Patent ID: 7284652
Filing Date: 2007-10-23
Classification: B65G,G05B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A conveyor sortation system having a plurality of conveyors that are operable to handle articles comprising; a plurality of sensors for sensing information about said conveyor system; a plurality of actuators for controlling operation of at least one of said conveyors to handle articles; a plurality of low-level controllers that receives signals from at least one of said sensors and output signals to activate at least one of said actuators, said low-level controllers developing status information related to the operation of said at least one of said sensors, said at least one of said actuators, or both; a plurality of mid-level controllers that receives said status information from said low-level controllers and outputs commands to said low-level controllers, said commands being based, at least partially, on said status information; said plurality of mid-level controllers including a gap manager and a divert manager, said gap manager controlling a size of a gap between adjacent articles in said conveying system and said divert manager controlling a diversion of articles onto a plurality of branch conveyors; and a high-level controller that receives said status information from said mid-level controllers and outputs operational commands to said mid-level controllers, said operational commands to said mid-level controllers being based, at least partially, on said status information such that said high-level controller oversees the operation of said plurality of mid-level and low-level controllers.