High speed baggage diverter

Abstract

A diverter assembly according to the present invention includes a generally horizontal conveying surface, a pair of flipper assemblies, and an actuator for substantially concurrently actuating the flipper assemblies to an actuated position whereby the flipper assemblies are collinear. A driven diverting surface is defined on each flipper assembly wherein an article on the conveying surface is diverted when the article contacts one of the flipper assemblies when the flipper assembly is in its actuated position.

1. A diverter assembly comprising:
 a generally horizontal conveying surface;  
 a pair of flipper assemblies on opposite sides of said conveying surface that are collinear in an actuated position;  
 a driven diverting surface defined on each flipper assembly; and  
 
       an actuator for substantially concurrently actuating said flipper assemblies to said actuated position and driving said driven diverting surfaces wherein an article on said conveying surface is diverted wherein said actuator extends downwardly from said horizontal conveying surface no more than 18 inches. 
     
     
       2. The diverter assembly in  claim 1 , wherein said diverting surfaces are high friction surfaces. 
     
     
       3. The diverter assembly in  claim 1 , wherein said driven diverting surfaces comprise driven belts. 
     
     
       4. The diverter assembly in  claim 1 , wherein said diverting surfaces of said flipper assemblies are at an angle with respect to the direction of travel of articles on said horizontal conveying surface that is in a range of from 20° to 60°. 
     
     
       5. The diverter assembly in  claim 4 , wherein said angle is approximately 45°. 
     
     
       6. The diverter assembly in  claim 1 , wherein said actuator extends downwardly from said horizontal conveying surface no more than 12 inches. 
     
     
       7. A diverter assembly comprising:
 a generally horizontal conveying surface;  
 a pair of flipper assemblies on opposite sides of said conveying surface that are collinear in an actuated position;  
 a driven diverting surface defined on each flipper assembly; and  
 an actuator for substantially concurrently actuating said flipper assemblies to said actuated position and driving said driven diverting surfaces wherein an article on said conveying surface is diverted, wherein said actuator comprises a motor and a clutch selectively connecting said motor with said flipper assemblies.  
 
     
     
       8. The diverter assembly in  claim 7  capable of diverting at least 60 articles per minute. 
     
     
       9. The diverter assembly in  claim 8  capable of diverting at least 80 articles per minute. 
     
     
       10. The diverter assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein each flipper assembly includes an arm, said arms including distal end, and said distal ends being generally adjacent when said flipper assemblies are actuated to said actuated position. 
     
     
       11. The diverter assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein each of said flipper assemblies includes an arm, said arms including distal ends and proximate ends, said arms being pivoted about proximate ends when said flipper assemblies are actuated to said actuated position. 
     
     
       12. A method of diverting articles comprising:
 conveying articles in a generally horizontal direction at a conveying speed, said conveying including conveying articles on a conveying surface;  
 positioning a diverting surface at an angle to the direction of travel of an article to horizontally diverted  divert the article in a diverting direction; and  
 driving said diverting surface at a diverting speed greater than said conveying speed wherein a diverted article substantially maintains the same magnitude of speed in the conveying direction when diverted, wherein said diverting surface includes at least two surface portions on opposite sides of said conveying surface which are selectively positionable in a collinear fashion to divert articles.  
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein said conveying articles includes conveying luggage. 
     
     
       14. A diverter assembly comprising:
 a conveying surface having a conveying direction and for conveying an article at a convoying  conveying speed;  
 a pair of arms at opposite sides of said convoying  conveying surface, said arms mounted for pivotal movement between a non-diverting position wherein said arms are adjacent said conveying surface and a diverting position wherein said arms are pivoted across said conveying surface;  
 a driven diverting surface defined at each of said arms; and  
 a drive assembly for selectively substantially concurrently moving said arms between said diverting position and said non-diverting position wherein an article conveyed on said conveying surface is diverted in a diverting direction when the article contacts at least one of said arms when said at least one arm is in said diverting position, and said drive assembly driving said driven diverting surfaces and adapted to decouple movement of said arms from the driving of said driven diverting surfaces.  
 
     
     
       15. The diverter assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein said diverting surface comprises high friction surfaces. 
     
