Automatic tray handling system for sorter
View Patent ↗A method for handling trays for use with an article sorter includes providing a conveying surface along a plurality of sorter units and conveying empty trays along the conveying surface. The empty trays that are being conveyed along the conveying surface are stopped with a tray stopping device that is positioned at least partially below the conveying surface and operable to project a portion of the tray stopping device above the conveying surface to engage and stop an empty tray. The stopped empty trays are moved from the conveying surface to the tray support areas in a direction generally transverse to the conveying surface. The empty trays are at least partially filled at the tray support areas, and the partially filled trays are moved from the tray support area onto the conveying surface.
1. A method for handling trays for use with an article sorter, the article sorter including a plurality of sorter units and a plurality of corresponding tray support areas for positioning a tray while the tray is being filled with sorted articles, said method comprising:
providing a conveying surface along the sorter units;
conveying empty trays along said conveying surface;
stopping empty trays that are being conveyed along said conveying surface with a tray stopping device that is positioned at least partially below said conveying surface and operable to project a portion of said tray stopping device above said conveying surface to engage and stop an empty tray;
moving stopped empty trays from said conveying surface to the tray support areas in a direction generally transverse to said conveying surface;
at least partially filling the empty trays at the tray support areas; and
moving partially filled trays from the tray support area onto said conveying surface.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said conveying surface comprises a roller conveyor having a plurality of rollers positioned therealong and defining a roller conveying surface.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein stopping empty trays comprises pivoting a tray stopping member of said tray stopping device between a pair of adjacent rollers to protrude a portion of said tray stopping member above said roller conveying surface.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein moving empty trays comprises moving a moving arm in a first direction generally transverse to said roller conveyor and between at least one pair of adjacent rollers to move the stopped empty trays to the tray support areas.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein moving partially filled trays comprises moving said moving arm in a second direction generally transverse to said roller conveyor and between at least one pair of adjacent rollers to move the partially filled trays onto said conveying surface, said second direction being generally opposite to said first direction.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said moving arm comprises a generally U-shaped member having a base member positioned generally below said conveying surface, a first arm extending above said conveying surface for engaging and moving empty trays, and a second arm extending above said conveying surface for engaging and moving partially filled trays.