Device for transporting objects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12454415-B2
Application number	US-202318230287-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 4, 2023
Priority date	Aug 5, 2022
Publication date	Oct 28, 2025
Grant date	Oct 28, 2025

Abstract

A device for transporting objects, including a first conveyor element and a second conveyor element. The first conveyor element protrudes beyond the second conveyor element, a first conveying surface being formed by the first conveyor element, and a second conveying surface being formed by the second conveyor element. The first conveying element being movable in dependence on the weight of the object to be transported, so that a first object of a first weight is moved on the first conveying surface and a second object of a second weight is moved on the second conveying surface, the second weight being greater than the first weight.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A device for transporting objects, comprising
a first conveyor element, and a second conveyor element, the first conveyor element protruding beyond the second conveyor element, a first conveying surface being formed by the first conveyor element, and a second conveying surface being formed by the second conveyor element, the first conveying element being movable in dependence on the weight of the object to be transported, so that a first object of a first weight is moved only on the first conveying surface without contacting the second conveying surface, and a second object of a second weight is moved on the second conveying surface, the second weight being greater than the first weight.

2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first conveyor element and the second conveyor element have different motion resistances and, in particular, the second conveyor element has a higher motion resistance than the first conveyor element.

3 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first conveyor element and the second conveyor element are arranged side by side in the conveying direction or perpendicular to the conveying direction.

4 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first conveyor element and/or the second conveyor element are arranged in a V-shape, in particular in the conveying direction.

5 . The device according to claim 1 , characterized by a plurality of first conveyor elements and/or a plurality of second conveyor elements, the first conveyor elements and the second conveyor elements being in particular arranged alternately.

6 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first conveyor element and/or the second conveyor element have a width of less than 1 cm.

7 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first conveyor element protrudes by less than 2 mm beyond the second conveyor element.

8 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first conveyor element comprises a spring element, the first conveyor element being adapted to be pressed down against the spring force of the spring element.

9 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first conveyor element comprises at least one roller.

10 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first conveyor element comprises at least one lamella.

11 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first conveyor element comprises bristles.

12 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the second conveyor element comprises at least one roller, at least one lamella, bristles or a sliding surface.

13 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first conveyor element comprises first bristles of a first length and the second conveyor element comprises second bristles of a second length, the first bristles having a Young's modulus smaller than the Young's modulus of the second bristles.

14 . The device according to claim 13 , wherein the first bristles and the second bristles are distributed across the conveying surface.

15 . A sorter for sorting objects, wherein the sorter comprises at least one device and in particular a plurality of devices according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Deutsche Post Ag

Inventors

• Loh Hillar

Classifications

• B65G2207/42

  Soft elements to prevent damage to articles, e.g. bristles, foam · CPC title

• B07C3/08

  using arrangements of conveyors {(transport of sheets B65H; transport in general B65G)} · CPC title

• B65G2203/025

  Speed of the article · CPC title

• B65G2201/0285

  Postal items, e.g. letters, parcels · CPC title

• B65G2203/0258

  Weight of the article · CPC title