MXPA06002352A - Method and apparatus for tracking a load on a conveyor system - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and apparatus for tracking a load on a conveyor system using the trailing edge of the load. The method includes the steps of sensing the trailing edge of the load with a first sensor and updating a load record for the load in response to sensing the trailing edge of the load with the first sensor. The apparatus may include a conveyor, a controller, and a sensor in communication with the controller for sensing the trailing edge of a load on the conveyor.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRACKING A LOAD IN A CONVEYOR SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a system for tracking charges on conveyors for tracking a load between processing stations, and more particularly to a system and method for tracking a load using the tracking edge of the load. In the fields for material handling, industrial processing, and baggage systems, an automated equipment is used to automatically transport the loads through various steps of the process. Typically, as the loads move in a conveyor system, such as, for example, the conveyors, it is necessary to track each load and any data that is associated with a particular load, as well as to control the conveyor. The conveyor may be constituted of various conveyor segments, and it may be convenient to control each segment individually, as well as to track the load as it moves from the conveyor segment to the conveyor segment.

For example, certain control requirements may be required, such as, for example, the processing speeds of the destination station, separation of the load on the conveyor, and the selective destinations, to start and stop the conveyor segments independently, or to vary independently the speeds of the transport segment. A common method used to track loads and control conveyors includes detecting the leading edge of the load. As the leading edge of the load is detected, a load record associated with the load is created and selectively transferred by it. controller in lists associated with each transporter or zone segment. Accurate tracking requires that the transfer of the records in the controller and the data structure reflect the physical position of the load in the system. While this technique for "leading edge" tracking in general is suitable for many applications, particularly when the loads have a common and consistent size and shape (e.g., tray conveyor systems), this technique is subject to phantom loads and conditions of competition as will be described hereinafter when they are used in systems for transporting loads of varying sizes and shapes. A problem associated with the use of the leading edge for tracking and control purposes is that certain conditions for conveyor control can lead to erroneous tracking. For example, referring to FIG. l (a), when a leading edge of a load X is detected by a detector B at the end of a conveyor segment Cl, the system normally transfers the load record to the list associated with the next conveyor C2. However, if the control conditions require the stopping of the conveyor Cl at the time of detection of the main load edge of the load while the conveyor C2 continues to advance, the encoder E for the conveyor C2 continues to press and the expected window for the load X moves forward on the conveyor C2 even though the physical load is stationary at the discharge end of the conveyor Cl, thus creating a phantom load in the list of the conveyor C2. One technique for addressing this type of ghost condition is to trace both the leading edge and the tracking edge of a load. When the leading edge of the load X is detected by the detector B, the load record is updated and placed in a waiting area associated with the detector B. At the time of detecting the trailing edge of the load, it is it releases the load record from the waiting area of detector B to the list or data series for conveyor C2. This delay requires determining the size of the load in order to locate the leading edge of the load X. To determine the size of the load, the number of pulses of the encoder is counted between the leading and trailing edges. A problem with this system is that it significantly increases the demands on the controller or processor. Therefore, in order to maintain functional efficiency, in general, more complex and expensive controllers must be installed to track and control the system. Front edge and tracking approaches are also used with two detector arrangements, such as, for example, those shown in Figure 1 (b). While this approach is suitable in many cases, it fails if the maximum load length is greater than the separation between the detectors. That is, when the detector B2 detects the leading edge of the load, the controller will attempt to transfer the load record from the front of the list for the conveyor C2 to the waiting area for the detector B2. However, because detector Bl has not yet detected the tracking edge of load X, the controller has not transferred the load record from the waiting area for detector Bl to the list for conveyor C2 and therefore both no load record is present in the list for conveyor C2. In this condition, the system creates a new load record for the unexpected load. Therefore, when the detector Bl detects the tracking edge of the load X, the load register is transferred from the waiting area for the detector Bl to the list for the conveyor C2. Because the waiting window for the leading edge of the load X is calculated as it passes through the detector B2, the load record of the model is removed so that it fails to reach the detector B2. These additional steps of creating and deleting the load registers to compensate for loads having a maximum length greater than the separation between the detectors further increase the demands on the controller or processor and increase the probability of tracking errors. The condition analyzed with reference to Figure 1 (b) can be overcome by configuring the system in such a way that the detector Bl does not