Zone Controller For Modular Conveyor System
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a conveyor including a plurality of zones, a first zone of the plurality of zones including first and second regions each configured to accommodate an article, the method comprising:
- receiving an accept article request from a second zone in a controller of the first zone;
in response to receiving the accept article request from the second zone, the controller determining if a first article is in the first region of the first zone;
in response to determining the first article is not in the first region, the controller activating the first zone to accept a second article from the second zone; and
in response to determining the first article is in the first region, the controller refusing to accept the second article from the second zone.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for controlling a conveyor system including a conveyor zone having a plurality of conveyor regions. A zone controller is configured to track the position of one or more articles within a controlled zone. The zone controller may be operatively coupled to controllers of adjacent zones, and may receive and transmit data relating to the position of articles in the controlled zone and whether the zone is accepting articles from the other controllers. Articles are moved within the controlled zone by selectively activating the zone based on determined positions of articles within the controlled zone, the positions of articles within adjacent zones, and/or the operating mode of the zone. The zone controller may thereby operate cooperatively with adjacent zones to manage spacing between articles by selectively positioning multiple articles within the zone, and may accumulate or discharge articles from the conveyor system in a desired arrangement.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a conveyor including a plurality of zones, a first zone of the plurality of zones including first and second regions each configured to accommodate an article, the method comprising:
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receiving an accept article request from a second zone in a controller of the first zone; in response to receiving the accept article request from the second zone, the controller determining if a first article is in the first region of the first zone; in response to determining the first article is not in the first region, the controller activating the first zone to accept a second article from the second zone; and in response to determining the first article is in the first region, the controller refusing to accept the second article from the second zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of controlling a conveyor system including a plurality of zones, the plurality of zones including a first zone having a plurality of regions each configured to accommodate an article, the method comprising:
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receiving a first article in the first zone; determining a position of the first article in the first zone with a first controller; activating the first zone with the first controller to position the article in a first region of the plurality of regions in response to the first zone being in a first mode; and activating the first zone with the first controller to position the article in a second region of the plurality of regions different from the first region in response to the first zone being in a second mode. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of controlling a conveyor system including a downstream zone and an upstream zone, the method comprising:
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determining if a gap between a first article in the downstream zone and a second article in the upstream zone exceeds a predetermined length with a first controller that controls the downstream zone; and in response to determining the gap exceeds the predetermined length, the first controller positioning the first article in an upstream region of the downstream zone, the downstream zone including the upstream region and a downstream region. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A controller for a conveyor system, the conveyor system including a first zone and a second zone, the first zone including a first region and a second region different from the first region, the controller comprising:
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a processor; and a memory including program code that when executed by the processor causes the controller to; receive an accept article request from the first zone; in response to receiving the accept article request, determine if a first article is in the first region; in response to determining the first article is not in the first region, activate the first zone to accept a second article from the second zone; and in response to determining the first article is in the first region, refuse to accept the second article in the first zone.
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23. A controller for a conveyor system, the conveyor system including a plurality of zones, the plurality of zones including a first zone having a plurality of regions each configured to accommodate an article, the controller comprising:
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processor; and a memory including program code that when executed by the processor causes the conveyor system to; receive a first article in the first zone; determine a position of the first article in the first zone; activate the first zone to position the article in the first region in response to the first zone being in a first mode; and activate the first zone to position the article in the second region in response to the first zone being in a second mode.
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24. A controller for a conveyor system, the conveyor system including a downstream zone and an upstream zone, the downstream zone including a downstream region and an upstream region, the controller comprising:
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a processor; and a memory including program code that when executed by the processor causes the controller to; determine if a gap between a first article in the downstream zone and a second article in the upstream zone exceeds a predetermined length; and in response to determining the gap exceeds the predetermined length, position the first article in the upstream region of the downstream zone.
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Specification