U.S. patent application number 11/426276 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-27 for method and apparatus for jogging and feeding sortable articles.
This patent application is currently assigned to Imaging Business Machines, LLC. Invention is credited to Robert L. Babanats, Todd Steven Lyter, Gary Murphy, William Weaver.
Application Number | 20070296140 11/426276 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38582366 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070296140 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Babanats; Robert L. ; et
al. |
December 27, 2007 |
Method and Apparatus for Jogging and Feeding Sortable Articles
Abstract
An apparatus includes a vibrating jogging tray with rotatable
rods having longitudinal edges. The apparatus can further include a
transfer assembly comprising a transfer belt and a first vacuum
system positioned opposite to a separation assembly comprising a
separation belt and, optionally, a second vacuum system. In
operation, the rods rotate a plurality of articles toward the
transfer assembly. The first vacuum system can draw a first article
onto the transfer belt and transports it to a processing station.
If a second article overlaps the first article on the transfer
belt, the second vacuum system can draw the second article off of
the first article and onto the separation belt. If the first
article traveling on the transfer assembly is thicker than a
distance between the transfer belt and the separation belt, a
retractable roller can retract the separation belt and/or the
transfer belt to increase the distance therebetween.
Inventors: |
Babanats; Robert L.;
(Vestavia Hills, AL) ; Lyter; Todd Steven;
(Trussville, AL) ; Weaver; William; (Memphis,
TN) ; Murphy; Gary; (Birmingham, AL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DARBY & DARBY P.C.
P.O. BOX 770, Church Street Station
New York
NY
10008-0770
US
|
Assignee: |
Imaging Business Machines,
LLC
Birmingham
AL
|
Family ID: |
38582366 |
Appl. No.: |
11/426276 |
Filed: |
June 23, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/146 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2404/663 20130101;
B65H 3/60 20130101; B65H 3/124 20130101; B65H 2220/09 20130101;
B65H 2406/32 20130101; B65H 1/025 20130101; B65H 2701/1916
20130101; B65H 3/46 20130101; B65H 2301/42342 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/146 |
International
Class: |
B65H 3/62 20060101
B65H003/62 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for jogging and feeding sortable articles, the
apparatus comprising: a first motor; a jogging tray coupled to the
first motor; and a plurality of rods rotatably coupled within the
jogging tray, the plurality of rods being adapted to rotate at a
synchronized rate with one another and comprising a spiral thread
and a longitudinal edge.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a pulley
belt coupled to a second motor adapted to rotate the plurality of
rods at the synchronized rate.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the cross section of
each of the plurality of rods is rectangular.
4. A system comprising the apparatus of claim 1, the system further
comprising a processing station configured to receive a sortable
article from the apparatus.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a transfer
assembly positioned adjacent to the jogging tray, the transfer
assembly comprising a transfer belt and a first vacuum system, the
transfer belt defining a plurality of first openings and the first
vacuum system being adapted to suction air through the plurality of
first openings.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the plurality of
first openings in the transfer belt comprises a plurality of
openings having a first size and a plurality of openings having a
second size.
7. The apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising a
separation assembly positioned opposite to the transfer assembly,
the separation assembly comprising a separation belt and a second
vacuum system, the separation belt defining a plurality of second
openings and the second vacuum system being adapted to suction air
through the plurality of second openings.
8. An apparatus for jogging and feeding sortable articles, the
apparatus comprising: a transfer assembly comprising a transfer
belt, a plurality of first rollers and a first vacuum system, the
transfer belt defining a plurality of first openings and the first
vacuum system being adapted to suction air through the plurality of
first openings; a separation assembly comprising a separation belt,
a plurality of second rollers and a second vacuum system, the
separation belt defining a plurality of second openings and the
second vacuum system being adapted to suction air through the
plurality of second openings; wherein a portion the transfer belt
is positioned opposite to a portion of the separation belt; and
wherein the transfer belt is adapted to rotate around the plurality
of first rollers in a first direction and the separation belt is
adapted to rotate around the plurality of second rollers in the
first direction.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the portion of the
transfer belt and the portion of the separation belt are separated
by a distance and at least one of the plurality of first rollers in
the transfer assembly is adapted to vary the distance between the
transfer belt and the separation belt.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising a spring
adapted to bias the at least one of the plurality of first rollers
in the transfer assembly in a first position.
11. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the portion of the
transfer belt and the portion of the separation belt are separated
by a distance and at least one of the plurality of second rollers
in the separation assembly is adapted to vary the distance between
the transfer belt and the separation belt.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising a spring
adapted to bias the at least one of the plurality of second rollers
in the separation assembly in a first position.
13. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the plurality of
first openings in the transfer belt comprises a plurality of
openings having a first size and a plurality of openings having a
second size.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the first size is
selected to yield a first suction force and the second size is
selected to yield a second suction force when the first vacuum
system suctions air through the plurality of openings in the
transfer belt.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the amount of the
first suction force is greater than the amount of the second
suction force.
16. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the plurality of
second openings in the separation belt have a third size and the
third size is selected to yield a third suction force when the
second vacuum system suctions air through the plurality of second
openings.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the amount of the
first suction force is greater than the amount of the third suction
force and the amount of the second suction force is greater than
the amount of the third suction force.
18. A system comprising the apparatus of claim 8, the system
further comprising a processing station configured to receive a
sortable article from the apparatus.
19. A method of making an apparatus for jogging and feeding
sortable articles, the method comprising: securing a first portion
of a transfer assembly opposite to a second portion of the transfer
assembly; adapting a first belt in the transfer assembly to rotate
in a first direction and adapting a second belt in the separation
assembly to rotate in the first direction; and disposing a first
suction fan within the transfer assembly to suction air from a
plurality of holes in the first belt and disposing a second suction
fan within the separation assembly to suction air from a plurality
of holes in the second belt.
20. The method according to claim 18 further comprising: securing a
forward end of a jogging tray adjacent to a second portion of the
transfer assembly; rotatably coupling a plurality of rods within
the jogging tray; and adapting the plurality of rods to rotate at a
synchronized rate.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to the automated handling of
documents, envelopes and other sortable articles, particularly to
an improved method and apparatus for jogging and feeding.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[0002] Mail and check processing centers, such as post offices,
inter-office mail rooms and banks often use a vibrating jogging
machine to align and justify a group of documents, envelopes or
similar articles. The jogging machine described in U.S. Pat. No.
6,497,406 is one such example.
[0003] Commonly, after the group of articles are aligned and
justified, a feeding machine is used to transport the jogged
articles to another automated device (e.g. a scanner, labeler or
sorter) for further processing.
[0004] Most jogging and feeding machines are separate stand-alone
units, which means an operator must first empty a bin full of
articles into a jogger to have them jogged, and then manually
remove the aligned articles from the jogger and load them into a
feeding machine.
[0005] In addition, most of today's feeders are usually designed to
process articles with a uniform thickness (such as single sheets of
paper with a standard thickness). However, real world articles vary
in size and thickness, ranging from small checks, postcards and
coupons to ledger size forms, and announcement sized to
inter-office sized envelops.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In one embodiment, a jogging and feeding apparatus has a
jogging tray coupled to a motor. A plurality of rods are rotatably
coupled within the jogging tray. The plurality of rods are adapted
to rotate at a synchronized rate with one another and have a spiral
thread and a longitudinal edge.
[0007] In another embodiment, a jogging and feeding apparatus
includes a transfer assembly comprising a transfer belt and a first
vacuum system. The first vacuum system is adapted to suction air
through a plurality of openings in the transfer belt. The apparatus
further includes a separation assembly having a separation belt and
a second vacuum system. The second vacuum system is adapted to
suction air through a plurality of openings in the separation belt.
A portion of the transfer belt is positioned opposite to a portion
of the separation belt. The transfer belt is adapted to rotate
around a plurality of first rollers in a first direction and the
separation belt is adapted to rotate around a plurality of second
rollers in the same first direction.
[0008] In yet another embodiment, a first portion of a transfer
assembly is secured opposite to a second portion of a separation
assembly. A first belt in the transfer assembly is adapted to
rotate in a first direction and a second belt in the separation
assembly is adapted to rotate in the same first direction. A first
suction fan disposed within the transfer assembly is adapted to
suction air from a plurality of holes in the first belt and a
second suction fan disposed within the separation assembly is
adapted to suction air from a plurality of holes in the second
belt.
[0009] These and other aspects of the present invention will be
apparent from the following detailed description and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic isometric view of a jogging and
feeding apparatus provided in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a schematic partial top orthogonal view of FIG. I
to detail a jogging tray, and includes a plurality of sortable
articles in the jogging tray.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic isometric view of a rod provided in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line
4-4 of the rod of FIG. 3.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of a motor and jogging tray
provided in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view taken
along line 6-6 of the jogging and feeding apparatus of FIG. 2 to
show a pulley system for rotating a plurality of rods. To detail
the possible effects of a suction force generated by a vacuum
system when the jogging and feeding apparatus is in operation, FIG.
