Abstract: A roller conveyor includes a plurality of idler rollers positioned along and between opposite sidewalls and a transverse drive system operable to rotatably drive at least some of the idler rollers of the roller conveyer. The transverse drive system includes a motorized roller positioned generally transverse to the idler rollers and a plurality of drive members drivably connected between the motorized roller and respective ones of the idler rollers. Actuation of the motorized roller drives each of the drive members, which in turn independently rotatably drive the respective idler rollers. The transverse drive system may be selectively operable to accumulate articles on one or more zones of the roller conveyor. The roller conveyor may include a right angle transfer unit operable to transfer articles in a direction generally normal to the direction of conveyance of the idler rollers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for guiding an automated-guided vehicle includes providing a guide path defined with respect to a physical path and controlling a vehicle to generally follow the guide path. The presence of an obstacle at the guide path is detected, such as with a laser scanner, radar detector, or the like. The vehicle is controlled around the obstacle and back to the guide path. This may be accomplished by generating an offset to the guide path at the detected obstacle.

Abstract: A tray destacker is operable to separate individual trays from a stack of trays and to discharge the individual trays. The tray destacker includes a tray separating device which engages an edge or handle of the individual tray and moves the tray away from the stack of trays, while a tray retaining device engages a next tray adjacent to the individual tray and retains the remaining trays of the stack. The tray separating device may be biased toward an engaging position so as to engage the individual tray when the trays and the tray separating device are in an appropriate position relative to one another. The tray retaining device may also be biased to engage the next tray and may release the next tray in response to the tray separating device returning to the stack of trays to remove the next tray from the stack.

Abstract: A baggage screening system and method includes providing a plurality of screening subsystems, each including an automated baggage screen device and a feed conveyor for feeding bags to the screen device. A supply conveyor is provided for supplying bags to the screen subsystems. A sortation network sorts bags downstream of the screen device as a function of the screening of the bags.

Abstract: A graphical system configuration program allows material handling systems to easily be defined, configured, and implemented. The system may utilize a computer for configuring an automatic guided vehicle system. Information defining the path layouts for the AGVs, traffic control information, decisional logic for path branches, update marker information, and other information useful for controlling the operation of the automatic guided vehicles may be entered into the computer and displayed graphically. The computer is programmed to automatically verify the validity of the entered information, and to optionally simulate the movement of the automatic guided vehicles. After the information has been validated, it can be converted to a file format that is used by an automatic guided vehicle controller to control the vehicle's movement. Virtually the entire design process for the AGV system can therefore be carried out using a single computer program specifically adapted for that purpose.

Abstract: An extendable conveyor has an extendable conveyor section supported in a cantilevered manner including at least one extendable conveyor unit that is extendable between an extended position and a retracted position nested within the extendable conveyor section. The conveyor further includes a user interface section supported in a cantilevered manner from the extendable conveyor unit.

Abstract: An extendable conveying system for either loading product to or unloading product from a trailer includes an extendable section which defines a conveying surface. The system further includes a pullout section that defines a support surface. The pullout section has an extended position and a retracted position. When the pull-out section is in its extended position, its support surface at least partially extends from the conveying surface. The system further includes an energy-storing device connected with the pullout section and the extendable section. The energy-storing device stores energy as the pullout section is moved from either the extended or retracted position to the other of the extended or retracted positions. The energy storing device then delivers energy to the pull-out section as the pull-out section is moved from the other of the extended or retracted positions to the initial of the extended or retracted positions.

Abstract: A positive displacement sorter apparatus and method includes providing a plurality of slats being interconnected in an endless web, an upper run of the web defining a conveying surface, and a plurality of pusher shoes gliding along at least some of the slats to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. A linear motor system is provided to propel the web and includes a plurality of linear motor secondaries at the slats and at least one primary for propelling the secondaries. A control system controls the primaries.

Abstract: A belt conveyor or belt accumulator includes at least two tandem zones, each of which is defined by a motorized roller and at least one idler roller positioned along and between opposite sidewalls of the conveyor and a continuous belt routed around the motorized roller and the idler roller or rollers. The motorized roller is operable to drive the belt around the rollers to move articles along the respective zone. The belt may have a low modulus characteristic and may be initially stretched at least 0.75% in its lengthwise direction when the belt is reeved or routed around the rollers. The motorized roller of each zone may be independently operable, such as in response to an article sensor at each zone, to convey or accumulate articles on the respective zone of the belt conveyor.

Abstract: A material handling system uses high-frequency location devices for determining the location of mobile units, such as AGVs, overhead mono-rails, conveyor components, or individual articles being transported by such units. The high-frequency location devices may also be used to identify the contents and/or routing information for material being moved within a facility. AGVs may incorporate the high-frequency location devices into their navigation systems to utilize the position and/or heading updates provided by the location devices in guiding the vehicle. The location devices work in cooperation with a number of stationary location devices, such as beacons, that are positioned within the environment at known locations, such as in or adjacent the ceiling of the workplace environment. High-frequency radars may also be used to provide electronic bumpers to the AGVs, allowing them to sense obstacles and take appropriate action to avoid collisions with the obstacles.

