FORM 2

THE PATENT ACT, 1970

(39 of 1970)
&
The Patent Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10 and rule 13)
1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
A Conveyor System for Effective Sorting and Holding Objects and Method Thereof
Name: 1. Aditya Engineering College
2. Aditya College of Engineering and Technology
3. Aditya College of Engineering 4. Aditya College of Pharmacy
5. Aditya Pharmacy College 6. Aditya Degree College
Nationality: 1. Indian 2. Indian 3. Indian 4. Indian 5. Indian
6. Indian
Address: 1. ADB Road, Aditya Nagar, Surampalem, East Godavari – 533437, Andhra
Pradesh, India.
2. ADB Road, Aditya Nagar, Surampalem, East Godavari – 533437, Andhra
Pradesh, India.
3. ADB Road, Aditya Nagar, Surampalem, East Godavari – 533437, Andhra
Pradesh, India.
4. ADB Road, Aditya Nagar, Surampalem, East Godavari – 533437, Andhra
Pradesh, India.
5. ADB Road, Aditya Nagar, Surampalem, East Godavari – 533437, Andhra
Pradesh, India.
6. Shanti Nagar, Kakinada – 533003, Andhra Pradesh, India.
3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION:
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is
to be performed:

1
 4. DESCRIPTION:
Field of the invention:

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to the technical field of a conveyor system,
and in specific relates to a conveyor system that avoids the use of a belt or roller mechanism
5 and performs effective sorting and holding of any kind of objects irrespective of shape and
size, thereby avoiding slip conditions.
Background of the invention:
[0002] Automation is regarded as the most recent revolutionary advance in the age of the
industrial revolution. Automation primarily aims to replace labour resources with machines
10 or software that can carry out repetitive, time-consuming, and possibly hazardous jobs. New
technologies are emerging and reshaping the way automation is done in various industrial
applications.

[0003] Generally, in every industry, there are numerous steps and procedures followed
15 during the production of a particular object or material from its raw initial state. Since
complete automation systems are implemented in such industries, the need for a conveyor
system is more necessary for the mobility of the object within the firm.

[0004] Conveyor belts are widely employed in numerous technological domains. Conveyor
20 belts convey different items for cooling, drying, coating, cooking, and many other
applications. Different types of conveyor belts include mesh belts, balanced weave belts, and
wire belts etc.

[0005] The main purpose of the conveyor belts is to provide quick and efficient transportation
25 of material or objects within the firm from one processing unit to another. Material flow in
today’s manufacturing plants, logistics centres, and warehouses is largely based on inflexible
roller or belt conveyors. These are characterized by the fact that roller or belt conveyors can
only carry out simple tasks, specifically, moving objects in a straight line. For more complex
tasks (e.g., rotating, separating, sorting, etc.), the conveyor technology must be extended by
30 additional mechanical components. Quite often, even industrial robots have to be integrated
in order to complete simple tasks. As a result, conveyor technology is rigid, inflexible,

2
 maintenance-unfriendly, and cost-intensive. With the concerns of floor space and time,
modern industrial organizations need more compact, economical, and efficient methods to
increase the flexibility of their conveyor systems.

5 [0006] Considering the recent developments in conveyor systems to perform complex tasks
like direction changing, sorting, and separating, some emerging technologies have evolved,
like the omnidirectional conveyor system. Omnidirectional conveyors or narrow belt
conveyors are used when objects have to be moved and rotated at the same time or when
the direction of the objects has to be changed during the movement.
10
[0007] The existing omnidirectional conveyor system consists of multiple conveyor units,
including an omnidirectional conveyor wheel and a dedicated drive motor for individually
driving the respective conveyor wheel. The rotation of multiple conveyor wheels will result in
moving the object or material in the direction of the rotation. This type of conveyor system
15 will help the object to move, change direction, and separate based on the object’s size, shape,
weight, etc. However, the omnidirectional conveyor system can only carry or move flat-
surfaced objects like packages. The connection of rotating elements for each omnidirectional
wheel makes the conveyor system bulky and consumes more space and floor. The objects
passing through the omnidirectional system cannot grip on the conveyor bed; hence, the
20 objects may get rolled out due to gravity or due to the impact force exerted by another project
passing nearer to it, thereby increasing slip conditions.

