DEVICE FOR RELIABLY MOVING ARTICLE FROM CONVEYOR SURFACE

Abstract

A device for reliably sweeping or sorting an article from a main conveyor surface that is positioned above the main conveyor surface and includes a paddle assembly that can be adjusted for moving various different articles from the main conveyor.

Claims

1. A device for moving an item off of a conveyor surface, the device comprising: two or more paddles connected to a continuous bi-directional sweeper belt, the two or more paddles and the bi-directional sweeper belt forming a paddle assembly positioned over the conveyor surface; a sensor for detecting the presence of an object; and a motor to control the movement of the sweeper belt; wherein each of the two or more paddles of the paddle assembly are positioned to sweep over the conveyor surface to direct an item off the conveyor surface, and wherein at least one paddle of the two or more paddles comprises a first region for connecting to the sweeper belt, and a second region for sliding across the conveyor surface.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the paddle assembly is configured to be positioned at different distances from a top surface of the conveyor surface.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, a paddle of the two or more paddles comprises a center region with a friction coating for contacting the items on the conveyor surface.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first region includes a rigid region.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second region is a flexible region which includes a brush.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sweeper belt includes a plastic belt positioned between a pair of rollers, wherein one of the rollers is a motorized drive roller.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a sprocket is attached to the pair of roller and the sweeper belt is reeved around the pair of rollers.

8. A device for moving an item off of a conveyor surface comprising: two or more paddles connected to a bi-directional, sweeper belt, wherein the sweeper belt is adjustably connected to a support frame, wherein the two or more paddles and the bi-directional sweeper form a paddle assembly positioned over the conveyor surface, and the paddle assembly comprises a first end and a second end each having drive rollers attached to sprockets to move the sweeper belt; at least one paddle bracket removably supported and fixed to an integrated element of the sweeper belt, wherein the at least one paddle bracket connects at least one paddle to the sweeper belt; wherein at least one paddle of the two or more paddles comprises a brush that is configured to slide across the conveyor surface.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein one of the rollers attached to the sprocket is a motorized driver roller activated by a drive roller controller.

10. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the rollers are attached to the sprocket a welding flange and a sprocket toe clamp.

11. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the paddle assembly comprises a compression spring as an automatic tensioning device to maintain tension on the sweeper belt.

12. The device as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a paddle link integrated into the sweeper belt and attached to the at least one paddle bracket and the at least one paddle by one of a bolt, screw, rivet, or pin.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the at least one paddle comprises two paddle pieces connected by an adhesive to securely link the two paddle pieces with each other.

14. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the motorized drive roller to control the movement of the sweeper belt is capable of directing the two or more paddles to divert items from the conveyor surface toward either side of conveyor; and wherein the direction of movement of the motorized driver roller results in the left or right handed divert of the item from the conveyor surface when contacted by the paddles.

15. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least one paddle of the two or more paddles comprises (a) a rigid top region for connecting to the continuous bi-directional sweeper belt, (b) a center region with a friction coating for contacting the items on the main conveyor surface, and (c) the flexible end region for positioning close to the conveyor surface.

16. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one paddle bracket connects the two or more paddles to the sweeper belt.

17. A device for moving an item off of a main conveyor surface comprising: a paddle assembly connected to a sweeper belt, wherein the paddle assembly comprises a first paddle attached to the sweeper belt at a first location, and a second paddle attached to the sweeper belt at a second location; wherein each of the first paddle and the second paddle are positioned to sweep over the conveyor surface to direct an item off the conveyor surface; and wherein the first paddle comprises an attachment region for connecting to the sweeper belt, a center region to contact an article on the conveyor surface, and an end region positioned close to the conveyor surface.

18. The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the end region is adapted to contact the conveyor surface for sliding the item across the conveyor surface

19. The device as claimed in claim 17, further comprises: an electronic eye to sense a position of at least one paddle of the first and second paddles to determine if the sweeper belt has moved either left or right based on a known configuration of the other paddle in relation to the sensed position of the at least one paddle.

20. The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the paddle assembly is positioned at different distances from the conveyor surface when the paddle assembly is located above the conveyor surface by adjustably connecting the sweeper belt to a frame to allow positioning of end surfaces of the paddles.

21. The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the paddle assembly is configured to move with respect to the conveyor surface based on a likelihood of damaging the article, a size of the article, a type of article, a surface or packaging covering the article, or a speed of the main conveyor surface.

22. The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first and second paddle are made of different materials.

23. The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the sweeper belt is a continuous, part-circular sweeper belt, wherein each of the first paddle and the second paddle are removably connected to the sweeper belt by a rigid bracket that is fixed to an integrated element of the continuous, part-circular sweeper belt.

