Activated variable height rollers for an active control roller top conveying assembly

A method of conveying an object on a modular conveying assembly including

• a plurality of roller bodies, each roller body having a top surface, a driven axle mounted to the body for conveyance therewith, a roller fixed to the driven axle, and a driven surface fixed to the driven axle, the rollers defining a support plane,
• a driving member selectively engaging the driven surfaces to affect rotation of the driven axle,
• a positive stop body coupled to the plurality of roller bodies and including a positive stop movable relative to the positive stop body between a first position and a second position, the positive stop extends above the support plane in the second position, and
• a positive stop actuator selectively engaging the positive stop to move the positive stop between the first position and the second position,
• the method comprising:
• moving the plurality of roller bodies and the positive stop body at a conveyance speed;
• supporting the object on the rollers;
• conveying the object in a conveying direction at the conveyance speed;
• engaging the positive stop with the positive stop actuator to move the positive stop into the second position;
• and
• engaging the driving member with the driven surface of at least one roller body to affect rotation of the driven axle and bias the object toward the positive stop arranged in the second position;
• wherein engaging the driving member with the driven surface of at least one roller body includes affecting the rotation of the driven axle such that the roller accelerates the movement of the object relative to the conveyance speed such that the object comes into contact with the positive stop.

A method of conveying an object on a modular conveying assembly including

• a plurality of roller bodies, each roller body having a top surface, a driven axle mounted to the body for conveyance therewith, a roller fixed to the driven axle, and a driven surface fixed to the driven axle, the rollers defining a support plane,
• a driving member selectively engaging the driven surfaces to affect rotation of the driven axle,
• a positive stop body coupled to the plurality of roller bodies and including a positive stop movable relative to the positive stop body between a first position and a second position, the positive stop extends above the support plane in the second position, and
• a positive stop actuator selectively engaging the positive stop to move the positive stop between the first position and the second position,
• the method comprising:
• moving the plurality of roller bodies and the positive stop body at a conveyance speed;
• supporting the object on the rollers;
• conveying the object in a conveying direction at the conveyance speed;
• engaging the positive stop with the positive stop actuator to move the positive stop into the second position;
• engaging the driving member with the driven surface of at least one roller body to affect rotation of the driven axle and bias the object toward the positive stop arranged in the second position;
• arranging the driving member and the positive stop actuator in a manipulation zone defining a predetermined length along the modular conveying assembly;
• and
• at least one of accelerating or decelerating the object into engagement with the positive stop within the manipulation zone.