[0008] Another existing advancement in the conveyor system is the vibrating conveyor
system that uses artificial muscles made up of electroactive polymers in order to convey the
25 material on the belt, either by projecting the material forward in a series of tiny bounces or
sliding it forward in a series of horizontal shoves. The design of this type of conveyor system
has greater advantages for carrying a small object as compared to other conventional
conveyor systems because this type of system is independent of belts or rollers. However,
this method is inflexible for the objects that are needed to rotate, sort, separate, etc. In more
30 detail, this type of vibrating conveyor system is only suitable for materials that have
resonance properties, like metals. It is ineffective to carry materials like wood and low-density
objects.

3
 [0009] By addressing the above mentioned problems, there is a need for a conveyor system
that avoids using a belt or roller mechanism and performs effective sorting and holding of any
kind of object irrespective of shape and size, thereby avoiding slip conditions. There is also a
need for a conveyor system that carries the objects to their destiny, one by one in a sequential
5 manner, even if there are number of objects present on it. There is also a need for a conveyor
system that is able to perform complex tasks like moving, gripping, and sorting. There is also
a need for a conveyor system that maintains high accuracy in carrying objects with irregular
shapes and small in size as compared to existing omnidirectional roller-type conveyor belts.
There is also a need for a conveyor system that can grip or hold the object on the conveyor
10 bed and avoids the object to self-roll out due to gravity or the impact force of the other object
exerted while passing nearer to it. There is also a need for a conveyor system which uses an
electro active polymer for performing various tasks, thereby reducing the consumption of
power as compared to the existing omnidirectional roller-type conveyor belts

15 Objectives of the invention:

[0010] The primary objective of the invention is to provide a conveyor system that avoids the
use of a belt or roller mechanism and performs effective sorting and holding of any kind of
object irrespective of shape and size, thereby avoiding slip conditions.

20 [0011] Another objective of the invention is to provide a conveyor system that carries the
objects to their destiny, one by one in a sequential manner, even if there are plurality of
objects present in the conveyor system.

[0012] The other objective of the invention is to provide a conveyor system that is able to
25 perform complex tasks like moving, gripping, and sorting of the plurality of objects.

[0013] The other objective of the invention is to provide a conveyor system that maintains
high accuracy in carrying the plurality of objects with irregular shapes and small sizes as
compared to existing omnidirectional roller-type conveyor belts.
30

4
 [0014] Yet another objective of the invention is to provide a conveyor system that eliminates
the rotating elements like a motor, which reduces the space occupied and weight of the
conveyor system to perform complex tasks such as moving and sorting of the plurality of
objects.
5
[0015] The other objective of the invention is to provide a conveyor system that has the ability
to grip or hold the objects on the conveyor bed and prevents the objects from self-rolling out
due to gravity or due to the impact force of another object passing near it.

10 [0016] Further objective of the invention is to provide a conveyor system that uses a plurality
of flexible supports with electroactive polymer (EAP) columns for performing various tasks,
thereby reducing the consumption of electrical power as compared to the existing
omnidirectional roller-type conveyor belts.

Summary of the invention:

15 [0017] The present disclosure proposes a conveyor system for effective sorting and holding
of objects. The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic
understanding of some aspects of the claimed subject matter. This summary is not an
extensive overview. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the
scope of the claimed subject matter. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a
20 simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

[0018] In order to overcome the above deficiencies of the prior art, the present disclosure is
to solve the technical problem to provide a conveyor system that avoids the use of a belt or
roller mechanism and performs effective sorting and holding of any kind of object irrespective
25 of shape and size, thereby avoiding slip conditions.

[0019] According to one aspect, the invention provides a conveyor system for effective
sorting and holding of objects. The conveyor system comprises a conveyor bed which is
configured to move one or more objects. The conveyor bed comprises plurality of flexible
30 supports that are operatively arranged for supporting the one or more objects.

