Labeling conveyor system and labeling method

Abstract

The labeling conveyor system and parcel labeling method are high-throughput. The diverter conveyor selectively directs parcels to separate label applicators according to predetermined parcel characteristics, such as height. Parcel sensors determine the characteristics of each parcel.

Description

Background Art

[0001] The present invention generally relates to power-driven conveyors, and more particularly to conveyor systems and methods for applying labels to parcels conveyed through a label applicator.

[0002] The trend towards online shopping is driving the growth of the logistics industry. To accurately and quickly deliver ordered items, efficient material handling in warehouses, logistics centers, and last-mile delivery centers is required. In some material handling systems, labels are applied to a stream of continuous parcels that are transported to a team of shipping personnel who sort the parcels according to the information on the labels. Due to parcels having different heights, including low heights, the label applicator is positioned above the conveyor and applies the label to the top of the parcel. However, to accommodate parcels of different heights, the label applicator itself must be moved vertically to position it sufficiently close to each parcel to apply the label properly and then, if necessary, moved upward to avoid a collision with the next higher parcel. The time required for the vertical movement necessary to effectively label parcels of different heights is a major bottleneck limiting the throughput of the system.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] A conveyor system embodying the features of the present invention comprises a diverter conveyor, a parcel sensor, an actuator, and first and second label applicators. The diverter conveyor includes a conveyor belt that extends in width from a first side to a second side and propels from upstream to downstream in the transport direction. The diverter conveyor has diverter elements that engage with parcels. A parcel sensor identifies the characteristics of each parcel. An actuator engages the diverter elements to selectively orient each parcel to a first lateral position or a different second lateral position across the width of the conveyor belt, depending on the identified characteristics of the parcel. A first label applicator is positioned along the diverter conveyor to affix labels to parcels at the first lateral position, and a second label applicator is positioned along the diverter conveyor to affix labels to parcels at the second lateral position.

[0004] Another version of the conveyor system for labeling parcels includes an alignment conveyor that aligns parcels along a first side of an alignment conveyor, and a diverter conveyor that extends within the width from the first side to a second side. The diverter conveyor includes a conveyor belt that propels from upstream to downstream in the transport direction. The conveyor belt includes freely rotatable parcel support belt rollers that are rotatable on an axis parallel to the transport direction. The diverter conveyor receives aligned parcels from the alignment conveyor along the first side of the diverter conveyor. A first label applicator located along the diverter conveyor affixes labels to parcels being transported along the first side of the diverter conveyor. A second label applicator located along the diverter conveyor affixes labels to parcels being transported along the second side of the diverter conveyor. Along the first side, a plow lifted above the diverter conveyor across a gap having a gap height allows parcels with a height lower than the gap height to pass to the first label applicator, while blocking parcels with a height higher than the gap height. The plow has an upstream slope that redirects the blocked parcels on the belt roller toward the second side of the diverter conveyor, where they are labeled by the second label applicator.

[0005] Another version of the conveyor system comprises a diverter conveyor extending in width from a first side to a second side, and parcel height sensors for measuring the height of each parcel. The diverter conveyor includes a conveyor belt propelled from upstream to downstream in the transport direction, and the conveyor belt has parcel support belt rollers rotatable on an axis parallel to the transport direction. An actuator having an angle-adjustable actuation roller in contact with the belt roller selectively changes the rotation direction of the belt roller directed to the first side or the second side in order to selectively orient each parcel to a first lateral position or a different second lateral position across the width of the conveyor belt, depending on the height of each parcel. A first label applicator is positioned along the diverter conveyor to affix labels to parcels below a predetermined height at the first lateral position. A second label applicator is positioned along the diverter conveyor to affix labels to parcels above a predetermined height at the second lateral position.

