The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 20, 1998
Filed:
Jul. 11, 1997
Christopher Z Sieradzki, Monee, IL (US);
Jaime F Pozo, Clarendon Hills, IL (US);
AMSTED Industries Incorporated, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
The invention provides a method and system for automated sorting or articles such as railroad wheels. After the wheels are inspected and designated as fitting a particular category, the wheels are moved to a transfer car and the wheel and transfer car are moved to a wheel pick up station, where an overhead hoist awaits. As the wheel and transfer car are moved, a hook portion of the hoist is received in the wheel axles hole. The hoist raises the wheel out of the transfer car and then the hoist and wheel move laterally to a wheel drop off station corresponding with the category of the wheel. A shuttle car with an empty wheel receiving slots is below each wheel drop off station. The hoist lowers the wheel into the aligned wheel slot of the appropriate shuttle car for that category of wheel. After the wheel is deposited in the slot, the shuttle car indexes away from the hoist, freeing the wheel and hoist from one another. The hoist is then raised and returned to the wheel pick up station. The process continues until it is desired to remove a group of sorted wheels from one of the shuttle cars. The sorted wheels may be lifted out of each shuttle car as a group and transferred to a desired location.