24. The device as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a motorized driver roller activated by a drive roller controller to run forwards or backwards, and wherein the direction of movement of the motorized driver roller results in the left or right handed divert of the item from the conveyor surface when contacted by the padd

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1: Sweeper Sorter Module including the sweeper belt, belt drive and tensioning system, and paddles.

[0010] FIG. 2: Detail of Roller-Sprocket Assembly

[0011] FIG. 3: View of plastic sweeper belt assembly and sprocket assembly with support frame removed.

[0012] FIG. 4: Detail of plastic sweeper belt and embodiment showing spaced three-paddle sweeper assembly.

[0013] FIG. 5A: Sweeper Sorter Module plan view showing photoelectric eyes and FIG. 5B left side view.

[0014] FIG. 6A: Side view of sweeper sorter module and FIG. 6B close-up of end on view,

[0015] FIG. 7: Sweeper Sorter Module cross section view showing sprocket and toe clamp between sweeper belt and drive roller.

[0016] FIG. 8: Detailed view of embodiment of belt and paddle assembly connections as integrated link into sweeper belt.

[0017] FIG. 9A: Photo of the paddle over a main conveyor used to sort packaged items and FIG. 9B photo of paddle used to sort boxes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] In contrast with other conveying systems that use a pusher device to move articles across and off a conveying surface from below or through the bottom of the conveying surface, the present invention employs a more robust sweeping action which can preferably be employed from above the conveying surface. As a result, there are fewer errors in the sorting of packages or other articles during the process of removing them from a conveying surface. In order to move or propel articles or packages from a conveyor surface, the paddle assembly is attached to a rigid belt. In general, the connection between the paddle assembly parts and the rigid belt are designed and built to ensure that the connection has little to no play when the paddle contacts the article on the conveyor surface. The design and construction of the paddle surface itself can be changed to allow some flexibility depending on the articles that are being moved. In addition, the paddle surface can comprise a region where it connects to the sweeper belt and a region where is contacts the article or package and these regions can be made of or coated with different elements. For example, the end or tip of the region designed to contact the article can be coated to allow it to brush up against the main conveyor surface or within 0.5 to 1 mm or within 0.5 to 2 mm of the main conveyor surface.

[0019] Thus, in preferred embodiments the invention includes a sorting device for moving an item off of a main conveyor surface that comprises a plastic paddle assembly that is firmly connected to a plastic sweeper belt, where the assembly and belt are positioned over the surface of a main conveyor. One or more electronic eyes can be used for detecting the presence of an object and its position, detecting the fine position of one or more of the paddles, and/or detecting the movement of the article from the main conveyor surface. There is a motorized drive roller employed in the sweeper belt to control the movement of the plastic sweeper belt. Similarly, the sorting device may contain a plastic paddle assembly that is removeably connected to a plastic sweeper belt, for example by a rigid bracket that is fixed to an integrated element of the plastic sweeper belt. The removeable paddles allows easy replacement or options when different articles are moving on the main conveyor surface. Various different paddle surfaces, paddles of different constructions, and various regions on the paddles can thus be used. IN fact, when two or more paddle assemblies are used in the sweeper belt, different paddles can be made of different materials to contact different articles on the main conveyor surface. Thus, both small wrapped packages and larger boxes can be robustly moved off the main conveyor surface in these embodiments without the need of changing the paddle s used. The invention includes aspects where one or more sensors are used for detecting the presence of an item on the main conveyor or its movement from the conveyor, or detecting the position of the one of more paddles. The sorting device can have a paddle made of a rigid plastic or metal material and can be connected to the sweeper belt through an integrated link (18) in the sweeper belt that projects out from the sweeper belt surface to form a surface of affixing the paddle surfaces. Multiple paddle surfaces can be used in one paddle assembly so that, for example, two paddle surfaces are affixed to one projection from the integrated link in the sweeper belt as shown in FIG. 8. The paddle assembly can include a bracket or brace (5) which is comprised of a different material than the paddle (9).

[0020] The lower end or tip surface of a paddle or the paddle assembly can be positioned at different distances from the top surface of the main conveyor surface when the paddle assemble is located above the main conveyor. Thus, the sweeper belt can be adjustably connected to a frame that allows the fine positioning of the end surfaces of the paddle and very close movement of the paddle to the main conveyor surface. The paddle assembly can have two ends with rollers to move the plastic sweep belt (1), one end having a drive roller to control the movement of the plastic sweep belt (1), the other end having a compression spring (17) to maintain the tension on the plastic sweeper belt (1). The paddles can be connected to the plastic sweeper belt by a flange in the plastic sweeper belt and at least one bracket fixed to the flange and linking the paddle to the belt.

[0021] The scope of the invention is not limited to the above description and explanations, and the following claims are exemplary of the many variations and embodiments possible included in this invention.