[0006] A method for labeling various parcel types includes (a) determining the height of each parcel in a stream of parcels; (b) comparing the height of each parcel to a predetermined height; (c) transporting each parcel whose height is below the predetermined height to a first label applicator that applies a label to the top of the parcel from above; and (d) transporting each parcel whose height is above the predetermined height to a second label applicator that applies a label to the side of the parcel. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic top view of one version of a labeling conveyor system that embodies the features of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an isometric view of another version of the labeling conveyor system that embodies the features of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an enlarged isometric view of the transfer section of the labeling conveyor system shown in Figure 2. [Figure 4]Figure 4 is an isometric view of the label applicator within the labeling conveyor system shown in Figure 2. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a front view of the labeling conveyor system shown in Figure 2. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is an isometric view of another version of the labeling conveyor system that embodies the features of the present invention. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a top view of the labeling conveyor system shown in Figure 6. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a partially cutaway enlarged view of the diverter conveyor within the labeling conveyor system shown in Figure 6. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a top view of a portion of another version of a diverter conveyor within a labeling conveyor system, with a portion of the conveyor belt cut out to show the centering actuator. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is an isometric view of a labeling conveyor system similar to Figure 6, equipped with a reject chute. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a top view of the labeling conveyor system shown in Figure 10. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is an isometric view of a slat-type labeling conveyor system that embodies the features of the present invention. [Figure 13] Figure 13 is an isometric view of the slats in the slat-type labeling conveyor system shown in Figure 12. [Figure 14] Figure 14 is an isometric view of a portion of the actuator system of the slat-type labeling conveyor system shown in Figure 12. [Figure 15] Figure 15 is an isometric view of a cross-belt labeling conveyor system that embodies the features of the present invention. [Figure 16] Figure 16 is an isometric view of the cross-belt trolley of the cross-belt labeling conveyor system shown in Figure 15. [Figure 17] Figure 17 is an isometric view of a cross-belt labeling conveyor system similar to Figure 15, with multiple label applicators on each side of the conveyor. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] One version of the labeling conveyor system is shown in Figure 1. System 20 includes an infeed conveyor 22 that feeds parcels onto a diverter conveyor 24 extending within a width from a first side 26 to a second side 27. The diverter conveyor 24 shown comprises two parallel conveyor belts 28, 29 of different widths and lengths. However, both belts 28, 29 may be the same length or width. Alternatively, the diverter conveyor 24 may be realized by a single conveyor belt extending within a width from the first side 26 to the second side 27. Both the infeed conveyor 22 and the diverter conveyor 24 transport parcels from upstream to downstream in the transport direction 30.

[0009] The term “parcel” is used throughout the description and claims as a general term encompassing packages, cartons, boxes, polybags, flats, envelopes, and any containers that are handled.

[0010] A parcel scanner 32, such as a camera or code reader, scans parcels as they are transported along the infeed conveyor 22. The scanned information is transmitted to the controller 34 via a data line 33 to identify each parcel. A parcel height sensor 36 measures the height of a parcel as it passes a measurement position 38 on the infeed conveyor 22. The height measurement is transmitted to the controller 34 via a data line 39.

[0011] The controller 34, which may be a single programmable processor or a network of two or more processors, performs the following programming steps in its associated program memory: identifying each parcel, recording the height of each parcel, and comparing the height of each parcel to a predetermined height. If the height of a parcel is below the predetermined height, the controller 34 sends a signal via the control line 40 to an actuator in the diverter conveyor 24 to orient the parcel to a first lateral position to receive a label from the first label applicator 42. On the other hand, if the height of a parcel is above the predetermined height, the controller 34 sends a signal via the control line 40 to an actuator to orient the parcel to a second lateral position to receive a label from the second label applicator 44. With knowledge of the speeds of the conveyors 22, 24 from the shaft encoders, for example, the lateral position of the parcels when they are supplied onto the diverter conveyor, and their identities, the controller 34 accurately tracks the parcels on the diverter conveyor and controls the trajectory of the parcels.