     
       16. The diverter assembly in  claim 14 , wherein said driven diverting surfaces comprise driven belts. 
     
     
       17. The diverter assembly in  claim 14 , wherein at least one of said arms is angled with respect to said conveying direction in a range from 20° to 60° when said at least one arm is in said diverting position. 
     
     
       18. The diverter assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein said angle is approximately 45°. 
     
     
       19. The diverter assembly in  claim 14 , wherein said arms are generally collinear when said arms are pivoted to said diverting position. 
     
     
       20. The diverter assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one of said arms comprises a horizontal extent and a belt extending around said horizontal extent, said belt being driven about said horizontal extent and providing said driven diverting surface for said at least one arm. 
     
     
       21. The diverter assembly according to  claim 20 , wherein said at least one arm includes a vertical extent, said belt extending along at least a portion of said vertical extent. 
     
     
       22. The diverter assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein said vertical extent is at least 12 inches. 
     
     
       23. The diverter assembly according to  claim 20 , wherein each of said arms includes a horizontal extent and a belt extending around said horizontal extent, said belts being driven around their respective horizontal extents and providing said driven diverting surfaces. 
     
     
       24. The diverter assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one of said driven diverting surfaces comprises a drive belt. 
     
     
       25. The diverter assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein said drive belt is driven by a driven roller, said driven roller driven by said drive assembly. 
     
     
       26. The diverter assembly according to  claim 25 , wherein said driven roller includes a driven axis about which said driven roller is driven, and said arm pivoting about a pivot axis when pivoting between said non-diverting position and said diverting position. 
     
     
       27. The diverter assembly according to  claim 26 , wherein said driven axis and said pivot axis are generally collinear. 
     
     
       28. The diverter assembly according to  claim 26 , wherein said driven axis and said pivot axis are spaced apart. 
     
     
       29. A diverter assembly comprising:
 a conveying surface having a conveying direction and for conveying an article at a conveying speed;  
 a pair of arms at opposite sides of said conveying surface, said arms mounted for pivotal movement between a non-diverting position wherein said arms are adjacent said conveying surface and a diverting position wherein said arms are pivoted across said conveying surface;  
 a driven diverting surface defined at each of said arms, wherein at least one of said driven diverting surfaces comprises a drive belt, said drive belt being driven by a driven roller; and  
 a drive assembly for selectively substantially concurrently moving said arms between said diverting position and said non-diverting position wherein an article conveyed on said conveying surface is diverted in a diverting direction when the article contacts at least one of said arms when said at least one arm is in said diverting position, and said drive assembly driving said driven diverting surfaces at a speed approximately equal to the conveying speed divided by a cosine of an angle between said conveying direction and said diverting direction, said driven roller driven by said drive assembly, said driven roller including a driven axis about which said driven roller is driven, each of said arms pivoting about a pivot axis when pivoting between said non-diverting position and said diverting position, wherein said drive assembly is adapted to de-couple movement of said drive belts about said driven axes from movement of said arms about said pivot axes.  
 
     
     
       30. The diverter assembly according to  claim 29 , wherein said drive assembly includes a clutch assembly to decouple said movement. 
     
     
       31. The diverter assembly according to  claim 29 , when in said diverting position said arms are pivoted with a portion of said arms extending across said conveying surface and another portion of said arms extending beyond said conveying surface, said other portion of said at least one arm for continuing to drive the article when the article is diverted off said conveying surface. 
     
     
       32. The diverter assembly according to  claim 29 , wherein said driven diverting surfaces comprise driven belt. 
     
     
       33. The diverter assembly according to  claim 29 , wherein at least one of said arms is angled with respect to a conveying direction of said conveying surface in a range from 20° to 60° when said at least one arm is in said diverting position. 
     
     
       34. The diverter assembly according to  claim 33 , wherein said angle is approximately 45°. 
     
     
       35. The diverter assembly according to  claim 29 , wherein said arms are generally co-linear when said arms are pivoted to said diverting position. 
     
     
       36. The diverter assembly according to  claim 29 , wherein said conveying surface has a conveying direction, each of said arms including a distal end, and said distal arms being generally adjacent when said arms are pivoted to said diverting position. 
     
