Patent ID: 7631747
Filing Date: 2009-12-15
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. An induction subsystem for a conveyor sortation system, said induction subsystem comprising: a plurality of tandem conveying surfaces defining a series of sequentially arranged conveying surface interfaces, at least one of said conveying surfaces associated with each of said conveying surface interfaces being an adjustable-speed conveying surface; at least one article sensor adjacent at least one of said conveying surface interfaces, said at least one article sensor providing information on positions of the articles; a control responsive to said at least one article sensor, said control controlling the speeds of said tandem conveying surfaces in a manner that establishes controlled gaps between articles, said control identifies a controllable gap that can be adjusted between articles at a particular conveying surface interface and adjusting the controllable gap at the particular conveying surface interface, said control adjusts the controllable gap by adjusting the speed of the adjustable-speed conveying surface associated with the particular conveying surface interface using a feedback controller; said feedback controller adjusts the speed of the adjustable-speed conveying surface associated with the particular conveying surface interface as a function of a position of at least one article control point with respect to the particular conveying surface interface, said feedback controller monitoring the controllable gap while adjusting the speed of the adjustable-speed conveying surface associated with the particular conveying surface interface; and wherein gaps between articles are sequentially adjusted at said series of sequentially arranged conveying surface interfaces.