[0012] In this example, the first label applicator 42, located on the first side 26 of the diverter conveyor 24, is positioned above the conveyor to affix labels to the tops of shorter parcels as the parcels pass by. The second label applicator 44, located on the second side 27 of the diverter conveyor 24, affixes labels to the outermost parts of taller parcels. However, similar to the first label applicator 42, the second label applicator 44 may be positioned above the diverter conveyor 24 to affix labels to the tops of taller parcels. Although two label applicators 42, 44 are shown on the first and second sides 26, 27 of the diverter conveyor 24, the first or second lateral labeling position may be located near the center of the diverter conveyor, as long as the label applicator is a top labeler. The diverter conveyor may further have a third parcel height range, which may orient parcels within that range to a third lateral labeling position and onto a third label applicator. After labels are applied to the short parcels by the first label applicator 42, the first conveyor belt 28 redirects the parcels onto the second conveyor belt 29 for downstream handling. The controller 34 assigns labels to the parcels and, as the parcels pass, sends a signal to the label applicator via the label control line 46 to apply the assigned labels. The controller 34 also controls a downstream actuator that orients the short parcels onto the second conveyor belt 29 after the labels have been applied.

[0013] In this example, the controller 34 is shown receiving information from both the parcel scanner 32 and the parcel height sensor 36, but the scanner may be used without the height sensor if parcels are separated using parcel characteristics other than height for labeling. For example, the scanner 32 may be used to measure parcel size, parcel length, or parcel type such as corrugated box or polybag, and based on these characteristics, the controller 34 may assign the parcels to the label applicators. Alternatively, the controller 34 may simply count the number of parcels indicated by the scanner 32 in order as the parcels pass the parcel sensor on the infeed conveyor 22, directing all odd-numbered parcels to the first label applicator 42 and all even-numbered parcels to the second label applicator 44. Thus, either the parcel scanner 32 or the parcel height sensor 36 can function as a parcel sensor, either alone or together, sending a parcel sensor signal to the controller that identifies the characteristics of each parcel.

[0014] The labeling conveyor systems in Figures 2-5 separate parcels by height without using parcel height sensors. Instead, a plow 50 is positioned along a first side 52 of a diverter conveyor 54, which includes a conveyor belt 55 and has parcel support rollers 56 that rotate freely on a pivot axis extending parallel to the transport direction 58. The plow 50 is separated above the top of the belt rollers 56 by a gap 60. An infeed alignment conveyor 61 aligns the stream of parcels so that they collide with or pass beneath the plow. The height of the gap 60 allows short parcels 62 to pass beneath the plow 50. After passing through the gap 60, the short parcels 62 are labeled by a first label applicator 64. The applicator 64 affixes labels to the tops of the short parcels at a first lateral position across the width of the diverter conveyor 54. The plow 50 blocks parcels 63 that are too tall to fit into the gap 60. The inclined front 66 on the plow 50, which is inclined in the transport direction 58, guides the intercepted tall parcels 63 across the freely rotating belt rollers 56 in the conveyor belt 55 toward the second side 53 of the diverter conveyor 54. The belt rollers 56 are not rotated by an actuator. As the conveyor belt 55 is propelled in the transport direction 58, the inclined front 66 of the plow 50 blocks the belt rollers 56, which are in contact with the bottom of the tall parcels 63, causing them to rotate toward the second side 53 and translate the parcel toward the second side 53. After the tall parcels 63 have advanced beyond the inclined surface 66 of the plow, their momentum carries them across the conveyor belt 55 on the belt rollers 56 to a second lateral position where they are labeled by the second label applicator 65. The operating zone may, as will be described in more detail later, be positioned along the second side to actuate the belt roller 56 so as to translate a parcel that is higher than the side wall at the second side 53.

