Abstract: A conveyor employs electrostatic force to selectively adhere packages to an inclined conveying surface and selectively release packages from the inclined conveying surface to separate the packages from each other. A pair of electrodes embedded in the body of a conveyor belt module are selectively energized via electrically conductive hinge rods used to connect conveyor belt modules together to generate the electrostatic force.

Abstract: A conveyor system conveying packages with controlled gaps or pitches to a processing station and a method for controlling the speed of an infeed conveyor to supply packages to the processing station with maximized throughput. The conveyor system comprises the infeed conveyor followed by a separation conveyor, a gapping conveyor, and a processing conveyor delivering packages to the processing station. The length of a string of packages and interpackage gaps is measured on the separation conveyor and compared to the length of a string of packages on the processing conveyor. If the string length on the processing conveyor exceeds the string length on the separation conveyor, a programmed controller adjusts the infeed speed down. If the string length on the separation conveyor exceeds the string length on the processing conveyor, the controller adjusts the infeed speed up.

Abstract: A destacking conveyor having a conveyor belt with pushers selectively pushing stacked packages transverse to the conveying direction to one side of the conveyor against a vertical wall with a gap between the bottom of the wall and the belt to block the top package of a stack and allow the bottom package to pass through the gap and off the side of the belt to a reject bin. In another version a destacking conveyor uses a force applicator to apply a downward force against the top of a stack to hold the top package while the pushers slide the bottom package from under the top package.

Abstract: A detector detects the presence of liquid on a conveyed product using optics. The detector comprises a light source adjacent to a conveyor belt for directing a light beam into the conveyor belt body towards a top conveying surface and a light receiver for detecting the light beam after it reflects off of the top conveying surface. A reduction in intensity of the reflected light beam may indicate the presence of wetness on the top conveying surface.

Abstract: A detector detects the presence of liquid on a conveyed product using optics. The detector comprises a light source adjacent to a conveyor belt for directing a light beam into the conveyor belt body towards a top conveying surface and a light receiver for detecting the light beam after it reflects off of the top conveying surface. A reduction in intensity of the reflected light beam may indicate the presence of wetness on the top conveying surface.

Abstract: A conveyor system conveying packages with controlled gaps or pitches to a processing station and a method for controlling the speed of an infeed conveyor to supply packages to the processing station with maximized throughput. The conveyor system comprises the infeed conveyor followed by a separation conveyor, a gapping conveyor, and a processing conveyor delivering packages to the processing station. The length of a string of packages and interpackage gaps is measured on the separation conveyor and compared to the length of a string of packages on the processing conveyor. If the string length on the processing conveyor exceeds the string length on the separation conveyor, a programmed controller adjusts the infeed speed down. If the string length on the separation conveyor exceeds the string length on the processing conveyor, the controller adjusts the infeed speed up.

Abstract: A tray conveyor in which plastic trays with rows of embedded translators are driven by stators. Washing stations in cleaning zones are provided to automatically clean empty trays in the conveyor's return path.

Abstract: A conveyor employs electrostatic force to selectively adhere packages to an inclined conveying surface and selectively release packages from the inclined conveying surface to separate the packages from each other. A pair of electrodes embedded in the body of a conveyor belt module are selectively energized via electrically conductive hinge rods used to connect conveyor belt modules together to generate the electrostatic force.

Abstract: A conveyor system and methods for conveying and unstacking flat and non-flat packages. The conveyor system includes an inclined conveyor belt delivering packages to a tilted conveyor belt that conveys flat packages along its length while non-flat packages tumble off its lower side edge to initially cull flat packages from a bulk flow of packages. Retention means, such as a high-friction outer conveying surface or a raised barrier along the length of the outer conveying surface of the tilted conveyor belt, holds flat packages on the tilted conveyor belt. The inclined conveyor belt has stop elements spaced apart along the belt's length and is advanced in stop-and-go fashion to help unstack piggy-backed packages as they are conveyed up the incline.

Abstract: A conveyor employs a low-tension, direct drive conveyor belt, and a snap-on position limiter for ensuring proper engagement of the belt and a drive sprocket. The position limiter includes a body, a limiting surface and a snap clap opposite the limiting surface for snapping the position limiter to a mounting shaft. The position limiter may include a mounting arm for mounting a conveyor belt scraper at the front of the position limiter. Mounting plates at the end of the conveyor support a mounting shaft for mounting the position limiter or other conveyor components in place relative to the drive sprocket.

