Abstract: A sortation system and method of sorting product includes providing a sorter assembly and a supply system supplying product that is received by the sorter assembly. Product supplied to the sorter assembly is monitored and a parameter is determined that is indicative of the relationship between product supplied to the sorter assembly and product being sorted by the sorter assembly. The supply system is controlled as a function of a value of the parameter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accumulating articles includes providing a conveying surface adapted to convey articles from an upstream direction towards the downstream direction. The conveying surface is divided into a plurality of tandem zones. Individual zones are activated to convey articles and deactivated to accumulate articles. A particular zone is actuated if no article is sensed in that particular zone and an article is sensed in an adjacent upstream zone. The particular zone and adjacent upstream zone are actuated sufficiently to position a first article at an upstream portion of the particular zone and re-actuated in response to sensing a second article at the adjacent upstream zone and deactuated with the first and second articles in the particular zone.

Abstract: A sortation system and method includes providing a sorter assembly and a slug-building assembly. Product is received by the sorter assembly and sorted to a series of sortation lanes. The slug-building assembly includes a plurality of supply lines supplying product for sorting by the sorter assembly. At least one of the supply lines includes an accumulation conveyor and a slug conveyor. Product is accumulated in slug portions at the accumulation conveyor. Slug portions are combined into product slugs at the slug conveyor. Product slugs are discharged from the slug conveyor for sorting by the sorter assembly.