6 further depicts a second article overlapping a first article on a
transfer belt.
[0016] FIGS. 7A and 7B show a schematic top view of a transfer belt
positioned opposite to a separation belt, with the separation belt
in a first and a second position in accordance with the embodiment
of FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a schematic front view of a transfer belt in
accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIGS. 9A and 9B show a schematic top view of a transfer belt
positioned opposite to a separation belt, with the transfer belt in
a first and a second position in accordance with another embodiment
of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 10 is a schematic of a system comprising a jogging and
feeding apparatus provided in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention and a processing station adapted to receive an
article from the jogging and feeding apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] Briefly, the present invention provides an apparatus that
can both jog and feed a plurality of sortable articles; including
articles of the same thickness and articles of varying thickness,
such as paper, mail, cards, booklets, inter-office sized envelopes,
and the like.
[0021] In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a vibrating
jogging tray with rotatable rods coupled to a transfer assembly.
The transfer assembly has a transfer belt and a first vacuum
system. Positioned opposite to the transfer assembly is a
separation assembly comprising a separation belt and second vacuum
system. In operation, the rods rotate the plurality of articles
toward the transfer assembly. The first vacuum system can draw and
retain a first article from the plurality of articles onto the
transfer belt and the transfer belt can transport the first article
past the opposing separation assembly to another station for
further processing. In the event that a second article overlaps the
first article on the transfer belt, the second vacuum system can
draw the second article off of the first article and onto the
separation belt. In the event that an article traveling on the
transfer assembly and past the separation assembly is thicker than
a distance between the transfer belt and the separation belt, a
retractable roller is adapted to retract the separation belt and/or
the transfer belt to increase the distance therebetween.
[0022] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a jogging and feeding apparatus provided
in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The
jogging and feeding apparatus 10 includes a jogging tray 12 adapted
to vibrate and thereby separate a plurality of sortable articles 14
(shown in FIG. 2) in the jogging tray 12 from one another and align
a bottom edge 16 of each of the plurality of articles 14. The
jogging tray 12 comprises a guide rail 18 having a flat vertical
surface 19 and a movable guide plate 20. The jogging tray 12
includes a plurality of rods 22 rotatably coupled within the
jogging tray 12. The rods 22 partially protrude above a top surface
24 of the jogging tray 12, are positioned substantially parallel to
one another and are adapted to rotate at a synchronized rate with
one another in the direction of the guide rail 18. The movable
guide plate 20 is selectively coupled to at least one of the
plurality of rods 22. The rods 22 have spiral grooves 26 adapted to
move the guide plate 20 and the plurality of articles 14 in the
jogging tray 12 to a forward end 28 of the jogging tray 12 when the
rods 22 rotate. As the rods 22 rotate toward the guide rail 18, a
side edge 30 of each of the plurality of articles 14 is driven
toward the guide plate 20 to justify the side edges 30 against the
guide plate 20. As shown in FIG. 3, to further assist the jogging
function of the apparatus 10, in one embodiment, the rods 22 have a
longitudinal edge 32. As the rods 22 rotate at a synchronized rate,
the longitudinal edge 32 on each rod 22 protrudes above the top
surface 24 of the jogging tray 12 at a cyclical interval to
slightly lift the articles 14 being jogged. This lifting action
helps to further separate one article from another, and assists the
bottom edge 16 of each article being jogged to fall within the
grooves 26 in the rods 22.
[0023] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the rod 22 has four
longitudinal edges 32 that were achieved by manufacturing the rod
22 with a substantially rectangular or square cross section 34
(shown in FIG. 4). As can be appreciated, a number of other cross
sections may be used to yield a rod 22 with at least one
longitudinal edge 32. For example, the rod 22 can be made with a
substantially octagonal cross section to yield a rod 22 having
eight longitudinal edges. Hexagonal, pentagonal, or triangular
cross sections can also be employed to yield a rod 22 having either
six, five or three longitudinal edges. The number of cross sections
that the rod 22 can have to yield at least one longitudinal edge is
not to be limited and can further include a tear-drop or cam-like
cross-sectional shape to yield one longitudinal edge.
