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:
Jul. 13, 1999
Filed:
Mar. 06, 1997
Shigekatsu Takino, Saitama, JP;
Shinichi Hayashida, Saitama, JP;
Tsubakimoto Chain Co., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
Spherical sorting rollers are arranged in rows transversely of an article conveyance path, and line shafts, which are connected to a drive source and are rotated thereby, are disposed sideways in parallel with the rows of the sorting rollers. The spherical outer peripheral surfaces of the spherical sorting rollers and the line shafts are brought into abutment with each other to drive the sorting rollers simultaneously. The spherical sorting rollers are each supported individually by a roller supporting frame. The roller supporting frame can turn at a predetermined position about a vertical axis which passes through the center of each roller. The roller supporting frames are turned in a sorting direction simultaneously by a swing mechanism, whereby an article which has been conveyed up to a sorting position is sent out sideways from above the article conveyance path. The sorting and discharging device provided is capable of effecting a sorting operation efficiently with little wear of sorting rollers and little power loss.