Abstract: An induction subsystem for a conveying system includes a plurality of induction conveying units that are controlled by a plurality of controls in a manner that delivers articles to a release conveyor with gaps between the articles that approach a desired length. The conveying units may be controlled using algorithms that examine a planned release time for an article and a time at which the article would be released were it to complete the rest of its travel through the induction subsystem at one or more nominal speeds. The difference is used to determine an appropriate speed for at least one of the conveying units. The conveying unit may alternatively be controlled using algorithms that determine desired speed ratios for the conveying units, and which may seek to control the centerline to centerline spacing of articles as they reach the release point such that desired gaps are created.

Abstract: An induction subsystem for a conveying system includes a plurality of induction conveying units that are controlled by a plurality of controls in a manner that delivers articles to a release conveyor with gaps between the articles that approach a desired length. The conveying units may be controlled using algorithms that examine a planned release time for an article and a time at which the article would be released were it to complete the rest of its travel through the induction subsystem at one or more nominal speeds. The difference is used to determine an appropriate speed for at least one of the conveying units. The conveying unit may alternatively be controlled using algorithms that determine desired speed ratios for the conveying units, and which may seek to control the centerline to centerline spacing of articles as they reach the release point such that desired gaps are created.

Abstract: An induction subsystem for a conveyor sortation system and method of inducting articles includes providing a plurality of tandem conveying surfaces. The speeds of the conveying surfaces are individually controllable. At least one sensor is provided for sensing articles on at least one of the conveying surfaces. A control is responsive to the at least one sensor for controlling the speeds of said conveying surfaces in a manner that controls relative positions of articles. The control defines a plurality of feedback-gapping algorithms. Each of the feedback-gapping algorithms is defined between adjacent conveying surfaces for adjusting relative speeds of those adjacent conveying surfaces as a function of at least one parameter of the articles. The control controls relative positions of articles with the feedback-gapping algorithms beginning with a pair of adjacent conveying surfaces and cascading through adjacent pairs of adjacent conveying surfaces.

Abstract: A conveyor system, such as an induction subsystem for supplying articles to a sortation subsystem, and method of conveying articles includes providing a conveying surface for conveying a series of articles and at least one sensor for sensing the articles on the conveying surface. A control is provided which establishes at least one parameter for each of the articles and controls the conveying surface as a function of the at least one parameter of each of the articles. The control includes a computer and a program for the computer. The program includes at least one probability estimator. The control determines the at least one parameter of each of the articles at least in part by the at least one probability estimator. The control controls gaps between articles or synchronizes arrival of articles at the sortation system.

Abstract: A conveyor system including an induction subsystem for producing a desired spacing between packages as they are discharged from a single induction line. The induction line includes a conveyor and a speed controller for controlling the running speed of the conveyor in a manner that discharges a package as close as possible to a time necessary to provide a desired gap with a previously-discharged package. A control monitors movement of packages on the conveyor and includes a device for determining a speed adjustment required for each speed controller to cause the packages on the line to reach the discharge conveyor as close as possible to the desired time. Speed adjustments include a constant acceleration to a higher discrete speed or deceleration to a lower discrete speed from a nominal discrete speed with a return to the nominal speed prior to discharging the package.

Abstract: A conveyor system including an induction subsystem for producing a desired spacing between packages as they are discharged from a single induction line or merged from multiple lines. Each induction line includes a conveyor and a speed controller for controlling the running speed of the conveyor in a manner that discharges a package as close as possible to a time necessary to provide a desired gap with a previously-discharged package. Each induction line is operated by two servo-controlled motors, with the speed of the downstream motor being controlled in a manner that will provide desired spacing between inducted packages and with the speed of the upstream motor being controlled as a selectable ratio to the speed of the downstream motor. This provides an initial controllable gap between packages to reduce the range of gaps experienced by the induction control. In another embodiment, a sortation subsystem is operated at a higher line speed than the induction subsystem from which it receives packages.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus for selective lateral alignment of packages with laterally spaced apart right-hand or left-hand vertical planes includes a conveying surface made up of support members connected together in an endless web and a pair of diverting shoes mounted to each support member. A network of guide tracks guides the movement of one of each pair of guide shoes along either a non-diverted path or a diverted path to laterally divert packages. Diverted packages are aligned by the other of each pair of shoes guided by the guide tracks in a fixed path.

Abstract: A conveyor system including an induction subassembly for producing a desired spacing between packages as they are discharged from a single induction line or merged from multiple lines. Each induction line includes a conveyor and a speed controller for controlling the running speed of the conveyor in a manner that discharges a package as close as possible to a time necessary to provide a desired gap with a previously-discharged package. A control monitors movement of packages on the conveyor of each line and includes a microcomputer for determining a speed adjustment that would be required for each speed controller to cause the packages on each of the lines to reach the associated discharge conveyor as close as possible to the desired time. The microcomputer determines which of the packages would read the associated discharge conveyor closest to the desired time and causes the speed controller for the associated conveyor to effect its speed adjustment to discharge its package.

Abstract: A data storage element includes selectively programmable rows of data locations with at least one row including a predetermined detectable pattern of indicia. When scanned by a detector the data storage element provides signals which are stored and analyzed to verify that a data storage element has been read and data reading accuracy checks performed to assure the correct reading of data information programmed on the data storage element.