[0024] To vibrate the jogging tray 12 and rotate the rods 22 at a
synchronized rate, any number of motorized configurations may be
used. In the example shown in FIG. 5, to vibrate the jogging tray
12, a bottom surface of the jogging tray 36 is coupled to a first
motor 38 having an off-set shaft 40 and a crank arm 42. In the
example shown in FIG. 6, to rotate the plurality of rods 22 at a
synchronized rate with one another, the rods 22 are coupled to a
second motor 44 via a number of pulleys 46 and a pulley belt
48.
[0025] In another embodiment, also depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, a
transfer assembly 50 is positioned adjacent to the forward end 28
of the jogging tray 16. The transfer assembly 50 includes a
transfer belt 52 with a plurality of first-sized openings 54 and a
plurality of second-sized openings 56 (shown in FIG. 1). The
plurality of first-sized openings 54 in the transfer belt 52 are
positioned on the belt 52 at intervals, with a distance 58
therebetween. The transfer belt 52 is adapted to rotate at a fixed
speed around a plurality of first rollers 60 in a clockwise
direction. A third motor 61 (shown in FIG. 2) is used to rotate the
transfer belt 52.
[0026] The transfer assembly 50 further includes a first vacuum
system 62 comprised of a group of vertically positioned suction
fans 64. It is to be understood that other configurations and
devices for providing a suction on the belt can also be used. The
first vacuum system 62 is adapted to suction air from the plurality
of first and second-sized openings 54, 56 in the transfer belt 52
to generate a first and a second suction force 66, 68 (shown in
FIG. 1), respectively. The term "vacuum system" as used herein
means commercially available systems employed to apply a continuous
vacuum.
[0027] The first suction force 66 is one that is at least
sufficient enough to draw, from the plurality of articles 14 on the
jogging tray 12, a first article 70 (shown in FIG. 2) from the
forward end 28 of the tray 12 onto the transfer belt 52. The second
suction force 68 is one that is at least sufficient enough to
retain the first article 70 onto the transfer belt 52 once it has
been drawn thereto. Because more force is required to draw an
article onto the transfer belt 52 than is required to retain the
article onto a belt, the first suction force 66 is typically higher
than the second suction force 68.
[0028] As one of ordinary skill in the mechanical art can
appreciate, determining the threshold amount of force needed to
accomplish each of these tasks will depend on a number of design
factors, such as the distance between the transfer belt 52 and the
jogging tray 12, the power level of the first vacuum system 60, the
size and number of each of the plurality of first and second-sized
openings 54, 56 on the transfer belt 52.
[0029] In one embodiment, the distance 58 between the first-sized
openings 54 is designed to reduce the likelihood the first suction
force 66 will draw more than one article from the forward end 28 of
the tray 12 onto the transfer belt 52 at the same time.
Considerations for determining the interval distance 58 between
each set of first-sized openings 54 includes the overall length of
the transfer belt 52, the typical length of the articles 14 being
transported, and the speed at which transfer the belt 52 travels.
In another embodiment, a metal plate (not shown) mounted behind the
transfer belt 52 is used to control the timing of the application
of the first suction force 66. The metal plate is positionable in a
first position to restrict the flow of air through the first-sized
openings 54 and in a second position to allow the flow of air
through the first-sized openings 54.
[0030] In one example, the transfer assembly has a transfer belt
with 75 to 125 first-sized openings appearing on the transfer belt
at an interval of every 12.7 millimeters (0.5 inches), with each
first-sized opening being 4 to 6 millimeters (0.16 to 0.24 inches)
in diameter. The transfer belt further has two to four second-sized
openings per 645 square millimeters (per one square inch), with
each second-sized opening being 4 to 8 millimeters (0.16 to 0.32
inches) in diameter, and a first vacuum system with a power rating
that can range from 367 to 1,471 watts (0.5 to 2 horsepower) to
generate a first suction force through the first-sized openings
that varies between 2.7 and 4.0 kPa (20 and 30 mmHg) and a second
suction force through the second-sized openings that varies between
2.7 and 4.0 kPa (20 and 30 mmHg).