Abstract: A drone comprises at least one propeller for generating lift and an article containment area for containing an article to be carried by the drone. The floor of the article containment area comprises a dynamic support surface for supporting the article and allowing the article to move into, out of and through the article containment area. The dynamic support surface may be a conveyor belt forming the floor of the article containment area.

Abstract: A conveyor employs a low-tension, direct drive conveyor belt, and a snap-on position limiter for ensuring proper engagement of the belt and a drive sprocket. The position limiter includes a body, a limiting surface and a snap clap opposite the limiting surface for snapping the position limiter to a mounting shaft. The position limiter may include a mounting arm for mounting a conveyor belt scraper at the front of the position limiter. Mounting plates at the end of the conveyor support a mounting shaft for mounting the position limiter or other conveyor components in place relative to the drive sprocket.

Abstract: A missort prevention system prevents missorts in a sortation conveying system. The missort prevention system includes a sensor for detecting the presence of an unexpected article on a chute transitioning articles off of a conveyor and a missort preventer for blocking the further passage of the unexpected article on the chute.

Abstract: A conveyor guide wall constructed of a series of parallel columns of freely rotatable rollers. The rollers are mounted on rods retained within top and bottom rails. The rollers rotate on the rods to provide a guide that engages conveyed articles in low-friction rolling contact. Voids in the rollers increase the rollers' flexibility and help absorb impacts with conveyed articles.

Abstract: A conveyance device comprises a sorting plate housing a plurality of roller assemblies and a series of narrow conveyor belts for conveying articles towards the sorting plate. In a first mode, the narrow conveyor belts bypass the roller assemblies and convey articles over the sorting plate. In a second mode, the conveyor belts bring an article into contact with the roller assemblies, which then manipulate the trajectory of the article.

Abstract: A multi-directional roller assembly for directing articles in a conveying system. The multi-directional roller assembly has a rotatable roller frame housing at least one set of mutually-actuating rollers. The multi-directional roller assembly directs an article supported by the assembly along a trajectory determined by the orientation of the multi-directional roller assembly relative to an input force. The orientation of the multi-directional roller assembly may be changed to change the trajectory. A conveyor system may include an array of multi-directional roller assemblies. An actuator controls the orientation of the multi-directional roller assemblies individually and may also control an array of multi-directional roller assemblies as a group.

Abstract: A zone-controlled in-line, stacked-roller conveyor belt. The belt has pairs of stacked rollers—a top article-supporting roller and a bottom driven roller. The top and bottom rollers contact each other so that when the bottom roller is driven in one direction by contact with a bearing surface under the belt as the belt advances, the top roller rotates in the opposite direction—opposite to the direction of belt travel. Articles atop the actuated roller pairs mark time. When the bottom roller is out of contact with a bearing surface, the rollers are braked and do not rotate so that the articles atop the braked rollers advance with the belt. The bearing surfaces are arranged in individually controllable segments that are dynamically grouped into zones that are actuated to halt an article in that zone. An imaging system is used by a controller to change the zone grouping dynamically.

Abstract: A conveyance device comprises a sorting plate housing a plurality of roller assemblies and a series of narrow conveyor belts for conveying articles towards the sorting plate. In a first mode, the narrow conveyor belts bypass the roller assemblies and convey articles over the sorting plate. In a second mode, the conveyor belts bring an article into contact with the roller assemblies, which then manipulate the trajectory of the article.

Abstract: A zone-controlled in-line, stacked-roller conveyor belt. The belt has pairs of stacked rollers—a top article-supporting roller and a bottom driven roller. The top and bottom rollers contact each other so that when the bottom roller is driven in one direction by contact with a bearing surface under the belt as the belt advances, the top roller rotates in the opposite direction—opposite to the direction of belt travel. Articles atop the actuated roller pairs mark time. When the bottom roller is out of contact with a bearing surface, the rollers are braked and do not rotate so that the articles atop the braked rollers advance with the belt. The bearing surfaces are arranged in individually controllable segments that are dynamically grouped into zones that are actuated to halt an article in that zone. An imaging system is used by a controller to change the zone grouping dynamically.

Abstract: A missort prevention system prevents missorts in a sortation conveying system. The missort prevention system includes a sensor for detecting the presence of an unexpected article on a chute transitioning articles off of a conveyor and a missort preventer for blocking the further passage of the unexpected article on the chute.