IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,409,716

Granted Patent B2

US 9,409,716 · App. 14/304,010 · Granted Aug 9, 2016

Cross belt slat sorter

Inventors: William A. Bastian, II (Carmel, IN); Garrett Clark (Carmel, IN); Eric C. Halvorson, II (Fishers, IN)

Assignee: BASTIAN SOLUTIONS, LLC

B65G17/345 B65G43/08 B65G47/2445

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 9,409,716
App. No.: 14/304,010
Granted: Aug 9, 2016
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A conveyor sortation system includes a frame and two or more carriages riding along the frame in a travel direction. Each carriage includes a belt and an electric motor. The belt is oriented at a direction that is transverse to the travel direction of the carriage. The electric motor is configured to drive the belt. In one form, the belt has a width that is at most 8 inches (20.32 cm) wide. In another form, the carriages have a vertical recirculation pattern along the frame.

Claims (126)

1. A conveyor sortation system, comprising:

a frame;

two or more carriages riding along the frame in a travel direction, each carriage including

a belt oriented at a direction that is transverse to the travel direction of the carriages,

an electric motor configured to drive the belt, and

wherein the belt has a width that is at most 8 inches (20.32 cm) wide; and

a vision system positioned to view an item disposed on two or more of the carriages, wherein the vision system is configured to align the item by at least moving the belt on one of the carriages relative to the belt on the other carriage.

2. The conveyor sortation system of claim 1 , wherein the carriages have a vertical recirculation pattern along the frame.

3. The conveyor sortation system of claim 2 , further comprising:

a first wireless subsystem networked with controllers for a first zone of carriages;

a second wireless subsystem networked with controllers for a second zone of carriages; and

wherein the first and second wireless subsystems are positioned so that at least one of the wireless subsystems is able to receive a wireless signal from a wireless transmitter.

4. The conveyor sortation system of claim 1 , wherein the belt has a width that is at most 7 inches (17.78 cm) wide.

5. The conveyor sortation system of claim 1 , wherein the belt has a width that is at least 3.5 inches (8.89 cm) wide.

6. The conveyor sortation system of claim 1 , wherein a gap between the belts of adjacent carriages is at most 1 inch (2.54 cm).

7. The conveyor sortation system of claim 1 , further comprising:

one or more slats positioned between adjacent carriages.

8. The conveyor sortation system of claim 1 , wherein each of the carriages have an overall height that is at most 5 inches (12.70 cm).

9. A conveyor sortation system, comprising:

a frame;

two or more carriages riding along the frame in a travel direction, each carriage including

a belt oriented at a direction that is transverse to the travel direction of the carriages,

an electric motor configured to drive the belt

a controller operatively coupled to the electric motor to control movement of the belt, and

wherein the carriages have a vertical recirculation pattern along the frame; and

wherein one of the carriages includes a gateway configured to handle communications for the controllers of more than one of the carriages.

10. The conveyor sortation system of claim 9 , wherein the belt has a width that is at most 7 inches (17.78 cm) wide.

11. The conveyor sortation system of claim 10 , wherein the belt has a width that is at least 3.5 inches (8.89 cm) wide.

12. The conveyor sortation system of claim 11 , wherein a gap between the belts of adjacent carriages is at most 1 inch (2.54 cm).

13. The conveyor sortation system of claim 9 , wherein the electric motors on each of the carriages are configured to operate independently of one another.

14. The conveyor sortation system of claim 9 ,

wherein the gateway includes a wireless subsystem operatively coupled to the controller on each carriage.

15. The conveyor sortation system of claim 9 , further comprising:

wherein the carriages include a first zone and a second zone;

a first wireless subsystem networked with the controllers for the first zone of the carriages;

a second wireless subsystem networked with the controllers for the second zone of the carriages; and

wherein the first and second wireless subsystems are positioned so that at least one of the wireless subsystems is able to receive a wireless signal from a wireless transmitter.

16. The conveyor sortation system of claim 15 , wherein:

the first and second wireless subsystems are positioned on opposite sides of a loop of the carriages to maintain wireless communication.

17. The conveyor sortation system of claim 9 , further comprising:

a power rail configured to supply power to the carriages; and

wherein each carriage includes a power coupling positioned proximal to the power rail to receive power from the power rail.

18. The conveyor sortation system of claim 9 , further comprising:

a power rail positioned along the frame to provide power to the carriages; and

wherein the gateway is configured to receive data for controlling the carriages from the power rail.

19. The conveyor sortation system of claim 9 , further comprising:

20. The conveyor sortation system of claim 9 , further comprising:

one or more slats positioned between adjacent carriages.

21. The conveyor sortation system of claim 9 , wherein each of the carriages have an overall height that is at most 5 inches (12.70 cm).

