Multi-fire and variable fire diverter conveyor system and method

A diverter system for diverting items to one of a plurality of stations, the diverter system designed for use with a conveyor for transporting items in a first direction, the conveyor having at least one diverter region in which the diverter system is positionable, the diverter system comprising:

• a diverter for diverting systems items transported by the conveyor in the first direction to any one of a plurality of stations adjacent said diverter that are spaced from one another in the first direction, when positioned in a diverter region of the conveyor, in response to a fire signal;
• a source of destination information identifying one of the plurality of stations to which items transported by the convey or are to be diverted;
• and
• a controller system connected to said diverter and said source for generating, and providing to said diverter, a fire signal for each item to be diverted based on destination information from said source regarding one of the plurality of stations to which said item is to be diverted.

A conveyor system for transporting items in a first direction and diverting the items to one of a plurality of stations, the system comprising:

• a conveyor having at least one diverter region;
• a plurality of stations adjacent said at least one diverter region that are spaced from one another in the first direction;
• at least one diverter, arranged in said at least one diverter region, for diverting each item transported by said conveyor in the first direction to any one of said plurality of stations in response to a fire signal;
• a source of destination information identifying one of said plurality of stations to which each item transported by the conveyor is to be diverted;
• and
• a controller system connected to said at least one diverter and source for generating, and providing to said at least one diverter, a fire signal for each item to be diverted based on destination information from said source.

A diverter system for diverting items having first and second item tracking points to one of a plurality of stations, each station having a central axis and a divert axis, the diverter system designed for use with a conveyor for transporting items in a first direction, the conveyor having at least one diverter region in which the diverter system is positionable, the diverter system comprising:

• a diverter for diverting items transported by the conveyor in the first direction to any one of a plurality of stations adjacent said diverter that are spaced from one another in the first direction, when positioned in a diverter region of the conveyor, in response to a fire signal;
• a source of destination information identifying one of the plurality of stations to which items transported by the conveyor are to be diverted;
• an item measuring system for generating information representative of the length of items transported by the conveyor and for providing a length signal based on said information for each item indicating the length of the item;
• and
• a controller system connected to said diverter, said source and said item measuring system, for generating a fire signal for each item to be diverted and providing said fire signal to said diverter, wherein said controller system contains information representing a first length, further wherein said fire signal is generated for each item to be diverted based on destination information from said source regarding one of the plurality of stations to which said item is to be diverted and as a function of said length signal for said item so that said fire signal causes said diverter to divert items that are less than said first length substantially when the first item tracking point of the item arrives at said divert axis for said one of said plurality of stations and for diverting items that are greatar than said first length substantially when the second item tracking point of the item arrives at said central axis for said one of said plurality of stations.

A conveyor system for transporting items in a first direction, the items having a first item tracking point and a second item tracking point, the system comprising:

• a conveyor having at least one diverter region;
• a plurality of stations adjacent said at least one diverter region that are spaced from one another in the first direction;
• a diverter for diverting items transported by the conveyor in the first direction to any one of said plurality of stations adjacent said diverter in response to a fire signal;
• a source of destination information identifying one of the plurality of stations to which items transported by the conveyor are to be diverted;
• an item measuring system for generating information representative of the length of items transported by the conveyor and for providing a length signal based on said information for each item indicating the length of the item;
• and
• a controller system connected to said diverter, said source and said item measuring system, for generating a fire signal for each item to be diverted and providing said fire signal to said diverter, wherein said controller system contains information representing a first length, further wherein said fire signal is generated for each item to be diverted based on destination information from said source regarding one of the plurality of stations to which said item is to be diverted and as a function of said length signal for said item so that said fire signal causes said diverter to divert items that are less than said first length substantially when the first item tracking point of the item arrive at said divert axis for said one of said plurality of stations and for diverting items that are greater than said first length substantially when the second item tracking point of the item arrives at said central axis for said one of said plurality of stations.

A modular conveyor system, comprising:

• a plurality of modular conveyor sections, each section including:
• a conveyor for transporting items in a first direction, wherein said conveyor is connectable to conveyors in other ones of said modular conveyor sections so as to form a continuous conveyor assembly;
• a diverter for diverting items transported by said conveyor in the first direction to any one of a plurality of stations adjacent said diverter that are spaced from one another in said first direction in response to a fire signal;
• and
• a controller system connected to said at least one diverter for providing a fire signal to said at least one diverter for each item to be diverted, wherein said controller system is connectable to said controller systems in other ones of said modular conveyor sections so as to permit fire signals to be communicated between said controller systems;
• a source of destination information identifying a one of said plurality of stations in the modular conveyor system to which each item transported by the modular conveyor system is to be diverted;
• and
• a host controller connected to said source and to said controller systems, wherein said host controller generates said fire signal for each item transported by the modular conveyor system based on said destination a information from said source, and provides said fire signal to at least one of said controller systems.