Tilt tray sorter
A tilt tray sorter is disclosed. The tilt tray sorter comprises a housing and a tray coupled to the housing. A strain wave gear is positioned within the housing. The strain wave gear comprises a wave generator coupled to a motor, and the wave generator is configured to rotate upon actuation of the motor. Further, the strain wave gear comprises a flexspline mounted around the wave generator and a circular spline positioned around the flexspline. The flexspline is configured to rotate within the circular spline in response to the rotation of the wave generator. Further, the tilt tray sorter comprises a tilt tray shaft assembly coupled to the flexspline of the strain wave gear. The tilt tray shaft assembly is configured to rotate when the flexspline rotates. The housing and the tray are configured to pivot when the tilt tray shaft assembly is rotated.
1 . A tilt tray sorter comprising:
a housing having an inner gear profile and a top surface;
a tray comprising at least three plates, including a middle plate and two side plates, wherein the two side plates are inclined relative to the middle plate to define a proximal portion between two upward-angled distal portions;
a plurality of slots fabricated on the top surface of the housing and disposed above the inner gear profile, wherein the plurality of slots are configured to couple the tray to the housing;
a gear disposed within the housing and configured to rotate within a predefined monolithic path defined by the housing, wherein the gear comprises an outer gear profile configured to mesh with the inner gear profile of the housing;
a strain wave gear comprising:
a wave generator coupled to a motor, the wave generator configured to rotate upon actuation of the motor;
a flexspline mounted around the wave generator; and
a circular spline positioned around the flexspline, wherein the flexspline is configured to rotate within the circular spline in response to the rotation of the wave generator; and
a tilt tray shaft assembly that comprises a shaft,
wherein the shaft comprises a flange and the flange is coupled to the flexspline of the strain wave gear, and
wherein the tilt tray shaft assembly is configured to rotate when the flexspline rotates and the tilt tray shaft assembly is operatively coupled to the gear such that rotation of the gear within the predefined monolithic path induces a pivoting motion of the housing and the tray at one or more predefined angles.
2 . The tilt tray sorter of claim 1 , wherein the circular spline is fabricated with the inner gear profile and the flexspline is fabricated with an outer gear profile.
3 . The tilt tray sorter of claim 2 , wherein the flexspline is positioned within the circular spline such that the outer gear profile of the flexspline meshes with the inner gear profile of the circular spline to provide rotational movement to the flexspline.
4 . The tilt tray sorter of claim 2 , wherein the wave generator has an elliptical shaped profile, wherein the rotation of the wave generator facilitates creation of a wave within the flexspline that causes a relative movement between the flexspline and the circular spline due to meshing of the outer gear profile of the flexspline and the inner gear profile of the circular spline.
5 . The tilt tray sorter of claim 1 , wherein the one or more predefined angles correspond to 1 to 45 degrees.
6 . The tilt tray sorter of claim 1 , wherein motor is communicatively coupled to one or more processors.
7 . The tilt tray sorter of claim 6 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to send a signal or a command to the motor for tilting the tray.
8 . The tilt tray sorter of claim 1 , wherein the flexspline is configured to increase torque and reduce speed in comparison to the motor.
9 . The tilt tray sorter of claim 1 , wherein the motor corresponds to a direct current (DC) motor.
10 . A tilt tray sorter comprising:
a housing having an inner gear profile and a top surface;
a tray comprising at least three plates, including a middle plate and two side plates, wherein the two side plates are inclined relative to the middle plate to define a proximal portion between two upward-angled distal portions;
a plurality of slots fabricated on the top surface of the housing and disposed above the inner gear profile, wherein the plurality of slots are configured to couple the tray to the housing;
a strain wave gear comprising:
a wave generator coupled to a motor, the wave generator configured to rotate upon actuation of the motor;
a flexspline mounted around the wave generator; and
a circular spline positioned around the flexspline, wherein the flexspline is configured to rotate within the circular spline in response to the rotation of the wave generator; and
a tilt tray shaft assembly comprising a shaft, the shaft including a flange and a gear, wherein the flange is coupled to the flexspline, and the gear includes an outer gear profile;
wherein the tilt tray shaft assembly is configured to rotate when the flexspline rotates, and the gear is configured to rotate within a predefined monolithic path within the housing to induce a pivoting motion of the tray at one or more predefined angles.
11 . The tilt tray sorter of claim 10 , wherein the circular spline is fabricated with an inner gear profile and the flexspline is fabricated with an outer gear profile.
12 . The tilt tray sorter of claim 11 , wherein the flexspline is positioned within the circular spline such that the outer gear profile of the flexspline meshes with the inner gear profile of the circular spline to provide rotational movement to the flexspline.
13 . The tilt tray sorter of claim 11 , wherein the wave generator has an elliptical shaped profile, wherein the rotation of the wave generator facilitates creation of a wave within the flexspline that causes a relative movement between the flexspline and the circular spline due to meshing of the outer gear profile of the flexspline and the inner gear profile of the circular spline.
14 . The tilt tray sorter of claim 10 , wherein the one or more predefined angles correspond to 1 to 45 degrees.
15 . The tilt tray sorter of claim 10 , further comprising and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the motor,
wherein the one or more processors are configured to send a signal or a command to the motor for tilting the tray at the one or more predefined angles.
16 . The tilt tray sorter of claim 10 , wherein the flexspline is configured to increase torque and reduce speed in comparison to the motor.
17 . The tilt tray sorter of claim 10 , wherein the outer gear profile of the gear is configured to mesh with the inner gear profile of the housing.