do anything when it detects the tracking edge of the load X and, when the detector B2 detects the leading edge of the load X, the system transfers the register to detector Bl instead of the register at the front of the list for conveyor C2. However, as shown in Figure 1 (c), this solution creates a competitive condition when the distance between the leading edges of consecutive loads is less than the distance between the detectors. For example, if two short length charges X and Y are traveling on the conveyor as shown, the detector Bl detects the leading edge of the load X and updates the register to indicate that it is in the detector Bl. As noted above, the controller does not update any of the registers or lists when the detector Bl detects the trailing edge of the load X. Therefore, if the leading edge of the load is detected in the detector Bl before the that the leading edge of load X is detected in detector B2, a collision occurs in the tracking model, specifically the load record for load Y attempts to rewrite the load record for Load X in the waiting area for the detector Bl. In addition, as shown in Figure 1 (d), the above solution of ignoring the trailing edge on the detector Bl also fails if a belt, tag, or other loose article attached to the load X is detected by the detector Bl but is detected. not by detector B2 and the competition condition observed above is satisfied. For example, the detector Bl detects the leading edge of the load X and updates the register to manifest it to the detector Bl. The detector B2 then detects the leading edge of the load X and updates the register to manifest it if it is no longer in the detector Bl but in the detector B2. Then, the leading edge of a loose article attached to the trailing edge of the load X is detected in the detector Bl and a new load register is created in the detector Bl. Later, the loose article changes and is not independently detected from the trailing edge of the load X by the detector B2. As noted above, the controller does not update any of the registers or lists when the detector Bl detects the trailing edge of the new load, and since it was never detected in the detector B2, it remains in the waiting area for the detector Bl . When the leading edge of the load Y is detected in the detector Bl, a collision occurs in the tracking model as noted above. In summary, various methods with a limited degree of success have been employed to overcome and minimize the deficiencies in the prior art and there is a need for a simple solution that effectively tracks the load without adding additional control steps, while eliminating or reducing the potential for phantom loads, competition conditions, or tracking collisions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a system for tracking loads on conveyors for the tracking of a load between processing stations, and more particularly to a system and method for tracking a load using the tracking edge. of the load. The method allows to track a load, having a trailing edge and a leading edge, on a conveyor system having a first detector. The method includes the steps of detecting the tracking edge of the load with the first detector and updating a load record for the load in response to detecting the trailing edge of the load with the first detector. The method allows the use of only the trailing edge to track the load along the conveyor system to eliminate the problems associated with tracing the leading edge or tracing the leading and trailing edge of a load. In an alternative embodiment, the method may include the steps of detecting the trailing edge of the load with a source load detector, updating a load record in a controller in response to detection of the tracking edge of the load, generating a pulse signal having several pulses directly proportional to the travel of the load on the first conveyor segment, and tracking the load on the first conveyor segment using the generated pulse signal and the updated load record in response to detecting the trailing edge of the load. The conveyor system in general includes a first conveyor segment, a second conveyor segment is disposed relative to the first conveyor segment for transferring the load from the first conveyor segment to the second conveyor segment, a detector configured to detect the trailing edge of the load, and a controller configured to transfer load records from a first data series associated with the first transport segment to a second data series associated with the second transport segment in response to the detector detecting the tracking edge of the load. The additional scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, claims, and drawings. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are provided by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those with experience in the technique.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be understood more fully from the detailed description provided below, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. the is a schematic illustration of a section of the baggage handling system showing a system for front edge detection that tracks a phantom load; FIG. Ib is a schematic illustration of a section of the baggage handling system that shows an error condition in a tracking system using both leading and tracking edges for a load greater than the separation between the detectors; FIG. it is a schematic illustration of a section of the baggage handling system showing a collision event in a tracking system using a selective mix of front edges and tracking of small loads; FIG. Id is a schematic illustration of a section of the baggage handling system that shows a collision event in a tracking system using a selective mix of forward loading and tracking edges in the presence of unexpected events; FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the interaction of data between a processor, a communication module, a first data series and a second data series; FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a baggage handling system for a multi-segment conveyor system having a cargo tracking apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the baggage handling system, illustrating a potential physical orientation of the loads; FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the baggage handling system in FIG. 4 illustrating loads of various sizes that will be traced; FIG. 6 is a diagram of a flow chart that highlights the processing steps in tracking a bag that is moving along the bag handling system shown in FIG. 4; and FIG. 7 is an illustration of the information tracked in an example load register.