[0015] The first label applicator 64 applies the label 68 to the top of the short parcel. The second label applicator 65 applies the label 68 to the outermost side of the tall parcel 63. The label applicators 64, 65 do not need to contact the parcels 62, 63. Rather, they use air pressure in the form of an air jet to blow the label 68 over a short distance onto the parcels 62, 63. Since the tall parcel 63 is conveyed along the second side 53 of the conveyor 54, the second label applicator 65 for applying to the side does not need to be retracted to avoid collision with the tallest parcel, nor does it need to change its position to apply the top label at a different height. All of the outermost sides of the tall parcel 63 are sufficiently close to the second label applicator 65, and the second label applicator 65 can remain stationary. When the height of the plow gap 60 is small, the distance from the top of the belt roller 56 to the label mouth 69 of the first label applicator is similarly small, and the first label applicator 64 can also remain stationary. If the height of the gap is not so small, the first label applicator 64 may be made movable. However, the movable range may be small. By minimizing or completely eliminating the movable ranges of the two label applicators 64, 65, the throughput of the parcels is significantly improved.

[0016] Unlike the belt roller 56 of the passive diverter conveyor 54 in FIGS. 2-5, the belt roller 56 in the labeling conveyor 70 in FIGS. 6-8 is engaged by an operating system that selectively engages and operates the belt roller within a plurality of operating zones along the length and across the width of the conveyor to rotate it either to the first side 72 or the second side 73 of the diverter conveyor 74. In that way, the parcel can be directed across the width of the conveyor 74 as it is propelled in the merging direction 75. Thus, the belt roller 56 functions as a diverter element engaged by the operating system.

[0017] The parcels pass through parcel sensors 76 on the infeed conveyor 78. The parcel sensors 76 shown in Figure 6 are light curtains used by the controller to determine the height of parcels 62, 63. If the parcels are singularized, the length of the parcels in the transport direction can also be determined by the controller from the light curtain signal. Alternatively, other parcel height sensors, such as a rangefinder and camera above the infeed conveyor 78 or a camera or photo eye positioned on the side, may be used to measure the height of the parcels. The length of the parcels may be measured by a camera or photo eye. When the parcels 62, 63 are transferred from the infeed conveyor 78 to the diverter conveyor 74 via a transfer surface 80 which may be a plate, roller, or narrow belt roller, the controller sends a control signal to the actuators 82 in each carrierway actuator zone below the identified parcel to selectively engage the belt rollers 56. Upon engagement, the belt roller 56 rotates either toward the first side 72 or the second side 73 of the conveyor, depending on the height of the parcel. Short parcels 62 are directed toward the first side 72, which is labeled by the first label applicator 64, which applies a label to the top of the parcel. Taller parcels 63, as the parcel passes, are directed toward the second side 73, which is labeled by the second label applicator 65, which applies a label to the outermost part of the parcel.

[0018] An actuator 82 suitable for the roller belt 55 is shown in FIG. 8. The actuator 82 comprises an array of angle-adjustable caster rollers 84. Each array defines an actuator zone. All the caster rollers 84 within each zone are adjusted together such that the axes of rotation of the caster rollers and the belt roller 56 are inclined clockwise relative to each other at a first angle, so that as the belt 55 is propelled, the belt roller rotates towards one side of the diverter conveyor 74. When the controller sends a command to the actuator 82 to adjust its caster rollers 84 to a second angle at which the axes of rotation of the caster rollers and the belt roller 56 are inclined counterclockwise relative to each other, the belt roller rotates towards the opposite side.

[0019] To protect the applicator from collisions with tall parcels 63 that may be misdirected to a first lateral position in the conveyor belt 55 along the label applicator, the plow 50 is positioned above the belt roller 56 slightly upstream of the first label applicator 64. Similar to the plow in the system of FIG. 2, the protective plow 50 is lifted above the belt roller 56 across a gap that allows short parcels 62 to pass to the first label applicator 64.

[0020] An optional camera 86 that functions as a lateral position sensor senses the lateral position of short parcels 62. The controller receives a lateral position signal from the sensor 86 as needed and sends commands to the actuator 82 to align the short parcels 62 relative to the lateral position of the first label applicator 64 as needed to ensure that the label is affixed at a convenient position above the top of the parcel.

