The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 15, 2009
Filed:
Oct. 06, 2003
David W Zeitler, Gaines Township, MI (US);
David W Zeitler, Gaines Township, MI (US);
Dematic Corp., Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling gaps between articles traveling on a conveyor system includes providing a plurality of tandem conveying surfaces defining a series of sequentially arranged conveying surface interfaces. At least one of the conveying surfaces associated with each of said conveying surface interfaces is an adjustable-speed conveying surface. At least one article sensor is provided adjacent at least one of the conveying surface interfaces. The article sensor provides information on positions of the articles. The speeds of the tandem conveying surfaces are controlled in a manner that establishes controlled gaps between articles, by identifying a controllable gap that can be adjusted between articles at a particular conveying surface interface and adjusting the controllable gap at the particular conveying surface interface. The control adjusts the controllable gap by adjusting the speed of the adjustable speed conveying surface associated with the particular conveying surface interface using a feedback controller. Gaps between articles are sequentially adjusted at the series of sequentially arranged conveying surface interfaces.