Patent ID: 6304795
Filing Date: 2001-10-16
Classification: B07C,B42C,B65G,B65H

Abstract:
A method for processing piece-goods through one or more sequential processing steps, each step converting products in a product stream from a first state to a second state, wherein for individual products in the product stream said first state is different from the second state in the quality of the product, the order of products in a sequence within the product stream, or both, said method comprising the steps of:supplying products in their first state in a stream from a first area to a first processing station;processing or not processing the products in the stream to their second states as determined by a control context; andconveying products from the first processing station to a second area,wherein the control context defines a set of control conditions which if met by the actual conditions will result in activation of a selected processing of the products in the first processing station, and wherein said control context comprises one or more characteristics selected from among the following:(a) more than one condition must be satisfied for the control context to be met and the selected processing to be activated;(b) actual conditions in more that one of the first area, the second area and the first processing station must be satisfied for the control context to be met and the selected process to be activated; and(c) satisfaction of control conditions of a control context results in an action in which the control conditions in the same or a different control context are updated or changed.