US 11,987,451 B2
Networked motorized drive roller conveyor
Darin L. Danelski, Ocononmowoc, WI (US); and Melvin W. Henry, Wales, WI (US)
Assigned to Matthews International Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Filed by MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Filed on Sep. 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/942,351.
Application 17/942,351 is a continuation of application No. 16/735,900, filed on Jan. 7, 2020, granted, now 11,440,743.
Application 16/735,900 is a continuation of application No. 16/230,304, filed on Dec. 21, 2018, granted, now 10,549,920, issued on Feb. 4, 2020.
Application 16/230,304 is a continuation of application No. 15/799,817, filed on Oct. 31, 2017, granted, now 10,160,607, issued on Dec. 25, 2018.
Application 15/799,817 is a continuation of application No. 14/920,284, filed on Oct. 22, 2015, abandoned.
Application 14/920,284 is a continuation of application No. 14/468,245, filed on Aug. 25, 2014, abandoned.
Application 14/468,245 is a continuation of application No. 13/192,679, filed on Jul. 28, 2011, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/368,902, filed on Jul. 29, 2010.
Prior Publication US 2023/0249918 A1, Aug. 10, 2023
Int. Cl. B65G 43/08 (2006.01); B65G 13/02 (2006.01); B65G 43/10 (2006.01); B65G 47/26 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 43/08 (2013.01) [B65G 13/02 (2013.01); B65G 43/10 (2013.01); B65G 47/261 (2013.01); B65G 2811/0673 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
15. A motorized drive roller conveyor comprising:
a first zone, a second zone, and third zone, wherein the second and third zones are two diversion points downstream of the first zone, each zone including a drive roller and a sensor; and
one or more cards comprising:
an identification device that identifies a destination zone for an item,
one or more first drivers that control the first zone,
one or more second drivers that control the second zone, and
one or more third drivers that control the third zone,
the one or more cards configured to:
measure a gap between a first item, identified to divert to the second zone, a second item, identified to divert to the third zone, and a third item, identified to divert to the second zone, positioned consecutively on the conveyor by beginning a counter when a trailing edge of the first item passes a first sensor, in the first zone, and recording a first counter value indicating a length of a first gap when a leading edge of the second item passes the first sensor and recording a second counter value indicating a length of a second gap when a leading edge of the third item passes the first sensor,
detect the trailing edge of second item in the third zone by the second sensor in the second zone,
in response to the first item being stopped, advance the third item a distance derived from the second counter value to adjust the length of the gap.