5
 [0020] In one embodiment, the each flexible support comprises plurality of electroactive
polymer (EAP) columns which is configured to be activated in order to provide a shoving
action upon detection of the one or more objects, thereby moving the one or more objects
at a selected speed on the conveyor bed along a selected travel path. The shape of the flexible
5 supports is cylindrical in structure and size varies between (0.2cm*1cm) and (0.7cm*25.4cm)
(radius*height). The each flexible support comprises an outer shell made up of flexible
material, which internally holds the plurality of EAP columns. The plurality of flexible supports
is configured to operate in one or more directions by controlling the electrical power supplied
to the plurality of EAP columns. The one or more EAP columns are activated by supplying
10 electrical power when required, the supply of the electrical power to the one or more EAP
columns is varied according to the direction to operate.

[0021] In one embodiment, a foil gauge is securely affixed to each flexible support. The foil
gauge is configured to measure at least one parameter of the one or more objects placed on
15 the conveyor bed. The parameters of the one or more objects include a shape, a size, and a
weight of the each object placed on the conveyor bed.

[0022] In one embodiment, a controller in communication with the foil gauge and the
plurality of EAP columns. In one embodiment, the controller is configured to receive sensed
20 data from the foil gauge of each flexible support, which is in contact with the objects and the
plurality of EAP columns. In one embodiment, the controller is configured to map the one or
more objects over a grid format on a user interface based the sensed data and identify a shape
and a surface area of each object placed on the conveyor bed.

25 [0023] In one embodiment, the controller is configured to receive inputs such as the selected
speeds and travel paths for the one or more objects, respectively, that are placed on the
conveyor bed from the user through the user interface. The user interface is a display unit
with a touch screen, thereby facilitating the user to select the speed and the travel paths for
the objects to move on the conveyor bed. The user provides the direction of the object to the
30 conveyor system by drawing a guideline over the grid format through the user interface.

6
 [0024] In one embodiment, the controller is configured to activate the plurality of EAP
columns of the each flexible support respectively by supplying required electrical power to
each EAP column based on the user’s inputs and the sensed data, thereby sorting, and moving
the one or more objects along the selected paths at the selected speeds on the conveyor bed
5 and holding the rest of the objects while sorting and moving one or more objects on the
conveyor bed, without using belt and roller mechanisms.

[0025] According to another aspect the invention provides a method for effective sorting and
holding objects using a conveyor system. At one step, a controller receives the sensed data
10 from a foil gauge of a respected flexible support which is in contact with one or more objects
and plurality of EAP columns. At another step, the controller maps the one or more objects
over a grid format on a user interface based the sensed data and identifies a shape and a
surface area of each object placed on a conveyor bed.

15 [0026] At another step, the controller receives inputs such as the selected speeds and travel
paths for the one or more objects, respectively that are placed on the conveyor bed from the
user through the user interface. At another step, the controller activates the plurality of EAP
columns of the each flexible support respectively by supplying required electrical power to
each EAP column based on the user’s inputs and the sensed data, thereby sorting, and moving
20 the one or more objects along the selected paths at the selected speeds on the conveyor bed
and holding the rest of the objects while sorting and moving one or more objects on the
conveyor bed, without using belt and roller mechanisms.

[0027] Further, objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from a study
25 of the following portion of the specification, the claims, and the attached drawings.

Detailed description of drawings:

[0028] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the
specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and, together with the description,
explain the principles of the invention.
30

7
 [0029] FIG. 1A illustrates a schematic view of a conveyor system arranged with plurality of
flexible supports, in accordance to the exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0030] FIG. 1B illustrates a detailed view of flexible support, in accordance to the exemplary
5 embodiment of the invention.

[0031] FIG. 2A illustrates a schematic view of an object placed on the conveyor, in accordance
to the exemplary embodiment of the invention.

10 [0032] FIG. 2B illustrates an exemplary view of a mapping of the object, in accordance to the
exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0033] FIGs. 3A-3C illustrate a detailed view of the object moving in the respective direction
by activating the respected flexible supports, in accordance to the exemplary embodiment of
15 the invention.

