Systems and methods for providing gaps in article or package processing

A method for article processing, the method comprising:

• advancing, using a conveyor, a first article along a conveying path;
• stopping, by actuating one or more fingers into a deployed position, the first article at a first stop location along the conveying path, the one or more fingers being located at, or adjacent to, the first stop location;
• releasing, by actuating the one or more fingers into a retracted position, the first article from the first stop location;
• advancing, using the conveyor, the first article along the conveying path from the first stop location to a second stop location;
• stopping, by actuating one or more paddles into a lowered position, the first article at the second stop location, the one or more paddles being located at, or adjacent to, the second stop location;
• releasing, by actuating the one or more paddles into a raised position, the first article from the second stop location;
• advancing, using the conveyor, the first article along the conveying path from the second stop location;
• advancing, using the conveyor, a second article along the conveying path to a first position;
• stopping, by actuating the one or more fingers into the deployed position, the second article at the first stop location;
• releasing, by actuating the one or more fingers into the retracted position, the second article from the first stop location;
• advancing, using the conveyor, the second article along the conveying path from the first stop location to the second stop location;
• stopping, by actuating the one or more paddles into the lowered position, the second article at the second stop location;
• releasing, by actuating the one or more paddles into the raised position, the second article from the second stop location;
• and
• advancing, using the conveyor, the second article along the conveying path from the second stop location;
• wherein the second article is released such that the second article is separated along the conveying path from the first article by a gap;
• and
• wherein, in the deployed position, the one or more fingers extend above a surface of the conveyor at a height sufficient to stop movement of the first and second articles moving along the conveying path at the first stop location and, in the retracted position, the one or more fingers are retracted to a same height as, or below the surface of, the conveyor so that the first and second articles pass over the one or more fingers at the first stop location.