Patent ID: 7212884
Filing Date: 2007-05-01
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A sorter conveyor comprising: a plurality of conveyor units each having article-supporting means and discharge means for discharging articles therefrom, a data communication network adapted to control the plurality of discharge means, wherein each of a plurality of conveyor units with a control unit comprises a data receiver connected to the data communication network and adapted to receive control data for controlling the operation of the discharge means, a conveying means for conveying the plurality of conveyor units, the data communication network, and the plurality of data receivers along a track part of the sorter conveyor, a stationary data transmitter adapted to transmit control data to the data receivers, and the plurality of control units adapted to be conveyed by means of the conveying means and adapted to control the operation of the discharge means of the plurality of conveyor units, so that each discharge means is connected to a control unit, each of the plurality of control units being connected to the data communication network which is adapted for transmitting the control data to each of the control units wherein the control units are adapted to be in a master state for receiving data by means of the data receivers and for distributing said received data to the network when their data receivers are in a data transmission position with the stationary data transmitter, and to be in a slave state for receiving data from the network only when their data receivers are not in a data transmission position with the stationary data transmitter.