     
       37. The diverter assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein said drive assembly drives said driven diverting surfaces at a speed approximately equal to a conveying speed of said conveying surface divided by a cosine of an angle between said conveying direction and said diverting direction. 
     
     
       38. A diverter assembly comprising:
 a conveyor section having a generally horizontal conveying surface;  
 a pair of arms at opposed sides of said conveying surface, said arms mounted for pivotal movement between a non-diverting position and a diverting position wherein at least a portion of said arms are pivoted across said conveying surface, and said conveying surface adapted to be selectively lowered at said arms when said arms are in said diverting position; and  
 a drive assembly for selectively moving said arms between said diverting position and said non-diverting position wherein an article conveyed on said conveying surface is diverted in a diverting direction when the article contacts at least one of said arms when said at least one arm is in said diverting position.  
 
     
     
       39. The diverter assembly according to  claim 38 , further comprising a driven diverting surface defined at each of said arms. 
     
     
       40. The diverter assembly according to  claim 39 , wherein said diverting surfaces comprise driven belts. 
     
     
       41. The diverter assembly according to  claim 40 , wherein said arms are generally collinear when said arms are pivoted to said diverting position. 
     
     
       42. The diverter assembly according to  claim 40  wherein said driven belts are driven at a speed equal to a conveying speed of said conveying surface divided by a cosine of an angle between said conveying direction and said diverting direction. 
     
     
       43. The diverter assembly according to  claim 42 , wherein said drive assembly drives said driven belts. 
     
     
       44. A diverter assembly comprising:
 a conveyor section having a generally horizontal conveying surface;  
 a pair of arms at opposed sides of said conveying surface, said arms mounted for pivotal movement between a non-diverting position and a diverting position wherein at least a portion of said arms are pivoted across said conveying surface, and said conveying surface adapted to be selectively lowered at said arms when said arms are in said diverting position;  
 a drive assembly for selectively moving said arms between said diverting position and said non-diverting position wherein an article conveyed on said conveying surface is diverted in a diverting direction when the article contacts at least one of said arms when said at least one arm is in said diverting position; and  
 a driven diverting surface defined at each of said arms, said diverting surfaces comprise driven belts, wherein said driven belts are driven at a speed equal to a conveying speed of said conveying surface divided by a cosine of an angle between said conveying direction and said diverting direction, wherein said drive assembly is adapted to decouple movement of said driven belt from movement of said arms.  
 
     
     
       45. A diverter assembly comprising:
 a generally horizontal conveying surface;  
 a pair of arms on opposed sides of said conveying surface, said arms mounted for pivotal movement between a non-diverting position wherein said arms are adjacent said conveying surface and a diverting position wherein at least a portion of said arms are pivoted across said conveying surface;  
 a driven diverting surface defined at each of said arms, and said driven diverting surface having a vertical height of at least 12 inches; and  
 a drive assembly for selectively moving said arms between said diverting position and said non-diverting position wherein an article conveyed on said conveying surface is diverted in a diverting direction when the article contacts at least one of said arms when said at least one arm is in said diverting position, wherein said drive assembly drives said driven diverting surfaces and said drive assembly is adapted to decouple movement of said driven diverting surfaces from movement of said arms.  
 
     
     
       46. The diverter assembly according to  claim 45 , wherein said driven diverting surfaces comprise driven belts. 
     
     
       47. The diverter assembly according to  claim 46 , wherein each of said arms includes a horizontal extent, said driven belts being driven around said horizontal extents of said arms. 
     
     
       48. The diverter assembly according to  claim 47 , wherein said driven belts are rotated about a pair of belt axes, and said arms pivoting about a pivot axis spaced inwardly from one of said belt axes. 
     
     
       49. A method of selectively diverting user-packed luggage to particular destinations, wherein the luggage may be made up of various sizes and configurations up to a maximum dimension, said method comprising:
 providing a pair of flipper assemblies at substantially each of said destinations, wherein each of said pair of flipper assemblies comprises a driven diverting surface having a height of at least one-half of said maximum dimension;  
 providing an actuator;  
 passing the luggage past the flipper assemblies in sequence; and  
 actuating a respective pair of said flipper assemblies with the actuator at a desired destination for a selected luggage item; and  
 driving the driven diverting surfaces of the respective pair of flipper assemblies with the actuator.  
 
