Missort prevention system in a conveying system
A missort prevention system prevents missorts in a sortation conveying system. The missort prevention system includes a sensor for detecting the presence of an unexpected article on a chute transitioning articles off of a conveyor and a missort preventer for blocking the further passage of the unexpected article on the chute.
1. A method of preventing a missorted article from passing down a chute from a conveyor, comprising the steps of:
sensing the presence of a missorted article on a chute by generating a missort signal when a missort sensor is blocked outside of a selected time window; and
activating a missort preventer along the chute to block the missorted article.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of activating a missort preventer comprises the step of braking rollers forming a surface of the chute.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of activating a missort preventer comprises the step of lifting a hinged gate to block the missorted article on the chute.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of activating a missort preventer comprises the step of raising a barrier through the chute to create a blockade on the chute.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of activating a missort preventer comprises the step of lowering a gate over the chute to create a blockade on the chute.
6. A conveying system for sorting articles, comprising:
a conveyor for conveying articles in a direction of travel;
a first chute extending at an angle down from the side of the conveyor for receiving articles sorted off of the conveyor;
a missort sensor associated with the chute for generating a signal indicating a missort when the missort sensor is blocked outside of a selected time window; and
a missort preventer for selectively blocking the chute when the missort sensor generates a signal indicating a missort.
7. The conveying system of claim 6 , wherein the missort sensor is a photoreflective sensor.
8. The conveying system of claim 6 , wherein the first chute includes a plurality of rollers forming a conveying surface, and the missort preventer comprises a brake that selectively engages the rollers to prevent rotation of the rollers.
9. The conveying system of claim 6 , wherein the missort preventer comprises a hinged gate that is selectively raised to form a blockade on the chute.
10. The conveying system of claim 6 , wherein the missort preventer comprises a plurality of pins pushed through the chute to form a blockade on the chute.
11. The conveying system of claim 6 , wherein the missort preventer comprises a gate in a frame that is selectively lowered to form a blockade on the chute.
12. A method of sorting articles, comprising the steps of:
directing the articles along a path of travel with a conveyor;
detecting the presence of a characteristic of the articles;
directing articles with a first characteristic from the conveyor to a first chute;
generating a missort signal when a missort sensor is blocked outside of a selected time window; and
blocking the first chute if the missort sensor is blocked outside of a selected time window.