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:
Sep. 02, 2008
Filed:
Jun. 05, 2006
Frank W. Veit, Spring Lake, MI (US);
Frank W. Veit, Spring Lake, MI (US);
Dematic Corp., Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Abstract
A conveyor sorter includes a conveying surface movable in a longitudinal direction and a plurality of pusher shoes capable of traveling laterally of the conveying surface. At least one diverting rail is configured to selectively guide at least one of the pusher shoes laterally of the conveying surface. At least one diverter associated with the diverting rail is adapted to selectively transfer one or more pusher shoes to the diverting rail. The diverting rail has at least a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is at a first angle with respect to the longitudinal direction and the second portion is at a second angle with respect to the longitudinal direction that is different from the first angle. A pusher shoe guided by the diverting rail travels at a first lateral rate along the first portion and at a second, different lateral rate along the second portion. The first angle may be less than the second angle and a pusher shoe guided by the diverting rail traveling at the first lateral rate initially contacts an article on said conveying surface at the first portion. The second lateral rate would be higher than the first lateral rate for the duration of the diverting of the article. The diverting rail may be at least partially curved thereby providing a gradual junction between the first and second portions.