High rate induction system

A sortation system, comprising:

• a sorter including a continuous member defining a plurality of transport positions of said continuous member;
• a plurality of sort destinations for receiving product discharged from said continuous member;
• an induction system comprising at least two induction units, each of said induction units having a receiving end for receiving product from a product source and a discharge end for discharging product to said continuous member;
• and
• a control determining gap between product that will be discharged to said continuous member, wherein at least one of said induction units is capable of discharging product to said continuous member irrespective of gap between product.

A sortation system, comprising:

• a sorter including a continuous member defining a plurality of transport positions of said continuous member;
• a plurality of sort destinations for receiving product discharged from said continuous member;
• and
• an induction system comprising at least one induction unit having a receiving end for receiving product from a product source and a discharge end for discharging product to said continuous member, said at least one induction unit including a plurality of tandem conveying units between said receiving end and said discharge end and a control controlling said conveying units, wherein said control books at least one transport position for receipt of product from said at least one induction unit, wherein said control books a transport unit for a product when that product is at a booking conveying unit and adjusts relative spacing between a product and the respective transport position booked for that product on ones of said conveying units downstream of said booking conveying unit.

A sortation system, comprising:

• a carousel sorter including a plurality of product carriers arranged in an endless loop;
• a plurality of sort destinations for receiving product discharged from said carriers;
• and
• an induction system comprising at least one induction unit having a receiving end for receiving product from a product source and a discharge end for discharging product to said carriers;
• and
• a control monitoring product on said carriers and booking carriers for product on said induction system, wherein said control is capable of booking carriers irrespective of whether the carriers are already carrying product.

A method of inducting product to a sorter, the sorter including a continuous member defining a plurality of transport positions of said continuous member and a plurality of sort destinations for receiving product discharged from said continuous member, comprising:

• providing at least one induction unit including a plurality of tandem conveying units;
• receiving product with said at least one induction unit from a product source and discharging product from said at least one induction unit to the continuous member;
• and
• following a speed of the continuous member with said at least one induction unit including starting said at least one induction unit substantially as soon as the continuous member is moving and decreasing a speed of said at least one induction unit substantially only when the to continuous member decreases in speed.

A method of inducting product to a sorter, the sorter including a continuous member defining a plurality of transport positions of said continuous member and a plurality of sort destinations for receiving product discharged from said continuous member, comprising:

• providing at least two induction units, each of said induction units including a plurality of tandem conveying units;
• receiving product with each of said induction units from a product source and discharging product from each of said induction units to the continuous member through said merge;
• and
• determining gap between product that will be discharged to said continuous member and at least occasionally discharging product from at least one of said induction units to said continuous member irrespective of gap between product.

A method of inducting product to a sorter, the sorter including a continuous member defining a plurality of transport positions of said continuous member and a plurality of sort destinations for receiving product discharged from said continuous member, comprising:

• providing a plurality of tandem conveying units;
• receiving product with said conveying units from a product source and discharging product from said conveying units to the continuous member;
• booking at least one transport position for receipt of a product from said conveying units, including booking the product when that product is at a booking conveying unit;
• and
• adjusting relative spacing between a product and the respective transport position booked for that product when the product is on ones of said conveying units downstream of said booking conveying unit.

A method of inducting product to a carrousel sorter including a plurality of product carriers arranged in an endless loop and a plurality of sort destinations for receiving product discharged from said product carriers, comprising:

• providing a plurality of tandem conveying units;
• receiving product with said conveying units from a product source and discharging product from said conveying units to the product carriers;
• and
• monitoring product on said carriers and booking carriers for product on said conveying units, including at least occasionally booking carriers irrespective of whether the carriers are already carrying product.

A conveyor induction system, comprising;

• a frame including at least two spaced apart supports defining a control compartment between said supports;
• a plurality of tandem conveying units supported by said supports;
• a computer-based control in said control compartment controlling at least said conveying units;
• and
• at least one user input control device at said frame for receiving user input for said control.