Abstract: A conveyor roller includes at least one axle cartridge and is mounted at opposite sidewalls of a conveyor. The axle cartridge includes a bearing assembly at an outer end and an inner support at an inner end. The bearing assembly provides rotational support of a roller portion about the axle portion, while the inner support is spaced from an inner end of the axle portion during normal use of the roller. The inner support may provide contact support at the inner axle portion in response to loading induced deflection of the roller, whereby the inner support limits flexing or bending of the roller portion and may limit binding of the bearing assembly during such loading conditions. The axle portion may include one or more guide members arranged along a generally tapered or conical-shaped axle end for guiding the axle portion into a correspondingly formed opening in the conveyor sidewall.

Abstract: A sortation system and method of inducting product are useful with a sorter having a continuous member defining a plurality of transport positions of the continuous member and a plurality of sort destinations for receiving product discharged from the continuous member. At least one induction unit is provided including a plurality of tandem conveying units. Product is received with the at least one induction unit from a product source and discharged from the at least one induction unit to the continuous member. According to one aspect of the invention, the at least one induction unit follows the speed of the continuous member. This includes starting as soon as the continuous member is moving and decreasing in speed substantially only when the continuous member decreases in speed. The invention is useful with linear sorters, such as positive displacement sorters, and the like. The invention is also useful with carousel sorters, such as tilt-tray sorters and cross-belt sorters.

Abstract: A positive displacement sorter apparatus and method includes providing a plurality of slats being interconnected in an endless web, an upper run of the web defining a conveying surface, and a plurality of pusher shoes gliding along at least some of the slats to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. A linear motor system is provided to propel the web and includes a plurality of linear motor secondaries at the slats and at least one primary for propelling the secondaries. A control system controls the primaries.

Abstract: An accumulation conveyor of the present invention includes a frame, which comprises spaced apart side frame members, and a plurality of rollers that are rotatably supported between the side frame members. The conveyor includes a stop member and an actuator that selectively moves the stop member between an extended position wherein at least a portion of the stop member is extended above the conveying surface for stopping one or more articles conveyed on the conveying surface and a retracted position wherein the stop member is below said conveying surface. The actuator and the stop member are supported and positioned between said side frame members when the stop member is moved between its retracted position whereby the stop member and the actuator comprise a low-profile stop assembly.

Abstract: An extendable conveyor includes a support structure, a mechanically extendable section which is extendable along the longitudinal axis between a fully retracted position and a fully extended position, a conveyor belt reeved among the mechanically extendable section thereby defining a conveying surface and a drive. The drive is operable to drive the conveyor belt in at least one direction. The extendable section may be extended by driving the conveyor belt in one direction and retracted by driving the conveyor belt in an opposition direction. The mechanically extendable section may include a plurality of sections at least one made substantially from a unitary sheet of material.

Abstract: A system and method for manipulating articles includes providing a bed having at least one conveying surface. The conveying surface is adapted to move articles in a direction of conveyance from an upstream end to a downstream end of the bed. At least one sensor is provided to determine the position of any articles on the bed. Selected articles are moved in the direction of conveyance at a speed that is generally higher than articles traveling on the bed that have yet to be manipulated and the articles are selectively rotated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the steering of an automatic guided vehicle (AGV) includes simultaneously correcting the vehicle's heading and position errors. The vehicle may include first and second steering control loops that determine the vehicle's position and heading errors, respectively. Separate commands are generated from these control loops to steer the vehicle in a manner that tends to reduce these errors. The vehicle may include a forward and a rearward pair of wheels. For correcting position errors, the first control loop issues the same steering command to both the forward and rearward pair of wheels. For correcting heading errors, the second control loop issues a steering command to the rearward pair of wheels that is summed together with the first control loop's steering command prior to being applied to the rearward pair of wheels.

Abstract: A conveyor induct system includes a control point subsystem for measuring the point at which control of an article transitions from one conveyor to another. The induct system also includes a subsystem for accurately creating or controlling the gaps between articles on the conveyor system. The control point subsystem monitors the location, and changes in the speed, of an article as it passes between two conveyors operating at different speeds. The gap control subsystem provides real time monitoring and measuring of the package gaps. The measured package gaps are fed into a feedback control system which alters the speed of a conveyor in order to change the gapping as desired.

Abstract: A sortation system and method of inducting product are useful with a sorter having a continuous member defining a plurality of transport positions of the continuous member and a plurality of sort destinations for receiving product discharged from the continuous member. At least one induction unit is provided including a plurality of tandem conveying units. Product is received with the at least one induction unit from a product source and discharged from the at least one induction unit to the continuous member. According to one aspect of the invention, the at least one induction unit follows the speed of the continuous member. This includes starting as soon as the continuous member is moving and decreasing in speed substantially only when the continuous member decreases in speed. The invention is useful with linear sorters, such as positive displacement sorters, and the like. The invention is also useful with carousel sorters, such as tilt-tray sorters and cross-belt sorters.

Abstract: A self-driven roller shaft support for supporting a shaft end of a self-driven conveyor roller at a conveyor is interconnectable to the shaft end and to the conveyor. The conveyor includes a frame and a plurality of passive conveyor rollers driven by the self-driven conveyor roller. The self-driven conveyor roller has an axis of rotation extending longitudinally along the self-driven roller between the shaft end and an opposite shaft end. The shaft support is pivotable to move the opposite shaft end of the self-driven conveyor roller relative to the frame in a generally vertical plane.