US 12,076,757 B2
Roller-belt sorter with booster
Benjamin F. Navarrete, Montrose, CO (US); and Ken C. Coffey, Candler, NC (US)
Assigned to Laitram, L.L.C., Harahan, LA (US)
Appl. No. 18/024,808
Filed by Laitram, L.L.C., Harahan, LA (US)
PCT Filed Aug. 26, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/047714
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 6, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/072086, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 7, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/085,210, filed on Sep. 30, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0338991 A1, Oct. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. B07C 5/36 (2006.01); B65G 13/02 (2006.01); B65G 13/10 (2006.01); B65G 17/40 (2006.01); B65G 47/52 (2006.01); B65G 47/54 (2006.01)
CPC B07C 5/36 (2013.01) [B65G 47/525 (2013.01); B65G 47/54 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sorting system comprising:
an infeed conveyor advancing articles from an entrance to an exit in a first direction;
a cross conveyor including a roller-top conveyor belt having:
a first side and an opposite second side spaced apart in the first direction;
a first end and an opposite second end;
wherein the roller-top conveyor belt is arranged to travel selectively in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction or in a third direction opposite the second direction;
a plurality of article-supporting belt rollers freely rotatable in the first direction;
a first destination positioned at the second side of the roller-top conveyor belt opposite the infeed conveyor to receive articles passed atop the belt rollers across the roller-top conveyor belt in the first direction;
a second destination at the first end of the roller-top conveyor belt to receive articles discharged off the first end of the roller-top conveyor belt advancing in the second direction;
a third destination at the second end of the roller-top conveyor belt to receive articles discharged off the second end of the roller-top conveyor belt advancing in the third direction;
a booster disposed between the exit of the infeed conveyor and the first side of the cross conveyor and selectively operable to apply sufficient force in the first direction to selected articles exiting the infeed conveyor for the selected articles to coast on the freely rotatable belt rollers across the width of the roller-top conveyor belt to the first destination.