     
     
       50. The method according to  claim 49 , wherein said actuating the pair of said flipper assemblies includes pivoting the pair of flipper assemblies to a diverting position substantially simultaneously. 
     
     
       51. The method according to  claim 49 , further comprising driving the diverting surface at a speed greater than a speed of said passing whereby the forward speed of the luggage is substantially unchanged when diverted by the flipper assemblies. 
     
     
       52. The method according to  claim 49 , wherein said actuating includes diverting the luggage in a diverting direction, said passing including conveying the luggage in a conveying direction, and the diverting direction being angled with respect to the conveying direction. 
     
     
       53. The method according to  claim 52  wherein said diverting diverts luggage at a diverting speed, and said passing conveying the luggage wherein the luggage has a forward speed, said method further comprising at least maintaining the forward speed of the luggage generally constant when diverting the luggage. 
     
     
       54. The method according to  claim 53  wherein said diverting includes driving the driven diverting surface at a speed greater than the forward speed of the luggage. 
     
     
       55. The method according to  claim 54 , said method further comprising at least maintaining the forward speed of the luggage generally constant when diverting the luggage. 
     
     
       56. The method according to  claim 49 , wherein said passing comprises conveying the luggage in a conveying direction. 
     
     
       57. The method according to  claim 56  wherein said actuating includes diverting the luggage in a diverting direction. 
     
     
       58. The method according to  claim 57 , wherein the luggage has a forward speed, said diverting including driving the driven diverting surface at a speed equal to the forward speed of the luggage when being conveyed divided by the cosine of the angle between the conveying direction and the diverting direction to thereby reduce the impact on the luggage being diverted. 
     
     
       59. The method according to  claim 57 , wherein said diverting includes driving the driven diverting surface and pivoting the pair of flipper assemblies. 
     
     
       60. The method according to  claim 59  further comprising selectively decoupling said driving the driven diverting surface and said pivoting. 
     
     
       61. The method according to  claim 49 , wherein said pivoting includes aligning the pair of the flipper assemblies along a common axis when the flipper assemblies are pivoted to their diverting position. 
     
     
       62. The diverter assembly according to  claim 38 , wherein said conveyor section includes a bed, said conveying surface moving across said bed, said bed including a recessed portion proximate said arms, wherein said conveying surface can lower should an article get snagged under said arms to thereby release a snagged article. 
     
     
       63. The method according to  claim 49 , wherein said pivoting includes aligning the pair of the flipper assemblies along a common axis when the flipper assemblies are pivoted to their diverting position. 
     
     
       64. A flipper assembly in combination with a conveyor, said flipper assembly comprising:
   an arm, said arm having a frame with a vertical extent and including a belt bed;        a first roller mounted at one end of said frame;        a second roller mounted at an opposed end of said frame;        a driven belt, said belt extending around said rollers and extending across said vertical extent of said frame, said bed and said belt being configured to retain said belt on said arm, said belt bed providing lateral support for said belt, said belt bed extending substantially from said first roller to said second roller; and        a driver, said arm including a pivot axis and being selectively driven by said driver about said pivot axis to move between a non - diverting position adjacent said conveyor and a diverting position wherein said arm is extended at least partially across said conveyor for selectively diverting an article conveyed on said conveyor.     
     
     
       65. The flipper assembly according to  claim 64 , wherein said belt bed includes a longitudinal groove and said belt includes a rib, said rib extending into said groove to thereby retain said belt on said arm. 
     
     
       66. The flipper assembly according to  claim 64 , wherein said arm includes first and second sides, said belt having a diverting surface extending over said vertical extent on each side of said arm wherein said flipper assembly may be used to divert an object with said first or said second side of said arm. 
     
     
       67. The flipper assembly according to  claim 64 , wherein said one of said rollers comprises a driven roller, said driven roller driving said belt about a drive axis, said pivot axis being offset from said drive axis. 
     
     
       68. The flipper assembly according to  claim 64 , wherein said belt has a smooth outer surface forming said driven diverting surface. 
     
