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:
Mar. 14, 2006
Filed:
May. 06, 2003
Dick D. Brinkley, Lowell, MI (US);
Arthur J. Terpstra, Jr., Allendale, MI (US);
Ricardo N. Schiesser, Rockford, MI (US);
Jack W. Tomanek, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Dick D. Brinkley, Lowell, MI (US);
Arthur J. Terpstra, Jr., Allendale, MI (US);
Ricardo N. Schiesser, Rockford, MI (US);
Jack W. Tomanek, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp., Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for sequencing articles via a single sort pass or process includes a plurality of article receivers or collators positioned along a conveying or transport path and a plurality of carriages movable along the path. The carriages receive articles from at least one induct in a generally random manner and discharge the articles at the appropriate collators. The collators are operable to selectively receive the articles at an appropriate one of a plurality of bins of the collators, such that the articles are positioned within the bins of the collators in a sequenced manner. The articles may be unloaded to a plurality of collecting devices and/or manually unloaded and placed or stacked in a container in the desired sequence. The collecting devices may be manually unloaded while the collators simultaneously selectively receive articles during a subsequent sort wave or process.