Method and apparatus for distributing articles in a storage compartment

Abstract

A method for distributing articles ( 2 ) made by series production in a storage compartment ( 3 ), including the following steps: A. Placing the article ( 2 ) on a longitudinally displaceable conveyor ( 4 ) above the storage compartment ( 3 ); B. Displacing the article ( 2 ) by the conveyor ( 4 ) to a discharge area ( 15, 15′, 15″, 15′″ ) which is selected among at least two discharge areas ( 15, 15′, 15″, 15′″ ) in the storage compartment; C. Discharging the article ( 2 ) by pushing it off over one ( 12 ) or the other edge ( 13 ) of the conveyor by moving the conveyor ( 4 ) over the discharge area ( 15, 15′, 15″, 15′″ ); D. Repeating steps A-C with selection of discharge area ( 15, 15′, 15″, 15′″ ) in a controlled sequence. Furthermore an apparatus ( 1 ) for performing the method is described.

1 . A method for distributing articles ( 2 ) made by series production in a storage compartment ( 3 ), including the following steps:
 A. placing the article ( 2 ) on a longitudinally displaceable conveyor ( 4 ) above the storage compartment ( 3 );   B. displacing the article ( 2 ) by the conveyor ( 4 ) to a discharge area ( 15 ,  15 ′,  15 ″,  15 ′″) which is selected among at least two discharge areas ( 15 ,  15 ′,  15 ″,  15 ′″) in the storage compartment;   C. discharging the article ( 2 ) by pushing it off over one ( 12 ) or the other edge ( 13 ) of the conveyor by moving the conveyor ( 4 ) over the discharge area ( 15 ,  15 ′,  15 ″,  15 ′″);   D. repeating steps A-C with selection of discharge area ( 15 ,  15 ′,  15 ″,  15 ′″) in a controlled sequence.   
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the sequence of selecting the discharge area ( 15 ,  15 ′,  15 ″,  15 ′″) of each article is controlled by the steps:
 detecting degree of filling in each discharge area ( 15 ,  15 ′,  15 ″,  15 ′″) in the storage compartment ( 3 );   comparing degrees of filling;   selecting the discharge area ( 15 ,  15 ′,  15 ″,  15 ′″) on the basis of the said comparison.   
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the conveyor ( 4 ) is elevated to a first height while performing step A, and wherein the conveyor ( 4 ) is lowered to a second height before performing step B. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus ( 1 ) for distributing articles ( 2 ) made by series production in a storage compartment ( 3 ), wherein it includes:
 a conveyor ( 4 ) with a support surface ( 5 ) for an article ( 2 );   a drive means for longitudinal displacement ( 6 ) of the support surface ( 5 ) of the conveyor;   at least one pushing off means ( 7 );   at least one drive means for inserting ( 8 ) the at least one pushing off means ( 7 ) in the path of the article;   a control means.   
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein it includes
 a drive means for vertical displacement ( 9 ) of the support surface ( 5 ) of the conveyor.   
     
     
         6 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the conveyor ( 4 ) includes
 an endless conveyor means ( 10 ).   
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the conveyor ( 4 ) includes
 a slide ( 11 ) formed with free edges ( 12 ,  13 ) along open sides transversely to the direction of movement of the conveyor.   
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the pushing off means ( 7 ) is oriented largely perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the conveyor. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the conveyor ( 4 ) is formed with free edges ( 12 ,  13 ) along open sides in parallel with the direction of movement of the conveyor, and wherein the pushing off means ( 7 ) is oblique relative to the direction of movement of the conveyor. 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein it includes at least one level measuring means ( 14 ) which is adapted for detecting the degree of filling in each discharge area ( 15 ) in the storage compartment ( 3 ).