Importance

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Abstract

A linked sorter for sorting small cargo units includes a plurality of conveying elements positioned consecutively in a conveying direction. The elements are flexibly connected to each other and form an endless conveying line for loading of small cargo units on each of the conveying elements. A cross-belt conveyor at a top end of each conveying element receives and delivers small cargo unit. The cross-belt conveyor has an endless-loop conveying belt which runs over two rollers that are separately positioned at and extend in the conveying direction of the sorter. An electric motor drives one of the rollers of the cross-belt conveyor so that a carrying segment of the cross-belt conveyor moves toward the predetermined delivery station. A support element is flexibly connected at a front section and a rear section and support elements of preceding and following conveying elements form a linked chain of support elements. The support element is supported and guided by running rollers at two parallel guiding rails that are separately positioned at a lower end segment that faces away from the cross-belt conveyor. At least one slot-shaped recess at the support element of at least every n-th conveying element has a rib extending at a predetermined distance to a wall of the slot-shaped recess and protrudes contact-free into the slot-shaped recess of the conveying elements. The rib has an electrical conductor that forms a primary winding and can be connected to a power source. At least one control line is routed along the conveyor and transfers control commands and control signals that originate from a central control device to a conveying elements. A section of the support element that forms the slot-shaped recesses is configured at least partly with ferrite and is equipped with a secondary winding that is magnetically coupled to the primary winding. At least one individual control device is assigned to the electric motor of a conveying element for driving and controlling at least one cross-belt conveyor. The individual control device receives control commands and control signals via the control line.

First Claim