Networkable zone control modules and method and conveyor system incorporating the same

A method for controlling at least one of a plurality of contiguous independently-controllable zones in a conveyor system comprising the steps of:

• providing a zone control module for each one of the plurality of contiguous independently-controllable zones, the zone control module having a signal processor/generator, an object detector port, an actuator control port, at least one two-way zone control module communication port, and memory allocation having at least one event logic element responsive to inputs from at least two adjacent upstream zone control module communication ports and at least two adjacent downstream zone control module communication ports;
• providing a position-sensitive program element associated with each zone control module for identifying the position of the zone control module in a series of zone control module;
• coupling each zone control module with at least one object detector port adapted for coupling with at least one object detector;
• coupling each zone control module with at least one actuator control port adapted for coupling with at least one conveyor zone actuator;
• coupling at least one two-way zone control module communication port with at least one of at least two adjacent upstream zone control module communication ports and at least two adjacent downstream zone control module communication ports;
• coupling an object detector port with an object detector;
• coupling an actuator control port with an actuator;
• and
• controlling the state of a conveyor zone actuator by at least one event logic element, and by response of a signal processor/generator to communication from an object detector and from at least one adjacent upstream and downstream zone control module.