[0034] FIGs. 4A-4B illustrate a detailed view of the temporary holding of the object with
respect to the activation of respected flexible support, in accordance to the exemplary
embodiment of the invention.
20
[0035] FIGs. 5A-5C illustrate a detailed view of the conveyor system holding irregular shaped
objects, in accordance to the exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0036] FIGs. 6A-6B illustrate an exemplary views of the placement of multiple objects on the
25 conveyor bed and their identities mapped on a grid format, in accordance to the exemplary
embodiment of the invention.

[0037] FIGs. 7A-7C illustrate a detailed view of the actuation of the plurality of flexible
supports with respect to the type of operation, in accordance to the exemplary embodiment
30 of the invention.

8
 [0038] FIGs. 8A-8B illustrate a detailed views of the conveyor system performing sorting of
different objects, in accordance to the exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0039] FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary flow chart of a method for effective sorting and holding
5 objects using a conveyor system, in accordance to the exemplary embodiment of the
invention.

Detailed invention disclosure:

[0040] Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in reference to the
10 accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in
the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps.

[0041] The present disclosure has been made with a view towards solving the problem with
the prior art described above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a
15 conveyor system that avoids the use of a belt or roller mechanism and performs effective
sorting and holding of any kind of object irrespective of shape and size, thereby avoiding slip
conditions.

[0042] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIG. 1 refers to a schematic

20 view of a conveyor system 100 arranged with plurality of flexible supports 104. In one
embodiment herein, the conveyor system 100 performs complex tasks like moving, gripping,
and sorting. In one embodiment herein, the conveyor system 100 comprises a conveyor bed
102 for moving one or more objects 10. The conveyor bed 102 comprises plurality of flexible
supports 104 that are operatively arranged for supporting the one or more objects 10. The
25 shape of the plurality of flexible supports 104 is cylindrical in structure and the size lies
between the range of (0.2cm*1cm) to (0.7cm*25.4cm) [radius*height]. According to the
application, a specific type of conveyor bed 102 is selected.

[0043] The structure of each flexible support 104 is shown in FIG. 1B. Each flexible support
30 104 comprises an outer shell made up of flexible material which internally holds one or more
EAP columns 108. The plurality of electroactive polymer EAP columns 108 is configured to be
activated in order to provide a shoving action upon detection of the one or more objects 10,

9
 thereby moving the one or more objects 10 at a selected speed on the conveyor bed 102
along a selected travel path. A foil gauge 106 is securely affixed to each flexible support 104.
The foil gauge 106 is configured to receive the pressure exerted by object 10 when placed on
the conveyor bed 102 and detect at least one parameter of one or more objects 10. The
5 purpose of the flexible support 104 is to sense different parameters of one or more objects
10 (e.g., shape of the contact surface, surface area, and weight) through foil gauge 106 and
at the same time to control the dynamics of object 10 through electro active polymer columns
108.

10 [0044] The flexible support 104 is operated in any direction by controlling the voltage
supplied to electro active polymer columns 108. In one embodiment herein, the one or more
EAP columns 108 are activated to provide dynamic motion to the object 10 passing via the
conveyor bed 102 based on the detected data by the foil gauge 106.

15 [0045] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2A refers to schematic

view of an object 10 placed on the conveyor bed 102. In one embodiment herein, the object
10 is placed on the conveyor bed 102 and the object 10 is in contact with the plurality of
flexible supports 104 around. The plurality of flexible supports 104 which are in contact with
the object exerts pressure due to weight of the object 10.
20
[0046] In one embodiment herein, the foil gauge 106 experiences the pressure exerted by
the object and send signals to a controller 110. The controller 110 is in communication with
the foil gauge 106 and the plurality of EAP columns 108. In one embodiment herein, the
controller 110 is configured to receive sensed data from the foil gauge 106 of each flexible
25 support 104, which is in contact with the objects 10 and the plurality of EAP columns 108,
map the one or more objects 10 over a grid format on a user interface 112 based the sensed
data and identify a shape and a surface area of each object 10 placed on the conveyor bed 102.
In one embodiment herein, the controller is configured to receive inputs such as the selected
speeds and travel paths for the one or more objects 10 respectively that are placed on the
30 conveyor bed 102 from the user through the user interface 112.

