Method, apparatuses, and computer program products for dynamically detecting an item within a conveyor zone are disclosed herein. An example method may comprise: accessing a load condition data object, wherein the load condition data object is indicative of a force exerted on at least one conveyor zone, processing the load condition data object using a weight condition detection model to generate a weight condition indication associated with the at least one conveyor zone, and causing one or more prediction-based actions to be performed based at least in part on the weight condition indication.

The invention relates to a conveying device (1) having an accumulation area (SB) for accumulating objects (O, O1 . . . O2, Oa . . . Oj), and to an operating method for the conveying device (1). By means of a measuring device (L1), the object rear edge (K.sub.HO1) of a first object (O1) and the object front edge (K.sub.VO2) of a second object (O2) which follows the first object (O1) are detected. The position of the objects (O1, O2) is determined by means of rotation signals from the drives (M) of conveyor elements (2, 2.sub.M, 2.sub.L). For the second object (O2), a continuous curve of a speed reduction of a target speed (v.sub.Soll) is calculated, wherein the calculated stop position (P.sub.Stop) of the object front edge (K.sub.VO2) of the second object (O2) is located at the position of the object rear edge (K.sub.HO1) of the stopped first object (O1), or between the object front edge (K.sub.VO1) of the stopped first object (O1) and the object rear edge (K.sub.HO1) of the stopped first object (O1). Subsequently, the second object (O2) is moved and stopped by means of the conveyor elements (2, 2.sub.M, 2.sub.L) on the basis of the calculated speed reduction.

Various embodiments disclosed herein provide for an improved accumulation conveyor and systems and methods for controlling a high rate, high density tunable accumulation conveyor. In one embodiment, an accumulation conveyor system determines whether an item detection variable associated with a second zone of a plurality of zones is satisfied, wherein the second zone is downstream of a first zone. In an instance where the item detection variable and an operational characteristic variable are satisfied, the accumulation conveyor system is configured to set a zone operating state associated with the first zone to inactive and send a command signal comprising the zone operating state associated with the first zone to a control module associated with the first zone. In another embodiment, a method for adjusting aggressiveness is disclosed. In another embodiment, a tunable release rate accumulation conveyor is disclosed. In still another embodiment, a tunable crowding accumulation conveyor is disclosed.

A sorting machine can include an output bin that includes a transport belt to transport a delivery item (e.g., a letter) from a distribution belt at a first speed. The output bin can include a braking roller to reduce the speed of the delivery item by operating at a second tangential speed that is slower than the first speed. The output bin can also include an auger assembly to apply a force to move at least the trailing portion of the item in a manner that clears the path to the braking roller for additional delivery items. The output bin can also include a bumper pad to stop the delivery item, where the delivery item is stopped against the bumper pad after being slowed down by contact with the braking roller. The slowed speed causes the delivery item to come to rest approximately in alignment with additional delivery items.

A method and device for grouping packages into specified package groups in an interference-free and fault-free manner with a conveyor having multiple individually actuatable conveyors arranged one behind the other with an inlet-side and a discharge-side end. The packages are supplied to the conveyor device at the inlet-side end one after the other, and a control algorithm is carried out to interpolate and/or detect the position and/or the speed of each individual package. A target speed is determined for each individual package based on the detected and/or interpolated position and/or speed of the package. A target speed is determined for the individual conveyors to achieve the target speed for each package to set a specified distance to the leading and/or following package at the discharge-side end. The speed of the individual conveyors is controlled to the respective determined target speed for the conveyor.

An article accumulating apparatus that uses a robot to transfer to a predetermined location and accumulate an article conveyed thereto is disclosed. The article accumulating apparatus includes a conveyance unit, an accumulation unit, and a discharge unit. The conveyance unit is configured to convey the article. The accumulation unit is disposed in series with the conveyance unit and is configured to accumulate the article. The discharge unit is configured to discharge the article in the conveyance unit to an area outside the accumulation unit. The discharge unit is disposed in a robot movable range that is a range in which the robot holds and transfers the article to the accumulation unit.

A conveyor bed including a conveyor frame, a first set of rollers, a second set of rollers, and a pivotable frame is provided. The first set of rollers are coupled to the conveyor frame to transport an article from an upstream location to a downstream location. The pivotable frame pivotably coupled to a side of the of the conveyor frame. The second set of rollers mounted to the pivotable frame, positioned below the first set of rollers. A belt wrapped is around the second set of rollers, and selectively engages and disengages the first set of rollers in response to pivoting the pivotable frame based on predefined criteria.

A system for managing parcel flow includes: an upstream conveyor for receiving and conveying a bulk flow of parcels; and a damming conveyor positioned to receive parcels offloaded from the upstream conveyor. The system may also include: a destacking conveyor positioned to receive parcels offloaded from the damming conveyor and configured to separate vertically stacked parcels; and a downstream conveyor positioned to receive parcels offloaded from the destacking conveyor. The damming conveyor can be selectively activated and deactivated to offload parcels in discrete batches, instead of a continuous flow. Selective activation and deactivation of the damming conveyor and/or destacking conveyor can be based on instructions communicated from a control subsystem in accordance in a prearranged sequence or based on data from one or more sensors configured to acquire data corresponding to the positioning of parcels within the system.

A storage apparatus for transport goods includes a first conveyor, a second conveyor and a deflecting mechanism for deflecting transport goods conveyed by the first conveyor onto the second conveyor. A motor configuration is provided for motorized driving of the first conveyor and/or the second conveyor. A step is provided over which the transport goods are conveyed. The storage apparatus is configured to vertically compress the transport goods with the aid of the step. A method for storing transport goods, in particular packages, is also provided.

Various embodiments described herein relate to controlling a conveyor that comprises at least a first zone that is upstream of a second zone. A second control module associated with the second zone receives a first signal from a first control module associated with the first zone.

The first signal indicates that one of a first article that has an irregular boundary or a second article that has a regular boundary exits from the first zone. The second control module controls the second drive assembly and a second brake assembly based on the indication by the first signal.