     
       69. A flipper assembly in combination with a conveyor, said flipper assembly comprising:
   an arm, said arm having a frame with a vertical extent and including a belt bed;        a first roller mounted at one end of said frame;        a second roller mounted at an opposed end of said frame;        a driven belt, said belt extending around said rollers and extending across said vertical extent of said frame, said bed and said belt being configured to retain said belt on said arm; and        a driver, said arm including a pivot axis and being selectively driven by said driver about said pivot axis to move between a non - diverting position adjacent said conveyor and a diverting position wherein said arm is extended at least partially across said conveyor for selectively diverting an article conveyed on said conveyor, wherein said one of said rollers comprises a driven roller, said driven roller driving said belt about a drive axis, wherein said driver drives said driven roller.     
     
     
       70. A flipper assembly in combination with a conveyor, said flipper assembly comprising:
   an arm, said arm having a frame with a vertical extent and including a belt bed;        a first roller mounted at one end of said frame;        a second roller mounted at an opposed end of said frame;        a driven belt, said belt extending around said rollers and extending across said vertical extent of said frame, said bed and said belt being configured to retain said belt on said arm; and        a driver, said arm including a pivot axis and being selectively driven by said driver about said pivot axis to move between a non - diverting position adjacent said conveyor and a diverting position wherein said arm is extended at least partially across said conveyor for selectively diverting an article conveyed on said conveyor, wherein said conveyor has a conveying surface with a conveying speed for conveying the article at a forward speed, said driven diverting surface being driven at a speed to maintain the forward speed of the article generally constant when diverting the article with said flipper assembly.     
     
     
       71. The flipper assembly according to  claim 70 , wherein said driven diverting surface is driven at a speed approximately equal to said conveying speed divided by a cosine of the angle between said conveying direction and said arm. 
     
     
       72. A method of selectively diverting user- packed luggage to a particular destination, wherein the luggage may be made up of various sizes and configurations articles up to a maximum dimension, said method comprising:      conveying the luggage in a conveying direction at a conveying speed;        providing a flipper assembly, wherein the flipper assembly comprises a driven diverting surface having a height of at least one - half of the maximum dimension; and        selectively actuating the flipper assembly to move the diverting surface to form an angle with the conveying direction for diverting a selected piece of luggage from the luggage including laterally supporting the diverting surface substantially across the height of the diverting surface.     
     
     
       73. A method of selectively diverting user- packed luggage to a particular destination, wherein the luggage may be made up of various sizes and configurations articles up to a maximum dimension, said method comprising:      conveying the luggage in a conveying direction at a conveying speed;        providing a flipper assembly, wherein the flipper assembly comprises a driven diverting surface having a height of at least one - half of the maximum dimension; and        selectively actuating the flipper assembly to move the diverting surface to form an angle with the conveying direction for diverting a selected piece of luggage from the luggage, wherein said actuating includes driving the driven diverting surface at a speed greater than the conveying speed whereby the speed of the selected piece of luggage is substantially unchanged when diverted by the flipper assembly.     
     
     
       74. The method according to  claim 73 , wherein said diverting comprises diverting the selected piece of luggage at a divert rate of at least  60  articles per minute. 
     
     
       75. The method according to  claim 74 , wherein said diverting comprises diverting the selected piece of luggage at a divert rate of at least  80  articles per minute. 
     
     
       76. The method according to  claim 73 , wherein said driving the driven diverting surface comprises driving the driven diverting surface at a speed approximately equal to the conveying speed divided by the cosine of the angle between the diverting surface and the conveying direction. 
     
     
       77. A method of selectively diverting user- packed luggage to a particular destination wherein the luggage may be made up of various sized and configured articles, each article having a center of gravity up to a maximum center - of - gravity height, said method comprising:      conveying the luggage in a conveying direction at a conveying speed;        providing a flipper assembly wherein the flipper assembly comprises a driven diverting surface having a height of at least the maximum center - of - gravity height;        selectively actuating the flipper assembly to move the diverting surface to form an angle with the conveying direction for diverting a selected piece of luggage from the luggage including laterally supporting the diverting surface substantially across the height of the diverting surface; and        driving the driven diverting surface of the flipper assembly greater than the conveying speed.     
     
