System and method for controlling an accumulation conveyor
AssigneeIntelligrated Headquarters, LLC
InventorsKevin Klueber, Randolph T. Skanse
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various embodiments described herein relate to controlling a conveyor that comprises at least a first zone that is upstream of a second zone. A second control module associated with the second zone receives a first signal from a first control module associated with the first zone. The first signal indicates that one of a first article that has an irregular boundary or a second article that has a regular boundary exits from the first zone. The second control module controls the second drive assembly and a second brake assembly based on the indication by the first signal.
Claims20
A method for controlling a conveyor, the conveyor comprising a plurality of zones, the plurality of zones comprising at least a first zone and a second zone, wherein the first zone is upstream of the second zone, the method comprising:
- receiving, by a second control module associated with the second zone, a first signal from a first control module associated with the first zone, wherein the first signal indicates whether a first article that has an irregular boundary or a second article that has a regular boundary exits from the first zone;
- and
- controlling, by the second control module, a second drive assembly and a second brake assembly associated with the second zone based on the indication of the exit of the one of the first article or the second article from the first zone by the first signal received from the first control module, wherein the second drive assembly and the second brake assembly perform a first set of operations for the first article and a second set of operations for the second article.
A material handling system, comprising:
- a conveyor comprising:
- a plurality of zones comprising at least a first zone and a second zone, wherein the first zone is upstream of the second zone;
- a plurality of sensors, comprising at least a first sensor and a second sensor,
- wherein the first sensor is located at an exit portion of the first zone, and the second sensor is located at an exit portion of the second zone;
- and
- a plurality of control modules comprising at least a first control module and a second control module, wherein the first control module is communicably coupled with the first sensor, the first zone, and the second control module, wherein the second control module is communicably coupled with the second sensor and the second zone,
- wherein the second control module is configured to:
- receive a first signal from the first control module associated with the first zone, wherein the first signal indicates whether a first article that has an irregular boundary or a second article that has a regular boundary exits from the first zone;
- control a second drive assembly and a second brake assembly associated with the second zone based on the indication of the exit of the one of the first article or the second article from the first zone by the first signal received from the first control module,
- wherein the second drive assembly and the second brake assembly perform a first set of operations for the first article and a second set of operations for the second article;
- and
- a main controller communicably coupled with the conveyor to perform operations to receive data indicating conditions for each zone of the plurality of zones.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.