Abstract: An inventory management system can include a tray, a tine, and an actuator. The tray can have a body defining a slot extending along a length of the tray and through a front and a rear of the tray. The tine can be sized to fit through the slot. The actuator can move the tine into a deployed position in which the tine is arranged to pass through the slot and contact an item in the tray to cause the item to fall out of the rear of the tray as tray moves by the tine. The actuator may also be capable of moving the tine into a stowed position in which the tine is arranged to avoid extending through the slot as the tray moves by the tine.

Abstract: An order selection process is provided for the selecting of a plurality of a predetermined item or items from a stocked picking location in an order selection system.

Abstract: A drive controller for controlling movement of a plurality of packages by an accumulation conveyor. The drive controller is configured to determine a length of each of the packages and to coordinate driving of a number of zones needed to accommodate the package. For example, a sensor in each of the conveyor zones communicates blockage by the packages to the drive controller. The drive controller determines a sequence of blockage of the sensors in adjacent zones. Blockage of the sensor in an upstream zone before the sensor in a downstream zone indicates an oversized package that extends longer than a zone length of the downstream zone and into the upstream zone. The drive controller is configured to drive the downstream zone and upstream zone simultaneously when detecting the oversized package.

Abstract: An automated assembly line is operated and controlled by a computer system. The assembly line includes of a plurality of machines which are each segmented into its basic unit operations providing work stations. The work stations are then controlled by the computer system and operated asynchronously with respect to the other work stations of the assembly line.

Abstract: Featured is a device controller in a system having a multiplicity of such controllers and a conveying system and method for controlling a multiplicity of devices using such controllers. Each controller includes a plurality of bi-directional communications ports, a processor that processes information and provides outputs, where at least one output controls the device, and an applications program for execution within the processor that includes instructions and criteria for processing the information and providing the processor outputs. Specifically, the applications program includes instructions and criteria for communicating information between and among controllers; instructions and criteria for processing information received by a controller; and instructions and criteria for modifying the operation of a device responsive to the communicated information. For a conveying system having a multiplicity of conveying sections, a controller is provided for each section.

Abstract: A communication master unit of a conveyance controller and communication slave units for a main conveyor, loading conveyors and unloading conveyors are connected by a serial transmission line to transmit and receive different kinds of data signals to and from motorized rollers for conveying items and their corresponding sensors by the packet-switching exchange system. Conveyance control can be executed by transmitting and receiving the different kinds of data signals via reduced number of wirings while connecting the master unit and the slave units corresponding to the respective conveyors by the serial transmission line in a conveyor system.