[0021] An alternative version of the diverter conveyor is shown in Figure 9. The centering actuator 67 is positioned below the conveyor belt 55 upstream of the label applicator 71 within the centering zone of the diverter conveyor. The centering actuator 67 and applicator 71 may be positioned on the side of the diverter conveyor or at a distance from the side. The centering actuator 67 differs from angle-adjustable roller actuators (82, Figure 7) positioned elsewhere below the conveyor belt 55, in that the actuating caster rollers 77, 79 within the array rotate on a non-adjustable fixed axis that is angled inclined toward the transport direction 75. The actuating rollers 77 within the first side of the centering array are angled toward the first direction to rotate the belt rollers 56 with which they engage toward the second side of the array on the opposite side. Furthermore, the actuating rollers 79 within the second side of the array are angled in a second direction to rotate the belt rollers 56 with which they engage toward the first side. As a result, parcels positioned laterally on the conveyor belt 55 to enter the centering zone are centered with respect to the actuator 67. The centering zone is also appropriately laterally aligned with the label applicator 71 so that smaller parcels 62 directed toward the centering zone are delivered to the label applicator 71, which is positioned to receive labels at a convenient location on the top of the parcels. The centering zone eliminates the need for the optional position-sensing camera 86 shown in Figure 7.

[0022] An extension 89 of the diverter conveyor 54 is shown in Figures 10 and 11. As shown, the extension includes another roller conveyor belt 90 with a caster roller operating zone. The roller conveyor belt 90 receives parcels 62, 63 from the upstream conveyor belt 55 across a transfer plate 92 or one or more transfer rollers. However, the extension may be realized as an extended length of the conveyor belt 55 rather than as a separate belt 90. Optional quality control cameras 94, 95 are positioned along the diverter conveyor 89 downstream of the first and second label applicators 64, 65 to generate digital images of labels 68 on the parcels along first and second lateral positions. The digital images are transmitted to a controller. If the controller cannot decipher a label or if a label is missing, the controller sends a command to an actuator in the zone below the diverter conveyor to move the parcel with the missing, illegible, or otherwise defective label away from one or both sides of the diverter conveyor extension 89 and towards the reject conveyor 96. If there are a sufficient number of parcels with missing labels, the controller may set an alarm or other alert to the operator indicating that there may be a problem with the label applicators 64, 65 or with the adhesive on the labels. (Labels falling onto the conveyor belts 55, 90 may clog the belt rollers.) The rejected parcels can then be manually returned to the infeed conveyor or recirculated to the infeed conveyor by a recirculation conveyor (not shown). The reject conveyor 96 is shown as a chute in Figures 10 and 11, but may be implemented as, for example, a conveyor belt, a power conveyor, or a weighted roller. Alternatively, rejected parcels may be moved away from the downstream end of the conveyor system and transported to a reject conveyor or defective product collection container.

[0023] Figure 12 shows a labeling conveyor system, which differs from the system in Figure 6 in that the diverter elements within the diverter conveyor 100 are parcel support slats 102. The slats 102 are supported on rails 104, the ends of which are attached to a chain 106, which is motor-driven by a sprocket (not shown). The slats 102 are selectively driven laterally across the width of the diverter conveyor 100, depending on whether the parcel is assigned to a first label applicator 64 or a second label applicator 65.

[0024] As shown in Figure 13, each slat 102 has a pin 108 protruding from its bottom. The pin 108 extends through a laterally elongated space 110 between the continuous rails 104 that support the slat 102. The pin 108 is selectively engaged and guided by an actuator guide network 112 in the carrier way, as shown in Figure 14. A controller-controlled actuated diverter 114 pivots counterclockwise to guide the pin 108 of the slat 102 supporting the short parcel 62 along the first side 118 of the diverter conveyor 100 to the first label applicator 64 without being redirected into the first guide track 116. The controller pivots the diverter 114 clockwise to guide the pins 108 of the slats 102 supporting the tall parcels 63 to a second guide track 117 that guides the slats toward the second side 119 of the diverter conveyor 100 to the second label applicator 65. The conventional guide network in the slat belt return the slats 102 to the first side 118 to receive the parcels aligned to the first side by the infeed conveyor 78.