10
 [0047] In one embodiment herein, the controller is configured to activate the plurality of EAP
columns 108 of the each flexible support 104 respectively by supplying required electrical
power to each EAP column 108 based on the user’s inputs and the sensed data, thereby
sorting, and moving the one or more objects 10 along the selected paths at the selected
5 speeds on the conveyor bed 102 and holding the rest of the objects 10 while sorting and
moving of one or more objects 10 on the conveyor bed 102, without using belt and roller
mechanisms.

[0048] In one embodiment herein, the visuals of the grid format of the object 10 mapped are
10 displayed on the user interface 112. The user has the ability to identify the identities of the
object through the user interface 112. In one embodiment herein, the controller 110 also
measures the strength of the electrical signals sent by the respected foil gauges 106 of the
respected flexible support 104. In one embodiment herein, the controller 110 performs
sorting, holding, and moving upon the measurement of one or more objects 10 parameters.
15
[0049] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIGs. 3A-3C refers to the
detailed view of the object 10 moving in the respective direction by activating the respected
flexible supports 104. In one embodiment herein, initially the user provides the direction of
the object 10 movement to the conveyor system 100 by drawing a guide line over the grid
20 format through user interface 112. The actuation speed of the plurality of flexible supports
104 which relates to speed of the object 10 movement is selected by the user. According to
the path and speed selected, the controller 110 will operate the plurality of flexible supports
104.

25 [0050] In one embodiment herein, the one or more EAP columns 108 of the respected flexible
supports 104 actuates as per the selected direction. As per the selected speed, controller 110
varies the electric voltage to one or more EAP columns 108, So that the actuation of the EAP
is controlled within the time. Consider that the object 10 is placed on one side of the conveyor
bed 102. Once the object 10 is detected on respected flexible support 104, the controller 110
30 activates the respected flexible support 104 to operate and provide shoving (push) action to
the object 10.

11
 [0051] In one embodiment herein, as shown in FIGs. 3A-3C when the object 10 is to be moved
for the other end of the conveyor bed 102,all the respected flexible supports 104 on which
object 10 lies will be actuated by the controller 110, to shift the object 10 on to the next
sequence of flexible supports 104. Assume the flexible supports 104 shown in Figs. 3A-3C are
5 D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, and D6. The flexible supports (D1, D2) 104 are activated to shift or move
the object to the next sequence of flexible supports (D3) 104. The respected flexible supports
104 lean towards the direction in which the object needs to be moved. The flexible supports
104 are made up of electro active polymer columns 108; upon electric voltage they are
actuated. The flexible supports actuate (lean) in the desired direction that is previously
10 selected by the user. Due to that, the object 10 moves in selected direction.

[0052] In one embodiment herein, when the object 10 is shifted to the new flexible supports
(D3) 104, then flexible supports (D3) 104 are actuated by the controller 110 to move the
object 10 on to the further flexible supports (D4, D5, D6) (104), as shown in Fig.3c. The object
15 10 is moved to anywhere on the conveyor bed 102 by shifting the object 10 over the plurality
of flexible supports 104. When the object 10 changes its position on the conveyor bed 102,
simultaneously there will be change in the map format, that identities of object 10 is moved
forward in the grid. So that, user also inspects the flow of object 10 on the conveyor bed 102.

20 [0053] In one embodiment herein, the flexible supports 104 need to lean towards the
direction of the path that the object 10 needed to move. This is achieved by altering the
voltage supply for the electro active polymer columns 108 with in the each flexible support
104. Consider the electro active polymer columns 108 of respected flexible support 104 as
north, south, east, and west columns (as shown in Fig. 7A). If the object 10 needed to be
25 moved in the direction of west, the EAP columns 108 present other than the west side is
supplied with voltage. The EAP column 108 present in east is supplied with maximum voltage,
hence it rise more, and the other EAP columns 108 (north and south) is supplied with voltage
less than the voltage supplied to EAP column 108 in east, hence they rise slightly less.

