Method and apparatus for distributing articles in a storage compartment

1 . A method for distributing articles ( 2 ) made by series production in a storage compartment ( 3 ), including the following steps:

A. placing the article ( 2 ) on a longitudinally displaceable conveyor ( 4 ) above the storage compartment ( 3 );

B. displacing the article ( 2 ) by the conveyor ( 4 ) to a discharge area ( 15 , 15 ′, 15 ″, 15 ′″) which is selected among at least two discharge areas ( 15 , 15 ′, 15 ″, 15 ′″) in the storage compartment;

C. discharging the article ( 2 ) by pushing it off over one ( 12 ) or the other edge ( 13 ) of the conveyor by moving the conveyor ( 4 ) over the discharge area ( 15 , 15 ′, 15 ″, 15 ′″);

D. repeating steps A-C with selection of discharge area ( 15 , 15 ′, 15 ″, 15 ′″) in a controlled sequence.

2 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein the sequence of selecting the discharge area ( 15 , 15 ′, 15 ″, 15 ′″) of each article is controlled by the steps:

detecting degree of filling in each discharge area ( 15 , 15 ′, 15 ″, 15 ′″) in the storage compartment ( 3 );

comparing degrees of filling;

selecting the discharge area ( 15 , 15 ′, 15 ″, 15 ′″) on the basis of the said comparison.

3 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein the conveyor ( 4 ) is elevated to a first height while performing step A, and wherein the conveyor ( 4 ) is lowered to a second height before performing step B.

4 . An apparatus ( 1 ) for distributing articles ( 2 ) made by series production in a storage compartment ( 3 ), wherein it includes:

a conveyor ( 4 ) with a support surface ( 5 ) for an article ( 2 );

a drive means for longitudinal displacement ( 6 ) of the support surface ( 5 ) of the conveyor;

at least one pushing off means ( 7 );

at least one drive means for inserting ( 8 ) the at least one pushing off means ( 7 ) in the path of the article;

a control means.

5 . Apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein it includes

a drive means for vertical displacement ( 9 ) of the support surface ( 5 ) of the conveyor.

6 . Apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the conveyor ( 4 ) includes

an endless conveyor means ( 10 ).

7 . Apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the conveyor ( 4 ) includes

a slide ( 11 ) formed with free edges ( 12 , 13 ) along open sides transversely to the direction of movement of the conveyor.

8 . Apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the pushing off means ( 7 ) is oriented largely perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the conveyor.

9 . Apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the conveyor ( 4 ) is formed with free edges ( 12 , 13 ) along open sides in parallel with the direction of movement of the conveyor, and wherein the pushing off means ( 7 ) is oblique relative to the direction of movement of the conveyor.

10 . Apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein it includes at least one level measuring means ( 14 ) which is adapted for detecting the degree of filling in each discharge area ( 15 ) in the storage compartment ( 3 ).