Patent ID: 6644458
Filing Date: 2003-11-11
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A method of operating a conveyor system comprisinga first conveyor for conveying articles along a first conveying path defined by first stationary track means forming a closed loop on which track means the first conveyor moves, first discharge means for discharging articles from the first conveyor, first drive means for driving the first conveyor in a conveying direction of the first conveyor along the first conveying path, a first induction station arranged at a position along the first conveying path and comprising at least one loading means for loading articles onto the first conveyor, a second induction station arranged at a position along the first conveying path and comprising at least one loading means for loading articles onto the first conveyor, a first discharge station arranged at a position along the first conveying path in between the first induction station and the second induction station in the conveying direction of the first conveyor and comprising at least one receiving means for receiving articles being discharged from the first conveyor, a second discharge station arranged at a position along the first conveying path in between the second induction station and the first induction station in the conveying direction of the first conveyor and comprising at least one receiving means for receiving articles being discharged from the first conveyor, a second conveyor for conveying articles along a second conveying path defined by second stationary track means on which the second conveyor moves, the second conveying path passing at least one of the at least one receiving means of the second discharge station and said receiving means being arranged for receiving articles being discharged from the second conveyor, second discharge means for discharging articles from the second conveyor, second drive means for driving the second conveyor in a conveying direction of the second conveyor along the second conveying path, first cross-over means arranged along the first conveying path in between the first induction station and the first discharge station in the conveying direction of the first conveyor for receiving articles being discharged from the first conveyor onto the first cross-over means and for loading said articles onto the second conveyor at a position along the second conveying path being upstream of the second discharge station in the conveying direction of the second conveyor, and control means for controlling the operation of the conveyor system, the method comprising the steps of (a) loading articles onto the first conveyor by means of the loading means of the first induction station, each article being assigned to one of the receiving means of the first discharge station and the second discharge station, (b) discharging from the first conveyor at least some of the articles being assigned to a receiving means of the second discharge station that is arranged for receiving articles being discharged from the second conveyor onto the first cross-over means, (c) loading articles from the first cross-over means onto the second conveyor, (d) discharging articles from the second conveyor into the receiving means of the second discharge station to which the individual article is assigned, (e) discharging articles from the first conveyor into the receiving means of the first discharge station to which the individual article is assigned, (f) loading articles onto the first conveyor by means of the loading means of the second induction station, each article being assigned to one of the receiving means of the first discharge station and the second discharge station, and optionally (g) discharging articles from the first conveyor into the receiving means of the second discharge station to which the individual article is assigned.