30 [0054] The structure of the all EAP columns 108 in respected flexible support 104 tend to lean
the flexible support 104 towards the west and makes the object 10 to direct towards west
direction, (as shown in Fig.7B). Since, the outer shell is made up of flexible material it will not

12
 affect the process, and the control over the voltage supply will be managed by the controller
110. The reaction time of controller 110 is too fast that it able to actuate the flexible support
104 with-in milli-seconds (minimum time).

5 [0055] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIGs. 4A-4B refers to the
detailed view of the temporary holding of the object 10 with respect to the activation of
respected flexible supports 104. In one embodiment herein, if the object 10 needed to be
hold or gripped on the conveyor bed 102. After the mapping of identities on the grid format,
the controller 110 identifies the flexible supports 104 on which the object 10 is present. The
10 controller 110 actuates the flexible supports 104 present around the object 10 to grip. The
plurality of flexible supports 104 are actuated in a different manner, flexible supports rise and
lean slightly towards the objects 10. Since, the surrounding flexible supports of the objects 10
are actuated, object 10 cannot move from its position until the controller 110 again actuates
the plurality of flexible supports 104 to move the object 10.
15
[0056] In one embodiment herein, the controller 110 sends the sensory information to the
respected flexible supports 104 on which one or more objects 10 are placed. The EAP columns
108 of the respected flexible supports 104 activated by the controller 110 to hold one or more
objects 10 temporarily, while the other objects 10 are in moving and sorting motion based on
20 the selected path at the selected speed by the user.

[0057] In one embodiment herein, the respected flexible supports 104 need to rise and lean
towards to hold the object 10. This is achieved by supplying voltage to all the electro active
polymer columns 108 present in respected flexible supports 104. In one embodiment herein,
25 as shown in FIG. 7C consider the one or more EAP columns 108 of respected flexible support
104 as north, south, east and west columns. If the flexible support 104 needed to grip the
object 10 in west direction. The voltage is supplied to all the EAP columns 108 of the respected
flexible support 104. The difference in amount of voltage supplied to each EAP column 108
tends the flexible support 104 to rise and lean.
30
[0058] The EAP column 108 in the east is supplied with maximum voltage, hence it will rise
more, and the EAP columns 108 in the north and south are supplied with less voltage than

13
 the voltage supplied to EAP column 108 in the east, hence they will rise less than EAP column
108 in the east. And the EAP column 108 in the west is supplied with minimum voltage, hence
it has a slight rise in height. Now, the structure of all the EAP columns 108 results in a change
in the shape of the respected flexible support 104 i.e., it will rise and lean towards the west,
5 as shown in FIG. 7C. Therefore, EAP columns 108 are able to grip the object 10 in the west
direction.

[0059] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIGs. 5A-5C refer to the
detailed view of the conveyor system 100 holding an irregular shaped object 10, for example,
10 a basketball. In one embodiment herein, the tendency of the object 10 to roll over the
conveyor bed 102 is more in this case. Since, the object 10 doesn’t have flat surface, the
identities marked on the grid format will differ from its actual shape (as shown in FIGs. 5A,
5B, 5C). The controller 110 actuates the surrounding flexible supports 104 to rise from a
normal position. Here, the flexible supports 104 form an obstacle around the contact point of
15 the spherical object 10. Hence the object 10 terminates to roll or move from its mean position.

[0060] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIGs. 6A-6B refers to the
exemplary views of the placement of multiple objects 10 on the conveyor bed 102 and their
identities mapped on a grid format. In one embodiment herein, the conveyor system 100
20 need to carry multiple objects 10 one after the other in a sequential manner. When multiple
objects 10 are present on the conveyor bed 102, the grid format will differ as shown in the
Fig.6B. The controller 110 detects the number of objects 10 present and position of the
respected objects 10 over the conveyor bed 102. According to the respected positions of the
objects 10, the controller 110 decides which object 10 to move and which object 10 to hold.,
25 the first object 10, which preceding the all-other objects 10 moving first and followed by
second preceding object 10 and the process continues. While one object 10 tends to move,
other objects 10 will be gripped.

