초록 ▼

A feeding system and method for placing a plurality of objects within a single designated destination area of a sorting system to increase the throughput rate of the system. The disclosed sorting system includes a plurality of carriages movable under the control of a programmable controller between

A feeding system and method for placing a plurality of objects within a single designated destination area of a sorting system to increase the throughput rate of the system. The disclosed sorting system includes a plurality of carriages movable under the control of a programmable controller between the loading and unloading stations of the sorting system, each carriage carrying a tilt tray. The geographic destination of each of the objects to be placed on a tray, as well as a dimension of each of the objects to be placed on a tray, is determined by an optical scanner and a measuring device. The controller uses the dimension information to determine whether more than one object having the same geographic destination may be placed on the same tray. The invention is adaptable for use with other types of sorting systems.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A sorting system for the automated sorting of objects comprisinga conveying device for transporting and distributing a series of objects from at least one feeding station to a plurality of unloading stations and having a plurality of designated destination areas thereon

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A sorting system for the automated sorting of objects comprisinga conveying device for transporting and distributing a series of objects from at least one feeding station to a plurality of unloading stations and having a plurality of designated destination areas thereon,a feeding system at said feeding station for loading objects onto said designated destination areas of said conveying device,a data input device for indicating a destination and a dimension of each of said objects to be loaded by said feeding system, anda programmable controller for said conveying device and said feeding system and being connected to said data input device for receipt of said destination and dimension data therefrom, said controller being responsive to said destination and dimension data to determine when two or more objects sharing a common destination will fit within a single destination area of said conveying device and causing said feeding system to load said two or more objects onto said single destination area of said conveying device.