Device comprising a conveyor

Abstract

A device comprising a conveyor such as a sorter comprises a support surface for an object, and a moveable barrier, wherein said barrier comprises a bottom side for contact with the support surface and a top side, and is moveable relative to the support surface with a directional component, which directional component is i) parallel to the support surface and ii) transverse to the direction of movement of the support surface. So as to reduce the risk of an object getting stuck between the barrier and the support surface, the barrier comprises a multitude of independently moveable barrier elements having free distal ends for contact with the support surface and defining the bottom edge of the barrier, wherein the barrier elements are mounted such that the distal ends of the barrier element are moveable with a vertical directional component.

Claims

1. A device comprising: a conveyor, said conveyor having: a support surface for an object, and a barrier, wherein said barrier comprises a bottom side for contact with the support surface and a top side, and is moveable relative to the support surface with a directional component, in which the directional component is i) parallel to the support surface and ii) transverse to the direction of movement of the support surface; wherein the barrier comprises a multitude of independently moveable barrier elements having free distal ends for contact with the support surface and defining the bottom edge of the barrier, wherein the barrier elements are mounted such that the distal ends of each barrier element are moveable with a vertical directional component; wherein the barrier comprises a barrier body, said barrier body comprises an oversized slot oriented transverse to the vertical, and the barrier elements are mounted in the slot with the distal ends thereof protruding from the slot.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the barrier body can move in a path across the support surface, said path defining an average level of the support surface and the barrier body is mounted movably at a distance from said average level wherein the barrier elements are moveable both up and down.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a sorter.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the sorter is a tray sorter comprising a multitude of trays, wherein a tray of the tray sorter comprises the moveable barrier comprising a multitude of barrier elements.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the barrier comprises a wheel for running over the support surface.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the bottom section of the barrier comprises a concave back.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the movability of the barrier elements comprises rotatability about an axis parallel to the support surface and over an angle of less than 45.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the movability of the barrier elements comprises translatability with a vertical component.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the barrier elements are V-shaped with a relatively short leg received in the slot and a relatively long leg protruding from the slot.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein each barrier element comprises an upward facing protrusion that is retained in an oversized top section of the slot and the slot is provided with a stop surface.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the distal ends of the barrier elements are defined by a first plane and a second plane, said planes i) extending in the longitudinal direction of the barrier, and ii) being at an acute angle with respect to each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will now be illustrated with reference to the drawing where

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view on a sorter;

(3) FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B show perspective views of a tray respectively;

(4) FIG. 3A through FIG. 3C respectively show a top view, a side view and a front view on the tray of FIG. 2A;

(5) FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B show a cross-sectional view through the tray of FIG. 3B and a detail thereof;

(6) FIG. 5A through FIG. 5C show a cross-sectional view of a pusher plate comprising a barrier element in three different orientations thereof;

(7) FIG. 6 shows the barrier element of FIG. 5B; and

(8) FIG. 7 shows an alternative example of a barrier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view on a device 100, more specifically a sorter 100. It comprises a conveyor 110, said conveyor comprising a plurality of trays 120 providing a support surface 121 for an object (not shown) to be transported and sorted. The trays comprise conveyor bars 122, and the conveyor bars 122 of adjacent trays 120 are hingedly linked to form an endless chain 132. This chain 132 is driven using an actuator 125, typically an electric motor 125 to move the trays 120 in a continuous loop. A sorter 100 as described above is generally known in the art.

(10) For the purpose of the description of the present invention, the trays 120 comprise a leading side 126, and a trailing side 127, where in FIG. 1 the conveyor 110 is assumed to run counter-clockwise.

(11) At the side of the conveyor bar is designated the rear side 128 and its opposite side is designated the front side 129.

(12) FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B show a perspective top view and a perspective bottom view of a tray 120 respectively. The tray comprises a moveable barrier 220 (pusher plate 220) comprising a barrier body 221 and at a lower edge there of a a multitude of barrier elements 222 in contact with the support surface 121 of the tray 120.

(13) The tray 120 comprises a guide 230 for the pusher plate 220 so as to allow it to move from a position relatively close to the rear side 128 to the front side 129 and back. To this end, the barrier 220 comprises a frame 223 engaging the guide 230 and provided with protruding pin 234. When the tray 120 is moved, the device 100 may engage the pin 234 so as to push it sideways, which is well-known in itself and doesn't require further elucidation.

(14) The tray 120 comprises a wheel 240 for running along a track of the conveyor and upright sidewalls 250 to keep the object on the support surface 121 of the tray 120.

(15) FIG. 3A through FIG. 3C respectively show a top view, a side view and a front view on the tray of FIG. 2A.

(16) The pusher plate 220 comprises a wheel 325 that allows it to move with little friction across the support surface 121. In the embodiment discussed here, it also determines the distance of the barrier body 221 to the support surface 121.

(17) FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B show a cross-sectional view through the tray of FIG. 3B and a detail thereof.

(18) The pusher plate 220 comprises a slot 420 accommodating the barrier element 222 that in this embodiment is V-shaped. The slot 420 is oversized in that it allows tilting of the barrier element 222 and an up and down movement. This allows the barrier element 222 to follow the support surface 121 of the tray 120, and reduces the risk that any object or part thereof gets trapped between the barrier 220 and the support surface 121.

(19) FIG. 5A through FIG. 5C show a cross-sectional view of a pusher plate 220 comprising a barrier element 222 in three different orientations thereof.

(20) In the embodiment discussed here, the barrier element 222 is V-shaped, comprising a first leg 510 comprising a first distal end 511 and a second leg 520 comprising a second distal end 521.

(21) As mentioned above, the wheel 325 maintains a distance between the barrier body 221 and the support surface 121. The barrier element 222 will typically be in a neutral orientation as shown in FIG. 5B, which allows the barrier element 222 to move up or down to follow any local irregularity of the support surface (bump or valley) yet stay in contact with the support surface.

(22) Typically, the frontmost side of the barrier element 222 is substantially flush with the frontmost side of the barrier body 221.

(23) The barrier element 222 may tilt depending on the circumstances met, as is explained below.

(24) If the pusher plate 220 is moved to the right (FIG. 5A), friction will cause the barrier element 222 to tilt and stay in contact with the support surface 121. The center of rotation is at the first distal end 511. In case of wear, the barrier elements 222 remain functional, i.e. in contact with support surface 121.

(25) If the pusher plate 229 moves to the left, the friction will generated a lifting moment on the barrier element 222. The only downward force the barrier element 222 can exert is because of its own weight which force will be very small. So, any object or part thereof that would be present below the second distal end 521 is unlikely to be moved along with the pusher plate 220.

(26) FIG. 5A shows the barrier element in one of the extreme tilt orientation (FIG. 5C shows the other). The barrier element 222 comprises a protrusion 530 away from its distal ends that engages the inner wall 501 of the slot 420 facing the rear side 128. Thus even in this extreme orientation, the barrier element 222 can firmly push an object to the right.

(27) FIG. 6 shows the barrier element of FIG. 5B, and indicates the angle , as defined by the first distal end 511 where the barrier element 222 rotates, the second distal end 521 where the second leg 520 contacts the support surface 121 and the support surface 121. In the embodiment discussed here, the angle in the neutral position of the barrier element is 24 and the tilt range is from 18 to 30.

(28) FIG. 7 shows an alternative example of a barrier, wherein the barrier element 222 comprises a slot 420 with a circular cross-section housing a cylindrical member 720 of the barrier element 222, from which a plate 721 protrudes with a tapered distal end. Also there is a protrusion 723 to help to prevent an object from getting caught between the top of the barrier element 222 and the barrier body 221.