[0061] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIGs. 8A-8B refers to the
30 detailed views of the conveyor system 100 performing sorting of different objects 10. In one
exemplary embodiment herein, consider 4 different objects 10 placed on the conveyor bed
102, the objects 10 need to separated and collected into their respected bins (as shown in

14
 Fig. 8A). The parameters of the all objects 10 are different like first object 10 with no defect
(original object), second object 10 with similar shape and weight like the original object 10
but differ in surface area, third object 10 with similar shape and surface area like the original
object 10 but differ in weight, fourth object with similar weight and surface area like the
5 original object 10 but differ in shape. The user defines the properties of the original object 10.
The user also provide the direction (path) for the objects on the grid format with different
parameters, in order to collect those into their respected bins, as shown in Fig.8B. When the
object 10 is mapped on the grid format, the controller 110 checks the object 10 for their
required parameters, if any change in the parameters the object 10 will be directed into their
10 respected bin in the path defined by the user. The objects 10 shown in the Fig 8A move into
their respected bins in a sequential manner one after the other.

[0062] In one embodiment herein, the conveyor system 100 is a complete autonomous
system, the user provides all the required data like object parameters and object path to the
15 conveyor system 100 before the start of working process. Once the conveyor system 100
starts working, it is unable to control or change the inputs. If required, user should stop the
conveyor system 100 and then the inputs can be modified. The conveyor system 100 is able
to perform actions like sorting, moving and holding on its own by taking the inputs as
reference.
20
[0063] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIG. 9 refers to the
exemplary flow chart of a method 900 for effective sorting and holding objects 10 using a
conveyor system 100. At step 902, the controller 110 receives the sensed data from the foil
gauge 106 of the respected flexible support 104 which is in contact with one or more objects
25 10 and plurality of EAP columns. At step 904, the controller 110 maps the one or more objects
10 over a grid format on the user interface 112 based the sensed data and identifies the shape
and surface area of each object 10 placed on the conveyor bed 102. At step 906, the controller
110 receives inputs such as the selected speeds and travel paths for the one or more objects
10, respectively that are placed on the conveyor bed 102 from the user through the user
30 interface 112. At step 908, the controller 110 activates the plurality of EAP columns 108 of
the each flexible support 104 respectively by supplying required electrical power to each EAP
column 108 based on the user’s inputs and the sensed data, thereby sorting, and moving the

15
 one or more objects 10 along the selected paths at the selected speeds on the conveyor bed
102 and holding the rest of the objects 10 while sorting and moving one or more objects 10
on the conveyor bed 102, without using belt and roller mechanisms

5 [0064] Numerous advantages of the present disclosure may be apparent from the discussion
above. In accordance with the present disclosure a conveyor system 100 is disclosed which
avoids the use of a belt or roller mechanism and performs effective sorting and holding of any
kind of object irrespective of shape and size, thereby avoiding slip conditions.

10 [0065] The proposed invention provides a conveyor system 100 which carries the objects to
their destiny, one by one in a sequential manner, even if there are number of objects present
in the conveyor system. The conveyor system 100 performs complex tasks like moving,
gripping, and sorting. The conveyor system 100 maintains high accuracy in carrying objects
with irregular shapes and small sizes as compared to existing omnidirectional roller-type
15 conveyor belts. The conveyor system 100 eliminates the rotating elements like a motor, which
reduces the space occupied and weight of the system. The conveyor system 100 has the ability
to grip or hold the object on the conveyor bed and prevents the object from self-rolling out
due to gravity or due to the impact force of another object passing near it.

20 [0066] It will readily be apparent that numerous modifications and alterations can be made
to the processes described in the foregoing examples without departing from the principles
underlying the invention, and all such modifications and alterations are intended to be
embraced by this application.

