Method for regulating the flow of product along an accumulation conveyor

• US 20060293782A1
• Filed: 06/27/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Rees, Steven D.
• Application Number:
  US11/167,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20060293782A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/230
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/261 Accumulating articles

Abstract

A method of controlling the transport of product along an accumulation conveyor is provided. The accumulation conveyor has a plurality of zones. Each zone is independently driven and has a status corresponding to the presence of product thereon. The method includes the steps of generating a first data table containing instructions for transporting the product between a first pair of zones of the accumulation conveyor and monitoring the status of the plurality of zones. A first zone is driven in response to the status of the plurality of zones in accordance with the instructions.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the transport of product along an accumulation conveyor having a plurality of zones, each zone being independently driven and having a status corresponding to the presence of product thereon, comprising the steps of:

generating a first data table containing instructions for transporting the product between a first pair of zones of the accumulation conveyor;

monitoring the status of the plurality of zones; and

driving a first zone in response to the status of the plurality zones in accordance with the instructions.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the data table includes a first set of instructions for triggering a first predetermined event.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first data table includes a second set of instructions for validating the first predetermined event.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the first data table includes a first data set generated in response to the monitored status of the plurality of zones.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the additional steps of comparing the first data set against the first set of instructions and triggering the first predetermined event in response to the first data set matching the first set of instructions.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the additional step of generating a second data table containing instructions for transporting the product between a second pair of zones.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the second data table includes a first set of instructions for triggering a second predetermined event.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the second data table includes a second set of instructions for validating the second predetermined event.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the second data table includes a first data set generated in response to the monitored status of the plurality of zones.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the additional steps of comparing the first data set of the second data table against the first set of instructions of the second data table and triggering the second predetermined event in response to the first data set of the second data table matching the first set of instructions of the second data table.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein the first predetermined event is the driving of the first zone.

17. The method of claim 9 further comprising the additional steps of comparing the first data set of the second data table against the first set of instructions of the second data table and triggering the second predetermined event in response to the first data set of the second data table matching the first set of instructions of the second data table.

12. A method of controlling the transport of product along an accumulation conveyor having a plurality of zones, each zone being independently driven and having a status corresponding to the presence of product thereon, comprising the steps of:

sensing the presence of product in the plurality of zones and generating corresponding product signals in response thereto;

generating a first data table in response to the product signals, the first data table including;

a first set of instructions for triggering a first predetermined event; and

a first data set generated in response to the product signals; and

comparing the first data set against the first set of instructions and triggering the first predetermined event in response to the first data set matching the first set of instructions.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the first predetermined event includes driving a first zone to transport product thereon.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the first data table includes a second set of instructions for qualifying the first predetermined event.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising the additional step of generating a second data table in response to the product signals, the second data table including:

a first set of instructions for triggering a second predetermined event; and

a first data set generated in response to the product signals.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the second data table includes a second set of instructions for qualifying the second predetermined event.

18. The method of claim 12 comprising the additional step of delaying the first predetermined event for a user defined time period after the triggering step.

19. A method of controlling the transport of product along an accumulation conveyor having a plurality of zones, each zone being independently driven, comprising the steps of:

sensing the presence of product in the plurality of zones and generating corresponding product signals in response thereto;

deriving a first data set from the product signals;

generating a first set of instructions for triggering a first predetermined event; and

comparing the first data set against the first set of instructions and triggering the first predetermined event in response to the first data set matching the first set of instructions.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the first predetermined event includes driving a first zone to transport product thereon.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the first data set and the first set of instructions partially define a first data table.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the first data table includes a second set of instructions for qualifying the first predetermined event.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising the additional step of generating a second data table in response to the product signals, the second data table including:

a first set of instructions for triggering a second predetermined event; and

a first data set generated in response to the product signals.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the second data table includes a second set of instructions for qualifying the second predetermined event.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising the additional steps of comparing the first data set of the second data table against the first set of instructions of the second data table and triggering the second predetermined event in response to the first data set of the second data table matching the first set of instructions of the second data table.

26. The method of claim 19 comprising the additional step of delaying the first predetermined event for a user defined time period after the triggering step.