[0025] Another alternative diverter conveyor is shown in Figures 15 and 16, where the parcel-supported diverter element is a cross belt 120. Each cross belt 120 is oriented around a roller 122 supported on a trolley 124, generating tension. An optional bed of small idler rollers 132 supports the cross belt 120 as it returns in low-friction rolling contact. The trolley has wheels 126 that ride on rails 128. The trolleys 124 are linked at ends to form a continuous chain. One of the rollers 122 is driven by a motor (not shown) located within the trolley. The tension generated in the engagement between the roller 122 and the cross belt 120 drives the cross belt laterally across the width of the diverter conveyor 130. Thus, the motor and power roller 122 function as actuators that selectively drive the cross belt in either direction. The motors within each trolley 124 are powered by electromagnetic induction through one or both of the conductive metal rails 128 and the metal wheels 126, or by a battery (not shown) mounted within the trolley. Control signals from the controller are transmitted wirelessly to the motors or through the rails 128 and wheels 126 according to Ohm's law to orient the cross belt 120 to deliver the parcels to the first or second label applicators 64, 65 assigned to them. The infeed conveyor 78 does not need to align the parcels for delivery to the cross belt diverter conveyor 130. Instead of motor-driven cross belts, cross belts with pins hanging down from the cross belt to the lower return may be actuated by a guide network, similar to slat-type conveyors.

[0026] The labeling conveyor system 140 shown in Figure 17 further improves throughput with additional label applicators 64', 65' that complement the upstream applicators 64, 65. In this case, the controller sends a command to each label applicator to label any other parcels passing by. If more than two label applicators are used on each side, the controller sends a command to the label applicators to label in a round-robin manner. In this way, each parcel is labeled only once. Multiple label applicators are shown with a cross-belt diverter conveyor, but they may also be used with any of the diverter conveyors described.

[0027] The quality control camera and reject conveyor shown in Figures 10 and 11 can be used with any of the labeling conveyor systems described in detail and elsewhere. The lateral position sensor 86 shown in Figures 6 and 7 can be used with the cross-belt diverter conveyor 130 in Figure 15. Furthermore, the protective plow 50 described in relation to the diverter conveyor 74 in Figure 6 can be used with slat-type and cross-belt labeling systems.

Claims

1. It is a conveyor system, A diverter-type conveyor extending in width from a first side to a second side, including a conveyor belt, wherein the conveyor belt is propelled from upstream to downstream in the transport direction, and has diverter elements engaged with parcels, Parcel sensor that identifies the characteristics of each parcel, An actuator that engages the diverter element to selectively orient each of the parcels to a first lateral position or a different second lateral position across the width of the conveyor belt, according to the identified characteristics of the parcels. A first label applicator positioned along the diverter conveyor to affix a label to a parcel at the first lateral position, A second label applicator positioned along the diverter conveyor to affix a label to a parcel at the second lateral position, The conveyor system, including the following.

2. The conveyor system according to claim 1, wherein the parcel sensor senses the height of each parcel as the identified characteristic.

3. The conveyor system according to claim 2, wherein the parcel sensor is a light curtain, a photo eye, a camera, or a rangefinder.

4. The conveyor system according to claim 1, wherein the parcel sensor senses the shape or type of each parcel as the identified characteristic.

5. The conveyor system according to claim 1, wherein the identified characteristic is the order of the parcels.

6. The conveyor system according to claim 1, wherein the diverter element is a parcel support belt roller rotatable on an axis parallel to the transport direction, the actuator includes an angle-adjustable working roller, the working roller contacts the belt roller such as to selectively change the direction of rotation of the belt roller toward the first side or the second side of the diverter conveyor.

7. The conveyor system according to claim 1, wherein the diverter element is a parcel support slat, and the actuator selectively guides the slat across the width of the diverter conveyor in order to translate the parcel.

8. The conveyor system according to claim 1, wherein the diverter element is a parcel support cross belt, the parcel support cross belt translates the parcels across the width of the diverter-type conveyor, and the actuator selectively propels the cross belt across the width of the diverter-type conveyor in order to translate the parcels.

