Conveyor loading zone system and method
AssigneeHytrol Conveyor Company, Inc.
InventorBryan Dale Taylor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A conveyor system that includes a zoned conveyor surface and a loading sensor. The loading sensor is configured to detect placement of a load into the zone. A loading timer is activated by loading detection by the sensor and while activated, a controller system halts movement of the zone. This stops movement of the zone, facilitating placement of the load in the zone. Also, a sensor blocked signal may be sent to the upstream zone to stop movement of any loads in the upstream zone into the zone while loading. Normal movement in the upstream zone is handled by triggering a travel timer for a predetermined period of time, during which the loading timer is overridden so that the upstream load travels normally downstream.
Claims22
A conveyor system for conveying a plurality of loads, said conveyor system comprising:
- a conveying surface configured to convey the loads in at least a downstream direction, said conveying surface divided into a plurality of zones;
- a loading sensor associated with at least one of the plurality of zones and configured to detect placement of one of the loads into the zone;
- a loading timer configured to be activated by the loading sensor detecting placement of the load into the zone and to remain activated for a predetermined time thereafter;
- and
- a controller system configured to control movement of each of the zones of the conveyor surface independently of other zones, said controller system configured to halt movement of the zone in response to the loading timer being activated.
A conveyor system for conveying a plurality of loads, said conveyor system comprising:
- a conveying surface configured to convey the loads in at least a downstream direction, said conveying surface divided into a plurality of zones;
- a loading sensor associated with at least one of the plurality of zones and configured to detect placement of one of the loads into the zone;
- a loading timer configured to be activated by the loading sensor detecting placement of the load into the zone and to remain activated for a predetermined time thereafter;
- a controller system configured to control movement of each of the zones of the conveyor surface independently of other zones, said controller system configured to halt movement of the zone in response to the loading timer being activated;
- and
- a travel timer configured to be activated by movement of one of the loads in an upstream one of the zones and to remain activated for a second predetermined time thereafter,
- wherein said controller system is configured to deactivate the loading timer while the travel timer is activated.
A conveyor system for conveying a plurality of loads, said conveyor system comprising:
- a conveying surface configured to convey the loads in at least a downstream direction, said conveying surface divided into a plurality of zones;
- a first loading sensor associated with at least one of the plurality of zones and configured to detect placement of one of the loads into the zone;
- a loading timer configured to be activated by the loading sensor detecting placement of the load into the zone and to remain activated for a predetermined time thereafter;
- a controller system configured to control movement of each of the zones of the conveyor surface independently of other zones, said controller system configured to halt movement of the zone in response to the loading timer being activated;
- and
- a second loading sensor configured to detect placement of the load in the zone, wherein the first loading sensor is positioned near a downstream end of the zone and the second loading sensor is positioned near an edge of the zone.
A sensing module for controlling the application of a drive force to a respective accumulating zone of an accumulation conveyor, the sensing module comprising:
- a body;
- logic circuitry at least partially within said body;
- a sensor coupled to said logic circuitry, said sensor providing an product sensed signal to said logic circuitry when a product is within its respective accumulating zone;
- control connections in communication with said logic circuitry and including an upstream product detect signal input adapted to receive a product detect signal downstream output from an upstream sensing module relative to product flow, a downstream product detect signal input adapted to receive a product detect signal upstream output from a downstream sensing module relative to product flow, a product detect signal upstream output adapted to transmit a product detect signal to an upstream module, a product detect signal downstream output adapted to transmit a product detect signal to a downstream module, and a drive/no-drive force selection output in communication with the drive force that selectively enables and disables the drive force for the respective accumulating zone;
- and
- a loading timer configured to be active for a predetermined period of time after activation;
- wherein said logic circuitry is configured to activate the loading timer in response to the product sensed signal and to communicate the no-drive force election output during the predetermined period of time.
A method of conveying a plurality of loads, said method comprising:
- sensing placement of a load in one of a plurality of zones dividing a conveying surface;
- activating a loading timer for a predetermined period of time in response to detection of placement of the load;
- and
- halting movement of the load in the zone during the period of time while the loading timer is activated.
A method of conveying a plurality of loads, said method comprising:
- sensing placement of a load in one of a plurality of zones dividing a conveying surface;
- activating a loading timer for a predetermined period of time in response to detection of placement of the load;
- halting movement of the load in the zone during the period of time while the loading timer is activated;
- detecting movement of an upstream one of the loads in an upstream one of the zones toward the zone before activating the loading timer;
- activating a travel timer for a second predetermined period of time in response to detecting movement of the upstream load in the upstream zone;
- deactivating the loading timer during the second predetermined period of time;
- sensing the upstream load moving into the zone;
- and
- conveying the upstream load in the zone during the second predetermined period of time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.