A method of constructing a conveyor system includes decommissioning an existing conveyor system by removing electrification or a powered chain from a conveyor rail. Carriers of the existing conveyor system are removed from the rail. An automated conveyor carrier (ACC) is installed onto the rail so that a drive wheel of a self-driving trolley of the ACC is put into contact with the rail. A battery is installed on the ACC. Electrical connection is established from the battery to the self-driving trolley.

A method of sorting baggage at an airport, the method comprising: acquiring a digital image of an identification label for identifying a piece of baggage, the label including an identification code designed to correspond to a set of items of data from a first database compiled as the baggage is being checked in; the method further comprising the following steps: retrieving information that is printed on the label from the image; comparing the information with data that is recorded in a local second database at the airport before the label is printed, the second database being distinct from the first database, the data from the second database being representative of a list of flights to or from the airport; and, in response to a match being detected, transmitting data representative of a flight number corresponding to the piece of baggage to a conveyor system.

A conveyor system includes a fixed, non-powered rail defining a conveyor path. An automated conveyor carrier (ACC) is supported by the rail and drivable along the rail by an on-board motor in a self-driving trolley of the ACC, the motor powering a drive wheel. The rail defines a first section and a second section separate from the first section. The conveyor system is adapted to provide a first amount of traction for the ACC on the rail in the first section and a second amount of traction, greater than the first amount of traction, in the second section.

A method of operating a conveyor system includes providing a fixed, non-powered first rail supporting first and second trolleys of a first carrier, at least one of which is self-driving. The first and second trolley are conveyed in line along the first rail with a load bar therebetween. The first carrier defines a length measured along the first rail and a width measured transverse. The first carrier is conveyed to a branch point where a second rail branches from the first rail. The second trolley is conveyed along the second the rail to turn the first carrier so that it is conveyed with the load bar traversing between the first and second rails. The width is substantially less than the length such that the turning of the first carrier reduces an occupancy of the first carrier along the first rail.

A method and a device for stringing together objects in transport systems, preferably in coating systems, for adjusting the distance between two objects, preferably substrates or substrate holders, being arranged one behind the other, wherein the front object moves at a process speed v.sub.p in the transport system and the rear object is at an undefined distance from the front object. The method comprises the following steps: (a) accelerating the rear substrate to an initial speed v.sub.x>v.sub.p; (b) detecting an increase in the driving torque when the rear substrate moves against the front substrate; (c) delaying the rear substrate by a predetermined value in order to establish a predetermined distance a.sub.p from the front substrate; and (d) adjusting the speed of the rear substrate to the process speed v.sub.p.

A typing tunnel off-loading and sorting system includes an off-loading conveyor, cameras and photoelectric eye. The overhead cameras detect the item size and whether it is cubic in nature and type and size of its footprint. An in-line slide sorter having alternating conveyor rollers and pop-up belts pass through to, or divert articles from, a downstream conveyor. The vision based system may also be used to detect space between articles and insert articles in the unoccupied space.

A board conveyance device and conveyance belt inspection method that enable easy detection of a problem with conveyance belts. The board conveyance device includes: endless conveyance belts on which is set a conveyance path for conveying a board; a board sensor configured to detect the presence of the board at a specified detection position on the conveyance path; and a control section configured to, in a case in which the board is not being conveyed on the conveyance path, move the conveyance belts and determine a problem with the conveyance belts based on a detection result of the board sensor.

In order to be able to plan and control the movement of a transportation unit of a conveying device along a conveying line more easily and more quickly, provision is made so that at least part of the conveying line (2) is assigned at least one logical sector (LSi), wherein the at least one logical sector (LSi) is allocated to one or more conveying segments (FSi) or parts thereof, a movement profile for the transportation unit (TEi) is allocated to the at least one logical sector (LSi), the transportation unit (TEi) is moved in accordance with the specified movement profiles along the at least one logical sector (LSi) and in doing so a new setpoint (S) of the movement is ascertained in each cycle step of the setpoint selection, and the setpoint (S) is transferred via the allocation to one or more conveying segments (FSi), or parts thereof, to the allocated conveying segment(s) (FSi) for adjustment.

A singulation conveyor is described. The singulation conveyor includes multiple rollers, for example, a first roller and a second roller. In some example embodiments, the first roller can be of a first roller cross-sectional profile and the second roller can be of a second roller cross-sectional profile. The first roller cross-sectional profile can be defined by a sleeve mounted around a circumference of the first roller and a dowel positioned between the sleeve and the first roller. Further, in some examples, the first roller cross-sectional profile can be different from the second roller cross-sectional profile. Furthermore, according to some examples, the first roller and the second roller can be configured to be rotated based on a first rotation pattern and a second rotation pattern respectively, to cause singulation of a shingled item.

A camera based vision system that recognizes and maximizes belt area utilization. A plurality of cameras are positioned at flow entry points of feed conveyors and at the singulator. The control algorithm recognizes individual items area, the rate at which individual objects are passing, and the area utilization of the collector belt. The video camera and computer based conveyor package management system monitor and control the number and size of the packages present on the infeed conveyors, collector conveyor, singulator conveyor and sorting conveyor in a package handling system wherein the camera data is used to measure the available area or space on the conveyors to maintain a desired density of packages on selected conveyor(s). The conveyor speed is controlled as a function of occupancy on a collector or just prior to a singulator or receiver.