Patent ID: 6763931
Filing Date: 2004-07-20
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
Conveyor system for providing controlled spacing between product including a product of influence comprising:a first device having a conveyor, a device entry point and a device exit point; a free space having an end point downstream of the exit point of the first device; a monitor for monitoring movement of the product of influence in the first device; a computer responsive to the movement of the product of influence in the first device programmed to determine a start-of-synch point and an end-of-synch point; a speed control responsive to the computer for controlling the velocity and acceleration of the conveyor of the first device; wherein the computer also is programmed to determine the acceleration needed for the product of influence to travel from the start-of-synch point to the end point of the free space; wherein the computer also is programmed to set a synch velocity which is the velocity of the first device when the front of synch point reaches the first device exit point plus free space; and wherein the speed control responsive to the computer continues the synch velocity until the end-of-synch point reaches the first device exit point.