9. The conveyor system according to claim 1, wherein the first lateral position is along the first side of the diverter-type conveyor, and the second lateral position is along the second side of the diverter-type conveyor.

10. The conveyor system according to claim 1, comprising at least two first label applicators spaced apart in the transport direction at the first lateral position, and at least two second label applicators spaced apart in the transport direction at the second lateral position, wherein the at least two first label applicators affix labels to the parcels at the first lateral position in a round-robin manner, and the at least two second label applicators affix labels to the parcels at the second lateral position in a round-robin manner to improve throughput.

11. The conveyor system according to claim 1, wherein the first label applicator affixes a label to the top of the parcel, and the second label applicator affixes a label to the side of the parcel.

12. The conveyor system according to claim 11, wherein the second label applicator is located on the second side of the diverter conveyor, and the first label applicator is located between the first side and the second side of the diverter conveyor.

13. The conveyor system according to claim 11, wherein the actuator engages the diverter element to orient parcels having a height lower than a predetermined height to a first position to be labeled by the first label applicator, and to orient parcels having a height higher than the predetermined height to a second position to be labeled by the second label applicator.

14. The conveyor system according to claim 11, comprising a lateral position sensor for sensing the lateral position of the parcel, wherein the actuator engages the diverter element to align the parcel to be labeled by the first label applicator with the first label applicator so that the label is affixed to a convenient position on the top of the parcel.

15. The conveyor system according to claim 11, comprising a centering zone of the diverter conveyor positioned laterally between the first side and the second side of the diverter conveyor, wherein the first label applicator is positioned laterally between the first side and the second side of the diverter conveyor, and parcels to be labeled by the first label applicator are directed through the centering zone to be delivered to the first label applicator so that the labels are affixed to a convenient position on the top of the parcels.

16. The conveyor system according to claim 1, comprising a plow at a first lateral position upstream of the first label applicator, wherein the plow is separated above the diverter conveyor by a gap less than the predetermined height to block parcels higher than the predetermined height from colliding with the first label applicator, and the plow has a slope arranged to redirect blocked parcels toward the second side of the diverter conveyor.

17. The aforementioned conveyor system is To generate an image of the label on the parcel, the system includes first and second quality control cameras positioned along the diverter conveyor at first and second lateral positions downstream of the first and second label applicators, The actuator engaging the diverter element selectively directs parcels with defective or incorrect labels away from the first side of the diverter conveyor, and the conveyor system further, The conveyor system according to claim 1, further comprising a reject conveyor positioned along the first or second side for receiving parcels with defective labels from the diverter conveyor.

18. The conveyor system according to claim 17, wherein the reject conveyor is positioned on both the first side and the second side, and the actuator selectively directs parcels with defective labels toward the reject conveyor on the first side and the second side.

19. The conveyor system according to claim 1, comprising an infeed conveyor that supplies parcels to the diverter-type conveyor, wherein the parcel sensor identifies the characteristics of each parcel when each parcel passes a sensing position on the infeed conveyor.

20. The conveyor system according to claim 1, comprising a controller, the controller receiving a parcel sensor signal from the parcel sensor indicating the characteristics of each parcel, and selectively controlling the actuator to orient each of the parcels to the first lateral position or the second lateral position according to the identified characteristics of the parcels.

21. The conveyor system according to claim 1, wherein the diverter-type conveyor includes two parallel conveyor belts.

22. It is a conveyor system, An alignment conveyor, wherein the alignment conveyor aligns parcels along a first side of the alignment conveyor, A diverter conveyor extending within a width from a first side to a second side, including a conveyor belt, wherein the conveyor belt includes a freely rotatable parcel support belt roller that propels from upstream to downstream in the transport direction and is rotatable on an axis parallel to the transport direction, and the diverter conveyor receives the aligned parcels from the alignment conveyor along the first side of the diverter conveyor, To affix labels to parcels being transported along the first side of the diverter conveyor, a first label applicator is positioned along the diverter conveyor. To affix labels to parcels being transported along the second side of the diverter conveyor, a second label applicator is positioned along the diverter conveyor. A plow, along the first side, is raised above the diverter conveyor across a gap having a gap height, allowing parcels having a height lower than the gap height to pass to the first label applicator and blocking parcels having a height higher than the gap height, Equipped with, The conveyor system wherein the plow has an upstream slope that redirects the blocked parcels on the belt roller toward the second side of the diverter conveyor to be labeled by the second label applicator.