[0031] In another embodiment, positioned opposite to a portion of
the transfer assembly 50 is a separation assembly 72. The
separation assembly 72 includes a separation belt 74 with,
optionally, a plurality of third-sized openings 76. The separation
belt 74 is adapted to rotate around a plurality of second rollers
78 and, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, to move from a first position
to a second position. To rotate the separation belt 74, a motor 63
(shown in FIG. 1) is used. The separation belt 74 is adapted to
rotate in a direction that is the same as that in which the
transfer belt 52 rotates. For example, if the transfer belt 52 is
adapted to rotate in a clockwise direction (as is the case in the
embodiment described above), the separation belt 74 is also adapted
to rotated in a clockwise direction. As a result, because the
separation assembly 72 is positioned opposite to a portion of the
transfer assembly 50, when the jogging and feeding apparatus 10 is
in use, the transfer belt 52 travels in a direction that is
opposite to the direction in which the separation belt 74
travels.
[0032] To move the separation belt 74, a number 78a of the
plurality of second rollers 78 are retractable. The retractable
rollers 78a reside on a moveable base plate 80 coupled to a spring
82. When the spring 82 is in a natural position, there is a
distance 84 between the separation belt 74 and the transfer belt
52. When the spring 82 is in a biased position, the spring 82
biases the base plate 80 and the retractable rollers 80a on the
base plate 80. This, in turn, biases the separation belt 74 in the
second position and increases the distance 84 between the
separation belt 74 and the transfer belt 52. The distance 84
between the two belts 52, 74 is a design choice that depends, in
part, on the average thickness of the majority of articles that the
jogging and feeding apparatus 10 is likely to jog and feed. The
amount of distance by which the distance will vary depending on the
thickness of the article being transported on the transfer belt 52
and the spring rate. In one example, the range is between 0.25 and
12.7 millimeters (0.01 and 0.5 inches).
[0033] In another embodiment, if openings 76 in the separation belt
74 are present (as shown in FIG. 1), the separation assembly 72
includes a second vacuum system 86 comprised of a horizontally
positioned suction fan 88. The second vacuum system 86 is adapted
to suction air from the plurality of third-sized openings 76 in the
separation belt 74 to generate a third suction force 90. The third
suction force 90 is one that, in the event that a second article 92
overlaps the first article 70 on the transfer belt 52 (as shown in
FIG. 6), is high enough to pull the second article 92 off of the
transfer belt 52 and onto the separation belt 74 and yet low enough
so as to not pull the first article 70 off of the transfer belt 52.
As a result, the third suction force 90 is typically lower than
each of the first and the second suction forces 66, 68. Factors for
determining the third suction force 90 include: the size and number
of the plurality of third-sized openings 76 in the separation belt
74, the distance between the transfer belt 52 and the separation
belt 74, and the strength level of the first and the second suction
force 66, 68.
[0034] In one example, the separation assembly has a separation
belt with 30 to 50 third-sized openings appearing on the separation
belt at an interval of every 12.7 millimeters (0.5 inches), with
each opening being 4 to 6 millimeters (0.16 to 0.24 inches) in
diameter, and a second vacuum system with a power rating that can
range from 367 to 1,471 watts (0.5 to 2 horsepower) to generate a
third suction force through the third-sized openings that varies
between 2.7 and 4.0 kPa (20 and 30 mmHg).
[0035] It is to be understood that the various embodiments
described herein can be utilized singularly or in various
combinations. In operation, in one embodiment, the first motor 38
gently vibrates the jogging tray 12 while the second motor 44
rotates the plurality of rods 22 at a synchronized rate in the
direction of the guide rail 18. An operator places a plurality of
articles 14 that are to be jogged and fed (e.g. fed in the jogger
and feeder apparatus 10 for purposes of being transported to a
scanner, labeler, sorter or the like) in the jogging tray 12 in a
vertical position against the guide plate 20. When the jogger and
feeder apparatus 10 is turned on, the first motor 38 vibrates the
jogging tray 12 and the second motor 44 rotates the rods. The
vibration from the tray 12 and the rotation of the rods 22 jostle
the plurality of articles 14 and cause the bottom edges 16 of the
plurality of articles 14 to align against the top surface 24 of the
jogging tray 12. The rotation of the rods 22 further causes the
side edges 30 of each of the plurality of articles 14 to justify
against the vertical surface 19 of the guide plate 20. The lifting
motion from the longitudinal edges 32 on the rods 22 cyclically
lifts the plurality of articles 14. On their downward fall, the
articles 14 fall within the grooves 26 in the rods 22. Because the
articles 14 are positioned within the spiral grooves 26, as the
rods 22 rotate, the rods move the articles 14 toward the forward
end 28 of the tray 12 and the guide plate 20 also moves
therewith.
