Conveyor systems and methods for sorting merchandise using interchangeable and assignable sortation modules

A method of sorting items comprising:

• coupling a plurality of sortation modules to one another to define a chain of sortation modules in an assembled state;
• by the plurality of sortation modules, moving and sorting items, each sortation module being configured to divert items to at least one sortation destination;
• by a control circuit communicatively coupled to each sortation module:
• assigning a unique Internet Protocol (IP) address to each sortation module, each IP address corresponding to a position of each sortation module in the chain of sortation modules when in the assembled state;
• determining a sortation destination for an unsorted item to be sorted;
• determining a sortation module corresponding to the determined sortation destination;
• and
• instructing the sortation module corresponding to the determined sortation destination to divert the unsorted item to the determined sortation destination.

A system for receiving and sorting items shipped to shopping facilities, the system comprising:

• a shopping facility containing a plurality of items;
• a delivery of items received at the shopping facility;
• and
• a conveyor assembly at the shopping facility, the conveyor assembly comprising:
• a plurality of sortation modules configured to move and sort items, wherein each sortation module is configured to divert items to at least one sortation destination;
• an assembled state of the plurality of sortation modules in which the sortation modules are coupled to one another to define a chain of sortation modules;
• a control circuit communicatively coupled to each sortation module, the control circuit configured to:
• assign a unique Internet Protocol (IP) address to each sortation module, each unique IP address corresponding to a position of each sortation module in the chain of sortation modules when in the assembled state;
• determine a sortation destination for an unsorted item to be sorted;
• determine a sortation module corresponding to the determined sortation destination;
• and
• instruct the sortation module corresponding to the determined sortation destination to divert the unsorted item to the determined sortation destination.