23. The conveyor system according to claim 22, wherein the first label applicator affixes a label to the top of the parcel, and the second label applicator affixes a label to the side of the parcel.

24. It is a conveyor system, A diverter-type conveyor extending in width from a first side to a second side, including a conveyor belt, wherein the conveyor belt is propelled from upstream to downstream in the transport direction, and the diverter-type conveyor has parcel support belt rollers that are rotatable on an axis parallel to the transport direction. Parcel height sensor that measures the height of each parcel, An actuator having an angle-adjustable working roller that contacts the belt roller to selectively change the rotation direction of the belt roller directed to the first side or the second side, in order to selectively orient each of the parcels to a first lateral position or a different second lateral position across the width of the conveyor belt according to the height of each parcel, In order to affix labels to parcels that are below a predetermined height at the first lateral position, a first label applicator is positioned along the diverter-type conveyor, A second label applicator positioned along the diverter-type conveyor to affix labels to parcels exceeding the predetermined height at the second lateral position, The conveyor system, including the following.

25. The conveyor system according to claim 24, further comprising an infeed conveyor for delivering the parcels to the diverter-type conveyor, wherein the parcel height sensor measures the height of each parcel when each parcel passes a measurement position on the infeed conveyor.

26. The conveyor system according to claim 24, wherein the first lateral position is along the first side of the diverter-type conveyor, and the second lateral position is along the second side of the diverter-type conveyor.

27. The conveyor system according to claim 24, wherein the first label applicator affixes a label to the top of the parcel, and the second label applicator affixes a label to the side of the parcel.

28. The conveyor system according to claim 27, comprising a plow at a first lateral position upstream of the first label applicator, wherein the plow is separated above the diverter conveyor by a gap less than the predetermined height to block parcels higher than the predetermined height from colliding with the first label applicator, and the plow has a slope arranged to redirect blocked parcels toward the second side of the diverter conveyor.

29. The aforementioned conveyor system is To generate an image of the label on the parcel, the system includes first and second quality control cameras positioned along the diverter conveyor at first and second lateral positions downstream of the first and second label applicators, The actuator adjusts the angle of the angle-adjustable working roller that contacts the belt roller, and by selectively adjusting the angle, the belt roller rotates in a direction that directs parcels with defective or incorrect labels away from the first side of the diverter conveyor, and the conveyor system further, The conveyor system according to claim 24, further comprising a reject conveyor positioned along at least one of the first and second sides of the diverter conveyor for receiving parcels with defective labels from the diverter conveyor.

30. The conveyor system according to claim 24, wherein the diverter-type conveyor includes two parallel conveyor belts.

31. A method for labeling various parcel types, Determining the height of each parcel in a parcel stream, The height of each parcel is compared with a predetermined height. Transporting each parcel whose height is less than the predetermined height to a first label applicator, wherein the first label applicator affixes a label to the top of the parcel from above, transporting, Transporting each parcel whose height exceeds the predetermined height to a second label applicator, wherein the second label applicator affixes a label to the side of the parcel, transporting, The method, including the method described above.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein with respect to the first label applicator, the method comprises centering each parcel whose height is less than the predetermined height.

33. The method according to claim 31, comprising imaging the labels affixed to the parcels using the first and second applicators, and removing parcels on which the labels are illegible.

34. The method according to claim 31, comprising blocking parcels whose height exceeds the predetermined height from colliding with the first label applicator.

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