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY In FIGS. 3-5, a conveyor system 10 according to the present invention is illustrated generally. The system 10 includes a plurality of interconnected conveyor structures or segments, such as, for example, the illustrated conveyor belt 20 driven by a motor 26, configured to carry loads between the origin and destination stations 30 and 40. The conveyor system 10 includes a controller 70 connected to one or more encoders 50 and detectors 52. As illustrated in FIG. 3, system 10 generally includes many conveyor sections for selectively transporting loads between a variety of origin and / or destination stations. For ease of reference, each conveyor section and the associated motor, encoder, and the detectors associated therewith are indicated by an appropriate alphabetic designation, such as 20a, 20b, and 20c for the individual conveyor segments. The controller 70 communicates functionally with the engine 26, the encoder 50, and the sensors 52 of each conveyor segment to control the operation of the system and the tracking charges as will be described hereinafter. In general, the controller 70 performs a control function to individually control the conveyor segments 20 and a tracking function for tracking a load along the individual conveyor segments. The tracking function of the controller uses a tracking edge technique described herein to track the load on the individual conveyor segments. With reference to FIG. 3, the conveyor segments 20 are driven by a motor or motors 26a-26e, which are controlled by the controller 70. The encoders 50a-50e are generally mounted on an axis of the conveyor belt pulley and produce pulse signals that they are communicated to the controller 70. The period of these pulses is directly proportional to the speed of a conveyor segment; for example, the conveyor segment 20a travels a fixed distance in time between the presence of two adjacent pulses of the first encoder 50a. At one end from the first conveyor segment 20a is an origin station 30 that includes a load detector 54 of the origin station. Even though not illustrated, multiple source stations can be used to provide the loads to the conveyor segments 20, or multiple source stations can be fed onto additional segments (not shown) which in turn provide the load to a particular conveyor segment . At the other end of the conveyor segments 20 is a destination station 40. A detector 52 at the end of the conveyor segments can act as a load detector of the destination station. Multiple destination stations can also be used in the present invention. The controller 70, also referred to herein as a processor, may be a suitably programmed microprocessor, a PLC, or any other module for suitable control. The controller 70 communicates functionally with the encoder 50, the sensors 52, and the motor 26 to control the conveyor segments 20 as well as track the individual loads along each conveyor segment. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the controller 70 may include a processor 72, a communications module 74, and a data series 76. The data series 76 may be created in the memory of the controller 70. The controller may be any suitable controller for tracking charges in a conveyor system using the tracking edge of the load. The controller 70 receives the signals from the individual detectors 52 at the moment each detector detects the tracking edge of a load. At the time of receiving the signals from the detectors 52, the controller can generate or update a load record in the data series 76. More specifically, at the time of detecting the tracking edge of a load by the load detector of the origin station 54, a load record is generated and inserted into a first data series 76a. Although a data series can be used for all transport segments, in the illustrated embodiment, the controller creates the specific data series 76 assigned to a particular transport segment. The data series can be a list of the records of an ordered load corresponding to the loads on the conveyor segments 20. In the illustrated mode, the list is sequentially ordered in a scheme for managing linked lists according to the order of the loads in the conveyor segments. Each load record contains the data that will be tracked with the load and information about the position of the load in the conveyor segment. In FIG. 7 a record of example loads can be observed. Therefore, when the load physically moves from one transport segment to another transport segment, the controller also transfers the associated load register between the data series. As stated above, the detectors 52 may be any suitable detector device, such as, for example, a photoelectric cell, a safety switch, proximity detector or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, while the detectors 52 detect both the trailing edge and leading edge of a load, the controller 70 only uses the tracking edge of the load for tracking purposes. In the illustrated embodiment, the detectors 52 are photoelectric cells and detect the trailing edge when the light source of the photoelectric cell is a reflected by a reflective surface mounted on the opposite side of the conveyor after the trailing edge of the load has passed so that the charge is no longer stopping the reflection of light source of the photoelectric cell from the reflective surface. In some embodiments, the driver may use the leading edge of a load to control the operation of the conveyor segments while the tracking edge