[0036] In embodiments where a transfer assembly is positioned
adjacent to the forward end 28 of the jogging tray 16, when the
first article 70 has been moved sufficiently close to the rotating
transfer belt 52 of the transfer assembly 50, the first suction
force 66 (generated by the air suctioned through the plurality of
first-sized openings 54 in the transfer belt 52 by the first vacuum
system 62) suctions the first article 70 onto the transfer belt 52.
The second suction force 68 (generated by the air suctioned through
the plurality of second-sized openings 56 in the transfer belt 52
by the first vacuum system 62) maintains the first article 70 on
the transfer belt 52. In this way, the first article 70 travels on
the transfer belt 52 to a processing station 94 (e.g. a scanner,
labeler or sorter) adapted to receive the article 70 from the
apparatus 10, shown in FIG. 10.
[0037] If a separation assembly 72 with retractable rollers 78a is
positioned opposite to the transfer assembly 50 and the first
article 70 traveling on the transfer belt 52 is thicker than the
distance 84 between the transfer belt 52 and the separation belt
74, then, when the first article 70 reaches the separation assembly
72, the moving article 70 generates a lateral force causing the
resultant vector to bias the spring 82 and retract the separation
belt 42. This increases the distance 84 between the two belts 52,
74 to allow the first article 70 to continue to travel on the
transfer belt 52, past the separation assembly 72 and toward the
processing station 94.
[0038] If the plurality of third-sized openings 76 are present in
the separation belt 74 and the first suction force 66 suctions both
a first article 70 and a second article 92 onto the transfer belt
in a manner that causes the second article 92 to overlap the first
article 70 (as shown in FIG. 6), the third suction force 90
(generated by the air suctioned through the plurality of
third-sized openings 74 in the separation belt 74 by the second
vacuum system 86) suctions the second article 92 off of the
transfer belt 52 and onto the separation belt 74. In operation
(best seen in FIGS. 1 and 6), because the suction force generated
by the air suctioned through the plurality of first and/or
second-sized openings 54, 56 in the transfer belt 52 by the first
vacuum system is greater than the third suction force 90, the first
article 70 remains on the transfer belt 52, travels past the
separation assembly 72 and proceeds on to the processing station
94. As the first article 70 travels past the separation assembly
72, the separation belt 74 drives the second article 92 backward
(in a direction that is opposite to that in which the transfer belt
52 is traveling) toward the plurality of rods 22. As soon as the
portion of the transfer belt 52 that is opposite to the separation
belt 74 is free of any articles, the greater suction force
generated by the air suctioned through the plurality of first
and/or second-sized openings 54, 56 in the transfer belt 52 causes
the second article 92 traveling on the separation belt 74 to be
suctioned back onto the transfer belt 52. In this way, the second
article 92 proceeds, as did the first article 70 earlier, to travel
on the transfer belt 52, past the separation assembly 72 and toward
the processing station 94.
[0039] Because a force that is high enough to draw the first
article 70 onto the transfer belt 52 will also be high enough to
retain the article 70 thereto, it can be appreciated that the
transfer belt 52 does not have to have two different sized
openings. In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 8, a transfer belt
152 has only a plurality of first-sized openings 154 and a first
vacuum system 162 is adapted to suction air from the plurality of
first-sized openings 154 to generate a first suction force 166 that
is at least sufficient enough to both draw and retain a first
article 170 onto the transfer belt 152.
[0040] In another embodiment, shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, to increase
a distance 284 between a separation belt 272 and a transfer belt
252, the transfer belt 252 (instead of the separation belt 76
discussed in reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B) is adapted to rotate
around a plurality of first rollers 260. A number 260a of the
plurality of first rollers 260 are retractable rollers and reside
on a moveable base plate 280 coupled to a spring 282. When the
spring 282 is in a biased position, the spring 282 biases the base
plate 280 and the retractable rollers 260a on the base plate 280.
This, in turn, biases the transfer belt 252 in a second position
and increases the distance 284 between the separation belt 272 and
the transfer belt 252.
[0041] It is to be understood that while the invention has been
described above in conjunction with preferred specific embodiments,
the description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the
scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims. Indeed,
various modifications of the invention in addition to those
described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art
from the foregoing description and the accompanying figures. Such
modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the appended
claims.
[0042] It is further to be understood that all values are to some
degree approximate, and are provided for purposes of
description.
[0043] The disclosures of any patents, patent applications, and
publications that may be cited throughout this application are
incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
* * * * *