16
 5. CLAIMS:

I/We Claim:

1. A conveyor system (100) for effective sorting and holding of objects (10), comprising:

a conveyor bed (102) configured to move one or more objects (10), wherein the conveyor
5 bed (102) comprises plurality of flexible supports (104) that are operatively arranged for
supporting the one or more objects (10),

wherein each flexible support (104) comprises:

plurality of electroactive polymer (EAP) columns (108) configured to be activated in order

to provide a shoving action upon detection of the one or more objects (10), thereby moving
10 the one or more objects (10) at a selected speed on the conveyor bed (102) along a
selected travel path;

a foil gauge (106) securely affixed to each flexible support (104), wherein the foil gauge
(106) is configured to measure at least one parameter of the one or more objects (10)
placed on the conveyor bed (102); and

15 a controller (110) in communication with the foil gauge (106) and the plurality of EAP
columns (108) configured to:

receive sensed data from the foil gauge (106) of each flexible support (104), which is
in contact with the objects (10) and the plurality of EAP columns (108);

map the one or more objects (10) over a grid format on a user interface (112) based
20 the sensed data and identify a shape and a surface area of each object (10) placed on
the conveyor bed (102);

receive inputs such as the selected speeds and travel paths for the one or more objects
(10), respectively, that are placed on the conveyor bed (102) from the user through
the user interface (112); and

25 activate the plurality of EAP columns (108) of the each flexible support (104)
respectively by supplying required electrical power to each EAP column (108) based
on the user’s inputs and the sensed data, thereby sorting, and moving the one or more

17
 objects (10) along the selected paths at the selected speeds on the conveyor bed (102)
and holding the rest of the objects (10) while sorting and moving one or more objects
(10) on the conveyor bed (102) without using belt and roller mechanisms.

2. The conveyor system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parameters of the one or
5 more objects (10) include a shape, a size, and a weight of the each object (10) placed on
the conveyor bed (102).

3. The conveyor system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shape of the flexible supports
(104) is cylindrical in structure and size varies between 0.2cm*1cm and 0.7cm*25.4cm
radius*height.

10 4. The conveyor system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the each flexible support (104)
comprises an outer shell made up of flexible material, which internally holds the plurality
of EAP columns (108).

5. The conveyor system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of flexible supports
(104) is configured to operate in one or more directions by controlling the electrical power
15 supplied to the plurality of EAP columns (108).

6. The conveyor system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user interface (112) is a
display unit with a touch screen, thereby facilitating the user to select the speed and the
travel paths for the objects (10) to move on the conveyor bed (102).

7. The conveyor system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user provides the direction
20 of the object (10) to the conveyor system (100) by drawing a guideline over the grid format
through the user interface (112).

8. The conveyor system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more EAP columns
(108) are activated by supplying electrical power when required, wherein the supply of the
electrical power to the one or more EAP columns (108) is varied according to the direction
25 to operate.

9. A method for effective sorting and holding objects using a conveyor system (100),
comprising:

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 receiving sensed data from a foil gauge (106) of each flexible support (104), which is in
contact with one or more objects (10) and plurality of EAP columns (108);

mapping the one or more objects (10) over a grid format on a user interface (112) based
the sensed data and identifying a shape and a surface area of each object (10) placed on
5 a conveyor bed (102);

receiving inputs such as the selected speeds and travel paths for the one or more objects
(10), respectively, that are placed on the conveyor bed (102) from the user through the
user interface (112); and

activating the plurality of EAP columns (108) of the each flexible support (104)
10 respectively by supplying required electrical power to each EAP column (108) based on
the user’s inputs and the sensed data, thereby sorting, and moving the one or more
objects (10) along the selected paths at the selected speeds on the conveyor bed (102)
and holding the rest of the objects (10) while sorting and moving one or more objects
(10) on the conveyor bed (102), without using belt and roller mechanisms;

15 6. DATE AND SIGNATURE:

Dated this 20 day of April, 2023

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 7. ABSTRACT:

Title: A Conveyor System for Effective Sorting and Holding Objects and Method Thereof

The present invention discloses a conveyor system (100) for effective sorting and holding
objects. The conveyor system (100) comprises a conveyor bed (102) for carrying one or more
5 objects (10), plurality of flexible support (104) over the entire surface of the conveyor bed
(102), a foil gauge (106) to receive the pressure exerted by the object (10) and detect at least
one parameter of the object (10), one or more EAP columns (108) configured to provide
dynamic motion to the object (10), a controller (110) to receive signals from the foil gauge
(106) and maps the signal over a grid format on a user interface (112), identifies the
10 parameters of the object (10), activates the respected flexible supports (104) to perform
sorting, holding, and moving accordingly based on the user’s selection and requirement.

20