Abstract: A method and apparatus for sequencing articles via a single sort pass or process includes a plurality of article receivers or collators positioned along a conveying or transport path and a plurality of carriages movable along the path. The carriages receive articles from at least one induct in a generally random manner and discharge the articles at the appropriate collators. The collators are operable to selectively receive the articles at an appropriate one of a plurality of bins of the collators, such that the articles are positioned within the bins of the collators in a sequenced manner. The articles may be unloaded to a plurality of collecting devices and/or manually unloaded and placed or stacked in a container in the desired sequence. The collecting devices may be manually unloaded while the collators simultaneously selectively receive articles during a subsequent sort wave or process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sequencing articles via a single sort pass or process includes a plurality of article receivers or collators positioned along a conveying or transport path and a plurality of carriages movable along the path. The carriages receive articles from at least one induct in a generally random manner and discharge the articles at the appropriate collators. The collators are operable to selectively receive the articles at an appropriate one of a plurality of bins of the collators, such that the articles are positioned within the bins of the collators in a sequenced manner. The articles may be unloaded to a plurality of collecting devices and/or manually unloaded and placed or stacked in a container in the desired sequence. The collecting devices may be manually unloaded while the collators simultaneously selectively receive articles during a subsequent sort wave or process.

Abstract: A pneumatic accumulation conveyor has an anti-singulation control capable of deactivating the drive of a zone if the product sensor for that zone and substantially all of the product sensors downstream of that zone sense the presence of product in order to produce an accumulation portion with no zones actuated and is capable of activating the drive of a zone if any of the drives downstream of the associated zone are actuated in order to produce a transport portion in which all zones upstream of any actuated drive are actuated to transport product without singulation of any upstream grouped product. The accumulation conveyor is controlled by retractable product sensors positioned at particular locations along the product conveyor in order to sense the presence of product at the particular locations.

Abstract: A conveyor system includes an accumulation conveyor that is particularly useful in a location outbound of a sortation spur in combination with a receiving conveyor which receives products from the accumulation conveyor at a generally constant rate. The accumulation conveyor includes a plurality of powered rollers that are selectively actuatable in groups of tandemly arranged zones in order to convey product to the receiving conveyor. A product sensor associated with each zone senses the presence of product in that zone, and a control that is responsive to the product sensor actuates all of the rollers associated with zones upstream of any sensor that is not sensing product in order to transport product to the receiving conveyor without singulation, yet provide an accumulation capability.