System, apparatus, and method for detecting a fault in a pusher shoe of a shoe sortation conveyor
A shoe sorter is described. The shoe sorter can include a switch plate that supports movement of a shoe pin of a pusher shoe, a finger, and an actuation arm. In some examples, the finger can be configured to be moved in a first direction in response to a portion of the shoe pin contacting a portion of the finger. The actuation arm can be pivotably engaged to the finger so that a movement of the finger in the first direction can cause a movement of the actuation arm in a second direction. In this regard, the actuation arm in the second direction can cause a change in a signal outputted by the photoelectric sensor coupled to the shoe sorter. This change in the signal can be used by a processor to determine that the shoe pin is misaligned.
1. A shoe sorter comprising:
a switch plate configured to define a movement path of a shoe pin of a pusher shoe of the shoe sorter;
a first tab mechanically coupled to the switch plate; and
a power unit electrically coupled to the first tab such that a movement of the shoe pin contacting a portion of the first tab establishes a complete electrical circuit, wherein in response to the establishment of the complete electrical circuit, the power unit sends a signal to a processor to determine that the shoe pin is misaligned.
2. The shoe sorter of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second tab mechanically coupled to the switch plate such that the first tab and the second tab forms a gap like structure that defines the movement path of the shoe pin.
3. The shoe sorter of claim 2 , wherein the complete electrical circuit is established in response to the shoe pin passing through the gap and contacting at least a top portion of the first tab or the second tab.
4. The shoe sorter of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to generate an alert indicating that the shoe pin is misaligned.
5. A shoe sorter comprising:
a switch plate configured to define a movement path of a shoe pin of a pusher shoe of the shoe sorter;
a first tab and a second tab mechanically coupled to the switch plate; and
a power unit electrically coupled to the first tab and the second tab such that a movement of the shoe pin contacting at least a portion of the first tab or the second tab establishes a complete electrical circuit, wherein in response to the establishment of the complete electrical circuit, the power unit sends a signal to a processor to determine that the shoe pin is misaligned.
6. The shoe sorter of claim 5 , wherein the first tab and the second tab forms a gap like structure that defines the movement path of the shoe pin.
7. The shoe sorter of claim 5 , wherein the first tab and the second tab correspond to a contactor spring made up of metal or non-metal.
8. The shoe sorter of claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to perform at least one of:
generating a command to cease operation of the shoe sorter based on determining that the shoe pin is misaligned,
generate an alert indicating a location of the pusher shoe; and
generate a command to move the pusher shoe at a maintenance location.
9. The shoe sorter of claim 5 , wherein the first tab is connected to a source terminal of the power unit and the second tab is connected to a sink terminal of the power unit.
10. The shoe sorter of claim 9 , wherein the complete electrical circuit is established in response to the shoe pin passing through a gap and contacting at least the portion of the first tab or the second tab.
11. The shoe sorter of claim 5 , wherein the first tab and the second tab are positioned such that in response to movement of the shoe pin in the movement path, a bent portion of the shoe pin makes a contact with a top portion of the first tab and the second tab.
12. The shoe sorter of claim 5 , wherein the first tab and the second tab are positioned such that upon movement of an another shoe pin in the movement path, a non-bent portion of the another shoe pin passes through the movement path without making a contact with a top portion of the first tab and the second tab.
13. The shoe sorter of claim 12 , wherein the non-bent portion of the another shoe pin passing through the movement path leaves the electrical circuit incomplete.
14. The shoe sorter of claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to generate an alert indicating that the shoe pin is misaligned.
15. A method for detecting a fault in a shoe pin of a shoe sorter comprising:
initiating a movement of the shoe pin along a movement path defined by a switch plate of the shoe sorter; and
sending a signal to a processor to determine that the shoe pin is misaligned, wherein the signal is sent by a power unit in response to an establishment of a complete electrical circuit, wherein the complete electrical circuit is established in response to a movement of the shoe pin contacting a portion of a first tab.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising generating an alert indicative of misalignment of the shoe pin.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising generating a command to cease operations of the shoe sorter based on determining misalignment of the shoe pin.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the shoe sorter further comprises:
a second tab coupled to the switch plate such that the first tab and the second tab forms a gap like structure that defines the movement path of the shoe pin.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the complete electrical circuit is established in response to the shoe pin passing through the gap and contacting at least a top portion of the first tab or the second tab.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein positioning of the first tab and the second tab are such that in response to the movement of the shoe pin in the movement path, a bent portion of the shoe pin makes a contact with a top portion of the first tab and the second tab.