Patent ID: 7905345

Claim:
An accumulation conveyor comprising: a conveyor comprising a subject zone disposed adjacent to a downstream zone, the subject zone comprises a first sensor and a first drive system, the downstream zone comprises a second sensor and a second drive system, and wherein the first sensor is configured to be in a first detection state and the second sensor is configured to be in a second detection state; and logic circuitry disposed in communication with the first sensor, the first drive system, the second sensor, and the second drive system, wherein the logic circuitry is configured to: monitor the first detection state and the second detection state, determine a sequence by which the first sensor and the second sensor enter the first detection state and the second detection state, respectively, and generate a drive output for operating the first drive system and the second drive system substantially simultaneously, or independently, based on the first detection state, the second detection state, and the sequence by which the first sensor and the second sensor enter the first detection state and the second detection state, respectively.