A conveying system transports items, such as postal items, along a main conveying direction. A conveying route includes segments that are arranged one behind the other along the main conveying direction. The segments have conveyors arranged parallel to one another and the segments are offset relative to one another in a transverse direction. The conveyors are driven and activated individually by a control unit. The items are conveyed along the main conveying direction by transferring an item from a preceding segment to a following segment that is offset relative to the preceding segment and then transporting the item on the following segment. Items with small dimensions, which rest on just one conveyor can also be manipulated during the transportation.

A conveying system transports items, such as postal items, along a main conveying direction. A conveying route includes segments that are arranged one behind the other along the main conveying direction. The segments have conveyors arranged parallel to one another and the segments are offset relative to one another in a transverse direction. The conveyors are driven and activated individually by a control unit. The items are conveyed along the main conveying direction by transferring an item from a preceding segment to a following segment that is offset relative to the preceding segment and then transporting the item on the following segment. Items with small dimensions, which rest on just one conveyor can also be manipulated during the transportation.

An electronic component mounting method is performed by an electronic component mounting system including a component mounting line formed by interconnecting component mounting units which concurrently performs component mounting work on two kinds of boards different in mounting workload. The component mounting units includes: first and second board conveyance mechanisms; a component mounting unit; a board distribution unit which receives the board from the upstream-side apparatus and distributes the received board to either the first board conveyance mechanism or the second board conveyance mechanism; and a distribution control unit which controls the first board conveyance mechanism, the second board conveyance mechanism and the board distribution unit. The electronic component mounting method comprises mixedly distributing the two kinds of the boards to each of the first and second board conveyance mechanisms based on a board request signal issued from a most-upstream component mounting unit in the component mounting line.

An electronic component mounting method is performed by an electronic component mounting system including a component mounting line formed by interconnecting component mounting units which concurrently performs component mounting work on two kinds of boards different in mounting workload. The component mounting units includes: first and second board conveyance mechanisms; a component mounting unit; a board distribution unit which receives the board from the upstream-side apparatus and distributes the received board to either the first board conveyance mechanism or the second board conveyance mechanism; and a distribution control unit which controls the first board conveyance mechanism, the second board conveyance mechanism and the board distribution unit. The electronic component mounting method comprises mixedly distributing the two kinds of the boards to each of the first and second board conveyance mechanisms based on a board request signal issued from a most-upstream component mounting unit in the component mounting line.

Item singulation systems and methods may include an input conveyor, a separation conveyor, a turn conveyor, and an output conveyor that is positioned parallel with the input conveyor. A vision system may determine individual columns of items from among a plurality of items on the input conveyor. Operations of the input conveyor, separation conveyor, turn conveyor, and output conveyor may be controlled substantially as a pull system to transfer individual columns of items to the output conveyor, such that singulated items can be transferred by the output conveyor to downstream processes.

Item singulation systems and methods may include an input conveyor, a separation conveyor, a turn conveyor, and an output conveyor that is positioned parallel with the input conveyor. A vision system may determine individual columns of items from among a plurality of items on the input conveyor. Operations of the input conveyor, separation conveyor, turn conveyor, and output conveyor may be controlled substantially as a pull system to transfer individual columns of items to the output conveyor, such that singulated items can be transferred by the output conveyor to downstream processes.

A conveyance system conveys an article arranged by a user to a customer. The conveyance system includes a first conveyance unit for conveying the article arranged by the user, a second conveyance unit that is connected to the first conveyance unit and that is configured to convey the article conveyed from the first conveyance unit, and, when the user newly arranges a new article, is capable of conveying the article, a third conveyance unit that is connected to the second conveyance unit and is configured to convey the article conveyed by the second conveyance unit to the customer, and a control unit that is configured to perform conveyance control of each of the first conveyance unit, the second conveyance unit, and the third conveyance unit, and convey the article to the customer.

A conveyance system conveys an article arranged by a user to a customer. The conveyance system includes a first conveyance unit for conveying the article arranged by the user, a second conveyance unit that is connected to the first conveyance unit and that is configured to convey the article conveyed from the first conveyance unit, and, when the user newly arranges a new article, is capable of conveying the article, a third conveyance unit that is connected to the second conveyance unit and is configured to convey the article conveyed by the second conveyance unit to the customer, and a control unit that is configured to perform conveyance control of each of the first conveyance unit, the second conveyance unit, and the third conveyance unit, and convey the article to the customer.

Parcel processing systems and methods. A parcel processing system includes a parcel transport configured to receive a flow of parcels, and transport the flow of parcels at a rate greater than a processing capacity of a downstream processing device. The parcel processing system includes a diverter configured to divert individual parcels from the flow of parcels to be recirculated. The parcel processing system includes the downstream processing device configured to process the remaining flow of parcels. The parcel processing system includes a control system configured to cause the diverter to divert the individual parcels from the flow of parcels until the remaining flow of parcels is not greater than the processing capacity of a downstream processing device.

A conveyor module includes an elongate frame to which a looped conveyor track is mounted. The frame includes first and second end housings which include end pulleys for the conveyor track. The frame also includes a drive housing located at a mid-portion thereof which houses the drive motor for the conveyor track. The conveyor module is a discrete independently driven unit with an upper portion (running surface) of the conveyor track in a planar orientation for conveying items thereon in use. The conveyor module can include additional smart features. A warehouse floor arrangement uses a plurality of side by side conveyor modules being identical and grouped into banks.