초록 ▼

An article processing apparatus having a plurality of input conveyors directing articles into a work station and a single turret sorting mechanism. The work station processes articles while, simultaneously, unprocessed articles are fed into the turret sorting mechanism. The output of the work statio

An article processing apparatus having a plurality of input conveyors directing articles into a work station and a single turret sorting mechanism. The work station processes articles while, simultaneously, unprocessed articles are fed into the turret sorting mechanism. The output of the work station is simultaneously fed into the turret sorting mechanism. The turret control mechanism engages articles fed to it using a gripper. The turret sorting mechanism rotates the articles until, in conjunction with a control system, the articles are released onto appropriate locations on a second set of conveyors. The second set of conveyors directs the unprocessed articles to a second work station (where the unprocessed articles are processed) and the articles processed by the first work station are directed to an output station. Once processed, the articles sent to the second work station are also directed to the output station where they are collected and prepared for further processing.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.]1. A turret sorting mechanism for sensing, sorting, and distributing articles in a process apparatus, said mechanism comprising:a) a plurality of input conveyors for essentially synchronously transporting articles;b) at least one sensor for detecting and differentiating articles tra

[ We claim:] [1.]1. A turret sorting mechanism for sensing, sorting, and distributing articles in a process apparatus, said mechanism comprising:a) a plurality of input conveyors for essentially synchronously transporting articles;b) at least one sensor for detecting and differentiating articles transported by each of said input conveyors and providing sensor information;c) a turret sorting mechanism for receiving said articles comprising:A rotationally driven, generally circular rotor assembly; said rotor assembly having circumferentially spaced apart recesses;each of said recesses including a gripping means for engaging said articles as they enter said recesses; anda controller for actuating said gripping means to engage said articles when they enter said recesses and selectively disengage said articles in conjunction with said sensor information; andd) a plurality of output conveyors for transporting said selectively disengaged articles out of said recesses.