is used for tracking. Before returning to a description of the screening function of the present invention, it is noted that many of the benefits and advantages of the present invention are described herein with reference to a system for detection with trailing edge for tracing loads and conveyor control. In U.S. Patent No. 5,335,777, a representative system that can be modified to be used in a tracking edge instead of a front edge detection system entitled "Method and Apparatus For Belt Conveyor Load" is illustrated and described in detail. Tracking ", granted on August 9, 1994, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. With reference to Figure 4, the conveyor system 10 tracks the loads (L1-L3) as they leave a source station 30. When the charges L1-L3 leave the originating station 30, the detector of the station of origin 54 detects the tracking edge of the charges. Therefore, when the loads L1-L3 enter the first conveyor segment 20a, the controller 70 creates a load record in a first data series 76a for each load. The load record associated with each load may include any information necessary to track, describe and direct the load. The information associated with each load can be provided to the controller 70 by any known means including bar code readers, frequency label readers, weigh scales, profile detectors, vision systems, keypads for operators or any other devices connected and in communication with the controller. In the illustrated embodiment, controller 70 tracks each load as an individual point, specifically the tracking edge. By tracking only the trailing edge of a load, and not calculating the size of the load for tracking purposes, the controller does not require as much processing power. In some embodiments, the controller can measure and associate a load size to each load for control purposes. The size of the load for control purposes can be measured by counting the pulse signals of the encoder 50 between the leading edge and the trailing edge of a load. Of course other methods can be used to determine the size of the load for control purposes. One skilled in the art should readily recognize that separate controllers can be used for tracking and control purposes. With reference to FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, the operation of the conveyor system 10 will be described in greater detail. As the first charge Ll passes along the conveyor system 10 to the illustrated position, the first charge passes to the detector of the originating station 54 which provides a signal to the controller 70. The detector of the originating station 54 can use either the trailing edge or the leading edge of the load to initiate the identification of a load and with this the tracking of a load. In the illustrated embodiment, the controller 70 creates a load record for the first load Ll in a first data series 76a associated with the first conveyor segment 20a when the detector of the originating station 54 detects the trailing edge of the first load . The controller 70 then tracks the first load Ll along the first conveyor segment 20a using the first encoder 50a. This process is then repeated as a second load L2 leaves the source station 30 and enters the first conveyor segment 20a. More specifically, the controller 70 creates a load register for the second load L2 in the first data series 76a in the detector of the originating station 54 that indicates the trailing edge of a second load. As the trailing edge of the first load Ll passes the first detector 52a associated with the first conveyor segment 20a, the controller 70 transfers the load record for the first load from the first data series 76a to the second series of data. data 76b. Each data series can be arranged as a list or have any other organic structure suitable for tracking a load. The controller then continues to track the first load Ll along the second conveyor segment 20b and the second load L2 along the first conveyor segment 20a. Using the configuration illustrated in FIG. 4, the trailing edge of the first load Ll reaches the second detector 52b before the trailing edge of the second load L2 reaches the first detector 52a. Therefore, the load record for the first load Ll is transferred from the second data series 76b to a third data series 76c as the tracking edge of the first load passes the second detector 52b while the first load it moves from the second conveyor segment 20b to the third conveyor segment 20c. As the third load L3 enters the first conveyor segment 20a from the origin station 30, a load record is created in the manner described above to track the first and second loads. The second and third loads L2, L3 are also tracked and transferred between the transporting segments in the same way as the first load Ll. Subsequent loads can be tracked in a manner similar to the first and second loads, by creating a load record at the originating station 30 in the first data series 76a associated with the first conveyor segment 20a and then transferring the load record to the next data series when a detector detects the tracking edge of the load as that load enters the next conveyor segment. You can add as many conveyor segments as necessary, together with the associated data series. In tracking a load, controller 70 creates a waiting window for each load. This waiting window can be updated if a particular load does not arrive within the waiting window due to the detachment of a load on a particular transport segment. More specifically, the controller tracks the load as it moves to the next detector 52 using the encoder 50 to estimate the movement of the load. As soon as a load record is created in a data series, the controller joins a distance field for the load record and each time the encoder 50 sends a pulse, the controller reduces this field of distances. Therefore, as the load moves, a range field decreases so that the range field always contains a theoretical value corresponding to the distance from the tracking edge of the next detector charge. If the load does not arrive within the expected time or an expected window of time, the controller can wait until the trailing edge of a load is detected and then creates a correction factor to allow the load to detach on a conveyor segment. This correction factor can then be used to adjust the waiting window for the remaining charges. In U.S. Patent No. 5,335,777, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Belt Conveyor Load Tracking", assigned on August 9, 1994, a more detailed explanation of the creation and use of a waiting window in the tracking a load using the leading edge of a load, which may be modified to use the method of the present invention to utilize the tracking edge of a load for tracking. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the controller 70 can also track a load having a length greater than the distance between the set of detectors, because the controller only tracks the load as an individual data point, specifically the tracking edge. When the second load L2 leaves the originating station 30, the load detector of the originating station 54 detects the tracking edge of the second load and the controller 70 creates a load record for the second load in the first series of data 76a associated with conveyor 20a. Even though the second detector 52b detects the leading edge of the second charge L2 before the first detector 52a detects the trailing edge, the charge register remains in the first data series 76a until the first detector 52a detects the edge of the second edge 52a. tracking at which time the load record is transferred to the second data series 76b. Also, the charge register remains in the second data series 76b until the second detector 52b detects the tracking edge of the load. Therefore, the problems associated with the use of both the leading and tracking edges to track charges having a length greater than the distance between a set of detectors are avoided, and the control steps and processing requirements are reduced. The "trailing edge" tracking technique has many benefits over previous methods, including the "leading edge" tracking technique, as well as the use of both a leading edge and trailing edge for tracking or selective mixing of leading and tracking edges. One benefit is that the "trailing edge" technique treats each load as an individual point, thereby reducing the processing power required to calculate the size of the load. Another benefit is that phantom conditions related to the stopping of a conveyor segment are eliminated, as illustrated in Fig. 1, because the load record does not pass to the next conveyor segment until the detector located near the end of a conveyor segment. conveyor segment detects the tracking edge of a load, and the bag is physically on the next transport segment. The conditions of competition are also eliminated. When detecting only the trailing edge, the size of the load is not important. More specifically, if a load has a length greater than the distance between the two detectors, upon detecting only the trailing edge, the controller does not create extra loads when detecting a leading edge of a load that is not yet transferred. Other benefits include the elimination of the processing steps associated with the calculation of the size of a load, using an encoder and the elimination of the extra memory needed to maintain a load record until the tracking edge is detected. The present invention also makes it possible to use a single detector that will be used both to control the leading edge and to track the tracking edge. For example, an application may require a series of short front segments to control the proportion of charges in a processing zone. The conveyor segments are started and stopped based on the detectors located at the ends of the conveyor segments that detect the leading edge of the loads. The detection of the tracking edge of the charges by these same detectors provides the tracking of the charges. The embodiment of the present invention is described and illustrated herein as the use of a "leading edge" technique for the control function and the "trailing edge" technique for the tracking function. While other approaches can be used based on the demands of a particular application, the decoupling of control and tracking functions further benefits the retrofitting of existing systems. For example, if an existing baggage handling system that uses conventional "front edge" tracking and control, the system can be improved by selectively implementing the "trailing edge" technique of the present invention for tracking a load. while using the leading edge of a load for control. In summary, the present invention uses the trailing edge of the load for tracking purposes. The trailing edge, the leading edge or the trailing and leading edge can be used to control the conveyor system. By separating the tracking from the load of the conveyor control and also using only the trailing edge for tracking, the number of processing steps required to track a load is reduced. The use of only the trailing edge in the tracing also eliminates the conditions of potential competition, phantom loads, and other problems normally encountered with the techniques using the leading edge of the load or the leading and trailing edges of a load for the tracking. The system can use sensors that detect both the leading edge and trailing edge of the load, even if the controller only uses the tracking edge of the load for tracking purposes. The above analysis sets forth and describes an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from this analysis, and from the accompanying drawings and claims that various changes, modifications and variations may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims (18)

1. CLAIMS 1. A method for tracking a load having a trailing edge and a leading edge, the load will be transported on a conveyor system having a first detector, the method comprising the steps of: detecting the trailing edge of the load with the first detector; and updating a load record for the load in response to detecting the tracking edge of the load with the first detector.
2. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor system includes a first conveyor segment and a second conveyor segment disposed relative to the first conveyor segment for transferring the load of the first conveyor segment to the second conveyor segment and wherein the conveyor system further includes a first data series associated with the first conveyor segment and a second data series associated with the second conveyor segment and wherein the step of updating the load record also includes the step of transferring the load record of the first data series to the second data series at the time of detecting the tracking edge of the load with the first detector.
3. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the conveyor system further includes a source detector and wherein the method further includes the step of generating a load record upon detecting the load with the origin detector before the step of updating the record of loads.
4. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of generating a load record at the time of detecting a load with the source detector further includes the steps of: detecting the trailing edge of the load with the source detector; and enter the load record in the first data series.
5. 5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the conveyor system further includes a second detector associated with the second conveyor segment, the method further includes the steps of: detecting the tracking edge of the load with the second detector; and eliminating the load record of the second data series at the time of detecting the tracking edge of the load with the second detector.
6. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the conveyor system includes a third conveyor segment having a third associated data series, the method further comprising the step of adding the load record to the third data series after eliminating the load record of the second data series.
7. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further includes the step of treating the tracking edge as an individual point on the conveyor system to track the load.
8. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor system includes a controller in communication with the first detector for tracking loads, and wherein the method further includes the step of detecting the leading edge of the load before detecting the edge of the load. tracking the load with the first detector.
9. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of updating the load record for the load in response to detection of the trailing edge of the load with the first detector further includes the step of using only the trailing edge at the time of updating the load record with the controller.
10. 10. A method for tracking a load in a conveyor system and for controlling the conveyor system wherein the load includes a trailing edge and a leading edge and wherein the conveyor system includes a first conveyor segment and a source load detector associated with the first conveyor segment, the charge detector is in communication with a controller, the method comprises the steps of: detecting the trailing edge of the load with the origin charge detector; update a load record in the controller in response to detecting the tracking edge of the load; generating a pulse signal having a number of pulses directly proportional to the travel of the load on the first conveyor segment; and tracking the load on the first conveyor segment using the generated pulse signal and the updated load record in response to detection of the tracking edge of the load.
11. 11. The method according to claim 10, further including the steps of: detecting the leading edge of the load; and controlling the operation of the individual conveyor segments using the leading edge of the load.
12. 12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the conveyor system includes a second conveyor segment and a first detector associated with the first conveyor segment and the step of updating a load record in the controller further includes the step of updating a range field that - understands the distance between the trailing edge of the load and the first detector at the moment of detecting the tracking edge of the load with the origin detector.
13. 13. The method according to claim 12, further including the step of reducing the field of distances in response to each generated pulse.
14. 14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the conveyor system further includes a first detector associated with the first conveyor segment, and a second conveyor segment, the method further comprising the steps of: detecting the tracking edge of the load by the first detector; and updating a first data series associated with a first conveyor segment upon detection of the tracking edge.
15. 15. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of: detecting the leading edge of the charge by the first detector; control the movement of the load on the first and second conveyor segments when detecting the leading edge.
16. 16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of updating a first data series associated with the first transport segment further includes the step of transferring a load record in the first data series to a second data series associated with the second data series. conveyor segment.
17. 17. A conveyor system for tracking a load having a leading edge and a tracking edge, the system comprises: a first conveyor segment; a second conveyor segment disposed relative to the first conveyor segment for transferring the load of the first conveyor segment to the second conveyor segment; a first detector functionally associated with the first conveyor segment, the first detector will be configured to detect the tracking edge of the load; a controller communicating with the first detector, the controller configured to transfer the load records from a first data series associated with the first transport segment to a second data series associated with the second transport segment in response to the first detector that detects the tracking edge of the load.
18. 18. The conveyor system according to claim 17, further including: a source detector in communication with the controller, the origin detector and the first detector to be located at opposite ends of the first conveyor segment, the controller that generates a load record in the first series of data at the time of detection by the source detector of the tracking edge of the load.