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:
Jun. 12, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 22, 1999
Stephen T. Kugle, Arlington, TX (US);
Siemens ElectroCom, L.P., Arlington, TX (US);
Abstract
A sorter conveyor system according to the invention includes at least one endless conveyor loop including a rail. One or more conveyor segments are mounted on the rail. Each segment is a series of cart units each having wheel structures mounted for rolling movement along the rail, a tray for carrying one or more items thereon, a selectively actuable mechanism for tilting the tray laterally in at least one direction to unload an item from the tray to an unloading station adjacent the conveyor loop, and a coupling mechanism for joining each cart unit in each series in a head to tail relationship. One or more drive elements are connected to one or more of the cart units and configured to permit the conveyor segment to be driven by a linear drive unit. A drive system is provided which includes a plurality of linear drive units, preferably linear induction motors (LIM's) disposed at spaced positions along the conveyor loop for driving each of the drive elements of the cart units in each segment, such that each conveyor segment can each be driven independently of each other conveyor segment by selective actuation of the linear induction drive units.