20160159581 | CONVEYOR SYSTEM WITH ROLLER ASSEMBLIES - A conveyance device comprises a sorting plate housing a plurality of roller assemblies and a series of narrow conveyor belts for conveying articles towards the sorting plate. In a first mode, the narrow conveyor belts bypass the roller assemblies and convey articles over the sorting plate. In a second mode, the conveyor belts bring an article into contact with the roller assemblies, which then manipulate the trajectory of the article. | 06-09-2016 |
| 198370100 | By separate endless or rotary supporting conveyor | 3 |
| 20100213028 | Transfer device and conveyor equipped with the same - A transfer device is configured by a conveying part and a lifting part both fixed to a casing. The conveying part forms a latticework by two groups of rollers aligned in a first direction and a second direction in matrix and includes chains for rotating the group of rollers aligned in the first direction and the group of rollers aligned in the second direction per group and driving devices for conveyance. The lifting part includes a driving device for lifting, rectilinearly-movable members for performing a rectilinear motion, and converting members for converting the rectilinear motion of the rectilinearly-movable member to a rotational motion and further to a lifting motion so as to transmit the lifting motion to the rollers. The converting members are arranged at the respective lattice points to lift up and down either group of rollers concurrently, which form a flat surface to convey articles. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20110094854 | Method and Apparatus for Delivering Items to Destination Areas - A method and apparatus are provided for sorting items to a plurality of sort destinations. The items are loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles follow a track that guides the delivery vehicles to the sort destinations, which are positioned along the track. Once at the appropriate sort destination, the delivery vehicle ejects the item to the sort destination and returns to receive another item to be delivered. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20160083196 | CLOSED GAP TRANSFER FOR A CONVEYOR AND METHOD OF USING SAME - A transfer device and method are disclosed. The transfer diverts packages about a conveyor. The conveyor has a conveyor path extending between locations of a facility. The transfer includes a frame positionable about the conveyor, rollers rotationally supported on the frame (the rollers non-aligned with the conveyor path to define a transfer path way from the conveyor path), belts rotationally supported on the frame between the rollers with a closed gap therebetween (the belts aligned with the conveyor path), and a tub movably coupled to the frame to selectively lift the rollers above the belts to engage the packages whereby the packages are selectively movable to locations away from the conveyor path. | 03-24-2016 |
| 198370110 | By separate fluid jet | 2 |
| 20090272624 | CONVEYOR ASSEMBLY WITH AIR ASSISTED SORTING - A conveyor assembly for sorting a plurality of objects comprises a conveyor belt having a surface with a first end and a second end, adapted to carry the plurality of objects from the first end toward the second end, and an electric motor adapted to move the conveyor belt. At least one air flow generation device is positioned adjacent the conveyor belt, and a controller sends a signal to the air flow generation device to generate air flow adapted to bias at least one of the plurality of objects off the conveyor belt. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20120118700 | DEVICE FOR THE RETURN OF EMPTIES, IN PARTICULAR PLASTIC BOTTLES AND METAL CANS - The present invention relates to an apparatus for recovering empty containers, in particular plastic bottles and metal cans, in which the empty containers are guided by a conveying means from a collecting chamber (bulk input) past detectors belonging to a detection unit, and discharging means for removing the empty containers from the conveying means are arranged downstream of the detection unit, in the conveying direction. The aim of the invention is to provide such an apparatus with an increased throughput. This aim is solved according to the invention in that the conveying means is configured as an inclined conveyor ( | 05-17-2012 |
| 198370120 | By selective application of suction | 2 |
| 20090127070 | WORKPIECE TRANSPORTING APPARATUS AND ELECTRONIC COMPONENT TRANSPORTING APPARATUS - An electronic component conveying apparatus is provided in which an electronic component is accommodated in a through-hole of a conveyer table and is conveyed. The electronic component can be reliably picked up from the through-hole using a compressed gas in a short time. In addition, undesired exhaust of the electronic component due to a residual compressed air can be prevented, and the conveying efficiency can be increased. In an workpiece conveying apparatus, a first surface of a conveyer table includes a pressure relief groove that extends from a location at which the pressure relief groove overlaps with an exhaust hole in a direction crossing a conveying direction and communicates with a suction recess portion when the conveyer table is rotationally driven. Alternatively, the first surface includes a pressure relief hole for relieving pressure to the atmosphere. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20150068866 | CONVEYOR EMPLOYING A VACUUM - A sorting conveyor employs suction to stabilize products on a conveyor belt. The sorting conveyor comprises a conveyor belt including a plurality of embedded rollers for moving conveyed objects relative to the conveyor belt. A vacuum chamber below the conveyor belt houses activators for the rollers and selectively creates a vacuum zone above the conveyor belt for pulling objects on the conveyor belt. | 03-12-2015 |
| 198371100 | By reversibly driving the main line section | 1 |
| 20090038910 | PANEL-CARRYING-OUT APPARATUS - A panel-carrying-out apparatus used for conveying panels ejected from a press machine includes: a semicircular sorting conveyor adapted to be driven switchably in a normal direction or a reverse direction; and a pair of straight conveyors respectively disposed at ends of the sorting conveyor. Each of the panels from the press machine is mounted on the center position of the sorting conveyor in terms of a conveying path. Specifically, an arced conveyor included in the sorting conveyor, on which each of the panels is initially mounted, is adapted to be driven switchably in the normal direction or the reverse direction. | 02-12-2009 |
