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:
Dec. 10, 2002
Filed:
Dec. 26, 2000
Edward Ydoate, Louisville, KY (US);
Steven Vann Schroader, Louisville, KY (US);
Jonathan D. Terrell, Louisville, KY (US);
Sandvik Sorting Systems, Inc., Louisville, KY (US);
Abstract
An unstacking apparatus includes a feed conveyor for feeding stacks of items, and a decline unstacking section including at least first and second declined conveyors arranged in series. A stack of items being transferred from the feed conveyor to the first declined conveyor tilts forwardly to cause the items to slide forwardly off one another into a shingle arrangement on the first declined conveyor. The second declined conveyor includes an upstream end which is offset upwardly relative to a downstream end of the first declined conveyor, causing items to travel upwardly in order to pass from the first to the second declined conveyors. The second declined conveyor travels at a faster speed than the first declined conveyor for at least partially de-shingling the items. A transfer conveyor conveys items to an incline unstacking section which includes at least first and second incline conveyors arranged in series. A stack of items being transferred from the transfer conveyor to the first inclined conveyor tilts rearwardly to cause the items to slide rearwardly off one another into a shingle arrangement on the first inclined conveyor. The second inclined conveyor includes an upstream end which is offset downwardly relative to a downstream end of the first inclined conveyor, causing items to descend in order to pass from the first to the second inclined conveyors. The second inclined conveyor travels at a faster speed than the first inclined conveyor for at least partially de-shingling the items.