Patent ID: 6827202
Filing Date: 2004-12-07
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
An accumulating conveyor system, the system comprising:at least one drive mechanism; a first zone comprising a plurality of rollers selectively rotatable in unison by the at least one drive mechanism; a second zone comprising a plurality of rollers selectively rotatable in unison by the at least one drive mechanism; a single control module comprising: an input configured to receive a first article detection signal from a first article detection sensor for the first zone; an input configured to receive a second article detection signal from a second article detection sensor in the second zone; an input configured to receive a command signal from another control module; an output configured to provide a first actuation signal to cause selective rotation of the rollers of the first zone of the conveyor; an output configured provide a second actuation signal to cause selective rotation of the rollers of the second zone of the conveyor; and a single control circuit having a single microcontroller receiving signals representing the command signal and the first and second article detection signal for the first and second zones, wherein the single microcontroller includes a control program configured to independently control the first and second actuation signals for controlling the first and second zones based upon the status of the first and second article detection signals and the command signal.