Zone Controller For Modular Conveyor System

A method of controlling a conveyor system including a plurality of zones, the plurality of zones including a first zone having a plurality of regions each configured to accommodate an article, the method comprising:

• receiving a first article in the first zone;
• determining a position of the first article in the first zone with a first controller;
• activating the first zone with the first controller to position the article in a first region of the plurality of regions in response to the first zone being in a first mode;
• and
• activating the first zone with the first controller to position the article in a second region of the plurality of regions different from the first region in response to the first zone being in a second mode.

A controller for a conveyor system, the conveyor system including a first zone and a second zone, the first zone including a first region and a second region different from the first region, the controller comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory including program code that when executed by the processor causes the controller to:
• receive an accept article request from the first zone;
• in response to receiving the accept article request, determine if a first article is in the first region;
• in response to determining the first article is not in the first region, activate the first zone to accept a second article from the second zone;
• and
• in response to determining the first article is in the first region, refuse to accept the second article in the first zone.

A controller for a conveyor system, the conveyor system including a plurality of zones, the plurality of zones including a first zone having a plurality of regions each configured to accommodate an article, the controller comprising:

• processor;
• and
• a memory including program code that when executed by the processor causes the conveyor system to:
• receive a first article in the first zone;
• determine a position of the first article in the first zone;
• activate the first zone to position the article in the first region in response to the first zone being in a first mode;
• and
• activate the first zone to position the article in the second region in response to the first zone being in a second mode.

A controller for a conveyor system, the conveyor system including a downstream zone and an upstream zone, the downstream zone including a downstream region and an upstream region, the controller comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory including program code that when executed by the processor causes the controller to:
• determine if a gap between a first article in the downstream zone and a second article in the upstream zone exceeds a predetermined length;
• and
• in response to determining the gap exceeds the predetermined length, position the first article in the upstream region of the downstream zone.