22. The conveyor sortation system of claim 9 , wherein each carriage includes one or more belt tensioning rollers engaging the belt to reduce slack in the belt.

23. The conveyor sortation system of claim 9 , wherein:

each carriage includes

a drive roller engaging the belt, and

two or more belt tensioning rollers engaging the belt on opposite sides of the drive roller; and

the electric motor is operatively coupled to the drive roller to drive the belt.

24. A conveyor sortation system, comprising:

a frame; and

two or more carriages riding along the frame in a travel direction, each carriage including

a belt oriented at a direction that is transverse to the travel direction of the carriages,

an electric motor configured to drive the belt,

a controller operatively coupled to the electric motor to control movement of the belt,

a wireless subsystem operatively coupled to the controller, and

wherein the carriages have a vertical recirculation pattern along the frame.

25. The conveyor sortation system of claim 24 , further comprising:

a power rail configured to supply power to the carriages; and

wherein at least one of the carriages includes a power coupling positioned proximal to the power rail to receive power from the power rail.

26. The conveyor sortation system of claim 24 , further comprising:

27. The conveyor sortation system of claim 24 , further comprising:

one or more slats positioned between adjacent carriages.

28. A conveyor sortation system, comprising:

a frame; and

two or more carriages riding along the frame in a travel direction, each carriage including

a belt oriented at a direction that is transverse to the travel direction of the carriages,

an electric motor configured to drive the belt, and

wherein the carriages have a vertical recirculation pattern along the frame,

a first wireless subsystem networked with controllers for a first zone of the carriages;

a second wireless subsystem networked with controllers for a second zone of the carriages; and

wherein the first and second wireless subsystems are positioned so that at least one of the wireless subsystems is able to receive a wireless signal from a wireless transmitter.

29. The conveyor sortation system of claim 28 , wherein:

the first and second wireless subsystems are positioned on opposite sides of a loop of the carriages to maintain wireless communication.

30. The conveyor sortation system of claim 28 , wherein the belt has a width that is at most 8 inches (20.32 cm) wide.

31. The conveyor sortation system of claim 28 , further comprising:

a power rail configured to supply power to the carriages; and

wherein at least one of the carriages includes a power coupling positioned proximal to the power rail to receive power from the power rail.

32. The conveyor sortation system of claim 28 , further comprising:

33. The conveyor sortation system of claim 28 , further comprising:

one or more slats positioned between adjacent carriages.

34. A conveyor sortation system, comprising:

a frame;

two or more carriages riding along the frame in a travel direction, each carriage including

a belt oriented at a direction that is transverse to the travel direction of the carriages,

an electric motor configured to drive the belt, and

wherein the carriages have a vertical recirculation pattern along the frame; and

a power rail configured to supply power to the carriages; and

wherein each carriage includes a power coupling positioned proximal to the power rail to receive power from the power rail.

35. The conveyor sortation system of claim 34 , wherein at least one of the carriages includes a gateway configured to receive data for controlling the carriages from the power rail.

36. The conveyor sortation system of claim 34 , further comprising:

37. A conveyor sortation system, comprising:

a frame;

two or more carriages riding along the frame in a travel direction, each carriage including

a belt oriented at a direction that is transverse to the travel direction of the carriages,

an electric motor configured to drive the belt, and

wherein the carriages have a vertical recirculation pattern along the frame,

a power rail positioned along the frame to provide power to the carriages; and

wherein at least one of the carriages includes a gateway configured to receive data for controlling the carriages from the power rail.

38. The conveyor sortation system of claim 37 , wherein the belt has a width that is at most 8 inches (20.32 cm) wide.

39. A conveyor sortation system, comprising:

a frame;

two or more carriages riding along the frame in a travel direction, each carriage including

a belt oriented at a direction that is transverse to the travel direction of the carriages,

an electric motor configured to drive the belt, and

wherein the carriages have a vertical recirculation pattern along the frame; and

40. The conveyor sortation system of claim 39 , wherein the belt has a width that is at most 8 inches (20.32 cm) wide.

41. The conveyor sortation system of claim 39 , wherein each carriage includes one or more belt tensioning rollers engaging the belt to reduce slack in the belt.

42. The conveyor sortation system of claim 39 , wherein:

each carriage includes

a drive roller engaging the belt, and

two or more belt tensioning rollers engaging the belt on opposite sides of the drive roller; and

the electric motor is operatively coupled to the drive roller to drive the belt.

43. The conveyor sortation system of claim 39 , further comprising:

one or more slats positioned between adjacent carriages.

Assignments (1)

ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 13, 2014

From: BASTIAN, WILLIAM A., II; CLARK, GARRETT; HALVORSON, ERIC C., II

To: BASTIAN SOLUTIONS, LLC

Reel/Frame 033098/0819 →

Continuity (1)

Related Publication 20150360869A1 · Dec 17, 2015