Patent ID: 8695786
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A conveyor system for transporting a series of loads, comprising: a series of conveyor zones including at least a selectively operable upstream conveyor zone and a selectively operable downstream conveyor zone; a first drive motor in communication with the upstream conveyor zone and a second drive motor in communication with the downstream conveyor zone, the drive motors configured to selectively operate a respective conveyor zone to advance the loads along the conveyor system; and a control circuit in communication with the first and second drive motors for providing singulated package release, wherein the control circuit selectively operates the first and second drive motors to cause the upstream and downstream conveyor zones to: (i) advance adjacent first and second loads thereon at a rate of speed; (ii) stop operation of the upstream conveyor zone when the first load is discharged from the upstream conveyor zone and is supported solely by the downstream conveyor zone and the second load is supported solely by the upstream conveyor zone to maintain the second load stationary on the upstream conveyor zone; (iii) maintain operation of the downstream conveyor zone while operation of the upstream conveyor zone is stopped to advance the first load on the downstream conveyor zone relative to the second load a displacement distance along the downstream conveyor zone corresponding to a defined number of revolutions of the second drive motor; and (iv) simultaneously operate both the downstream conveyor zone and the upstream conveyor zone when the second drive motor has rotated the defined number of revolutions to simultaneously advance the first and second loads on the upstream and downstream conveyor zones, respectively, wherein the control circuit operates the conveyor zone drive motors so as to maintain a one-to-one relationship between the conveyor zones and the loads supported on and advanced by the conveyor zones to thereby provide for the singulated package release.