     
       78. A method of selectively diverting user- packed luggage to a particular destination wherein the luggage may be made up of various sized and configured articles, each article having a center - of - gravity up to a maximum center - of - gravity height, said method comprising:      conveying the luggage in a conveying direction at a conveying speed;        providing a flipper assembly wherein the flipper assembly comprises a driven diverting surface having a height of at least the maximum center - of - gravity height;        selectively actuating the flipper assembly to move the diverting surface to form an angle with the conveying direction for diverting a selected piece of luggage from the luggage; and        driving the driven diverting surface of the flipper assembly greater than the conveying speed, whereby the speed of the selected piece of luggage is substantially constant when diverted by the flipper assembly.     
     
     
       79. The method according to  claim 78 , wherein said diverting comprises diverting the selected piece of luggage at a divert rate of at least  60  articles per minute. 
     
     
       80. The method according to  claim 78 , wherein said diverting comprises diverting the selected piece of luggage at a divert rate of at least  80  articles per minute. 
     
     
       81. A method of selectively diverting user- packed luggage to a particular destination wherein the luggage may be made up of various sized and configured articles, each article having a center of gravity up to a maximum center - of - gravity height, said method comprising:      conveying the luggage in a conveying direction at a conveying speed;        providing a flipper assembly wherein the flipper assembly comprises a driven diverting surface having a height of at least the maximum center - of - gravity height;        selectively actuating the flipper assembly to move the diverting surface to form an angle with the conveying direction for diverting a selected piece of luggage from the luggage; and        driving the driven diverting surface of the flipper assembly greater than the conveying speed, wherein said driving the driven diverting surface comprises driving the driven diverting surface at a speed approximately equal to the conveying speed divided by the cosine of the angle between the diverting surface and the conveying direction.     
     
     
       82. A flipper assembly in combination with a conveyor, said conveyor having a conveyor belt defining a conveying surface, and said conveyor belt being driven at a conveying speed in a conveying direction, said flipper assembly comprising:
   an arm mounted for pivotal movement across said conveying surface of said conveyor belt between a non - diverting position and a diverting position wherein said arm forms an angle with respect to said conveying direction in a range from about  20 ° to  60 ° for selectively diverting an article conveyed on said conveyor;        a driven diverting surface provided at said arm, said driven diverting surface being driven at a speed greater than said conveying speed, said arm having a frame with a vertical extent and including a belt bed extending substantially across said vertical extent of said frame, said belt bed providing lateral support for said driven diverting surface.     
     
     
       83. The flipper assembly according to  claim 82 , wherein said driven diverting surface is configured to be retained on said arm. 
     
     
       84. The flipper assembly according to  claim 82 , further comprising a driver, said driver pivoting said arm between said non- diverting position and said diverting position.   
     
     
       85. The flipper assembly according to  claim 84 , wherein said driver extends less than  18  inches below said conveying surface. 
     
     
       86. A flipper assembly in combination with a conveyor, said conveyor having a conveyor belt defining a conveying surface, and said conveyor belt being driven at a conveying speed in a conveying direction, said flipper assembly comprising:
   an arm mounted for pivotal movement across said conveying surface of said conveyor belt between a non - diverting position and a diverting position wherein said arm forms an angle with respect to said conveying direction in a range from about  20 ° to  60 ° for selectively diverting an article conveyed on said conveyor;        a driven diverting surface provided at said arm, said driven diverting surface being driven at a speed greater than said conveying speed, wherein said driven diverting surface is driven at a speed approximately equal to said conveying speed divided by a cosine of the angle between said conveying direction and said arm.     
     
     
       87. A flipper assembly in combination with a conveyor, said conveyor having a conveyor belt defining a conveying surface, and said conveyor belt being driven at a conveying speed in a conveying direction, said flipper assembly comprising:
   an arm mounted for pivotal movement across said conveying surface of said conveyor belt between a non - diverting position and a diverting position wherein said arm forms an angle with respect to said conveying direction in a range from about  20 ° to  60 ° for selectively diverting an article conveyed on said conveyor;        a driven diverting surface provided at said arm, said driven diverting surface being driven at a speed greater than said conveying speed;        a driver, said driver pivoting said arm between said non - diverting position and said diverting position, wherein said driver drives said driven diverting surface.     
     
     
       88. The flipper assembly according to  claim 82 , wherein said driven diverting surface comprises a driven belt.