Unscrambling and aligning conveyor

The conveyor as recited in claim 11, wherein said vertical guide surface is a plurality of guide rollers positioned adjacent said first support and above said article transport surface, each guide roller of said plurality of guide rollers rotating about a vertical axis.

A conveyor system comprising:

• an input conveyor;
• and
• an unscrambling and aligning conveyor having an input end positioned adjacent said input conveyor and a discharge end from which unscrambled, aligned articles are discharged, said input end receiving articles from said input conveyor, wherein said input conveyor and said unscrambling and aligning conveyor are configured to produce a gap between longitudinally adjacent articles at said input end.

A method of retrofitting a conveyor wherein the conveyor has an existing article transport surface supported by a first side support and a second side support, wherein the first side support and the second side support are formed with a plurality of apertures, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• removing the existing article transport surface;
• and
• inserting a plurality tapered rollers between the first and the second side supports.

A method for controlling a conveyor system, wherein the conveyor system includes an input conveyor adjacent to the input end of and unscrambling conveyor, and a take-away conveyor adjacent the discharge end of the unscrambling conveyor, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• monitoring movement of articles on the take away conveyor with at least one sensor;
• and
• deactivating the unscrambling conveyor when said at least one sensor senses no movement of the articles positioned on the take away conveyor for a preselected period of time.

A conveyor system comprising:

• an induction system including at least one induction line;
• and
• an article supply line feeding said induction line, said article supply line including an unscrambling and aligning conveyor that repositions laterally adjacent articles in single file for presentation to said induction system.