Abstract: A system and method and loading articles onto a sorting conveyor. An exemplary embodiment of the system includes a computer processor to control system function, a scanning device for identifying articles to be sorted, a conveyor for transporting articles loaded thereon, and a loading device for accomplishing the physical loading of articles onto the conveyor. The computer processor controls the motion of the conveyor, receives information from the scanning and loading devices and builds a database therewith useful for sorting the articles loaded onto the second conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying articles supported on hooked members has a helical member which has a varying pitch and outer diameter for conveying the articles at different speeds along its length. The helical member is coupled on one end to a constant speed motor which rotates the helical member to convey the hooked members forward. The helical member is supported within a tube which includes an entrance portion shaped to rotate the hooked members in conjunction with an spring guide from a first position into a second position. A slot is formed within the support tube for receiving the hooked members from the entrance portion and maintaining the hooked members in the second position upon being conveyed by the helical member.

Abstract: A system and method for sorting articles. An exemplary embodiment of the system includes a conveyor for transporting articles, a database for storing identification information for each article on the conveyor and address information specifying the location of each article on the conveyor, one or more drop stations adjacent to the conveyor for unloading articles, a processor, coupled to the conveyor, the one or more drop stations, and the database, for accessing article information from the database, allocating to each of one or more drop stations a list of articles sorted according to one or more sorting criteria, and for controlling each such drop station to physically sort articles from the sorting conveyor into a group of sorted articles according to the sorted list of articles for the drop station.

Abstract: An apparatus loads hooked members supporting articles onto a conveyor. The conveyor has a plurality of latches, wherein each latch is adapted to receive and support a respective hooked member. A loading member is adapted to successively receive the hooked members and, in turn, load the hooked members one after another into the latches. The free end of a piston is coupled to the loading member and is operated to drive the loading member between a first position for receiving a hooked member, and a second position for loading the hooked member into a latch. A scanning device is adapted to scan coded labels on articles supported on the hooked members and, in turn, generate output signals indicative of the identifying information coded on the labels. A computer is coupled to the scanning device and to the conveyor, and is adapted to store the output signals and, in turn, sort the articles loaded onto the conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying articles supported on hooked members has a conveying shaft including a helical groove formed within the shaft. The helical groove is adapted to receive the hooked members and to convey the hooked members upon rotation of the shaft. A helical member is coupled on one end to the conveying shaft, and is adapted to receive the hooked members from the conveying shaft and to convey the hooked members upon rotation thereof. The helical member is supported within a support tube which includes an entrance portion formed on the end adjacent to the conveying shaft. The entrance portion is shaped to rotate the hooked members from a first position into a second position by contact therewith, upon the hooked members being conveyed through the entrance portion by the helical member. A slot is formed within the support tube and is adapted to receive the hooked member from the entrance portion. The slot maintains the hooked members in the second position upon being conveyed by the helical member.

Abstract: A carrier assembly is adapted to releasably support hooked members for supporting articles to be conveyed. Each carrier assembly has a frame and several integral biasing and latch members, each pivotally supported on the frame by a pin member. Each pin member is releasably coupled to the frame to facilitate the removal of each integral biasing and latch member from the frame for repair or replacement. Each integral biasing and latch member has a latch portion and integral biasing portion. The biasing portion normally biases the latch portion into a first position for supporting a hooked member, and the latch portion is adapted to be flexed relative to the biasing portion into a second position for receiving or releasing a hooked member.

Abstract: An apparatus conveys hooked members and has a plurality of carrier assemblies coupled together in an end-to-end fashion. Each carrier assembly is adapted to receive and support several hooked members, and includes several apertures, wherein each aperture corresponds in position to a respective hooked member. A reflective target is supported on one side of the carrier assemblies and is located in line with the apertures. An optical sensor is located on the side of the carrier assemblies opposite the reflective target, and is adapted to sense the presence of the target and, thus, the passage of an aperture between the optical sensor and the target. The optical sensor in turn generates output signals indicative of the passage of each aperture, and the hooked members are released from the carrier assemblies based on the output signals.