Disclosed is a sorting machine, comprising a rack, two rail units which are both mounted on the rack and are symmetrical to each other, and a sorting cart. The rail units comprise: a transverse rail assembly, wherein the transverse rail assembly comprises a plurality of transverse rails and a plurality of reversing mechanisms, and the transverse rails and the reversing mechanisms are alternately arranged along a straight line; and a plurality of vertical rails which are parallel to each other, wherein the vertical rails and the reversing mechanisms are arranged in one-to-one correspondence. The sorting cart is switched to a rail by means of the reversing mechanisms, and a conveying direction of a conveying assembly is different from a traveling direction of the sorting cart.

A sorting apparatus includes a conveyance unit that conveys a plurality of packages and a sorting unit that is configured to sort the plurality of packages on the basis of a delivery destination, a size, and a weight such that the plurality of packages are sorted as first packages and second packages, and the sorting unit is configured to sort the packages lighter and smaller than the second packages as the first packages.

Provided are a parcel dropping method for a parcel picking system, a picking robot, and a picking system. The method includes providing a conveying device; operating the conveying device to receive a parcel and move towards a delivery target; and operating the conveying device to deliver the parcel to the delivery target after the conveying device moves to a delivery region. The motion speed of the conveying device is not equal to zero when the conveying device delivers the parcel.

A sorting apparatus includes a conveyance unit that conveys a plurality of packages and a sorting unit that is configured to sort the plurality of packages on the basis of a delivery destination, a size, and a weight such that the plurality of packages are sorted as first packages and second packages, and the sorting unit is configured to sort the packages lighter and smaller than the second packages as the first packages.

Provided is a method of controlling a conveyor for item transportation and an electronic apparatus therefor, the method including acquiring information associated with a plurality of destinations, identifying a weight for each of the plurality of destinations based on the acquired information, determining, in response to an item being identified, a destination among the plurality of destinations based on the identified weight, wherein the item is placed in the determined destination, and controlling the conveyor to transport the item to the determined destination.

Provided is a method of controlling a conveyor for item transportation and an electronic apparatus therefor, the method including acquiring information associated with a plurality of destinations, identifying a weight for each of the plurality of destinations based on the acquired information, determining, in response to an item being identified, a destination among the plurality of destinations based on the identified weight, wherein the item is placed in the determined destination, and controlling the conveyor to transport the item to the determined destination.

Provided are a parcel dropping method for a parcel picking system, a picking robot, and a picking system. The method includes providing a conveying device; operating the conveying device to receive a parcel and move towards a delivery target; and operating the conveying device to deliver the parcel to the delivery target after the conveying device moves to a delivery region. The motion speed of the conveying device is not equal to zero when the conveying device delivers the parcel.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for automated gates to secure mobile carrier unit payloads. In one embodiment, an example system for a mobile carrier unit of a sortation system may include an automated gate configured to block an open end of the mobile carrier unit in a first position, and to unblock the open end of the mobile carrier unit in a second position, and a controller configured to control operation of the gate. The controller may be configured to determine that the conveyor belt is activated, cause the automated gate to move to the second position, determine that the item is off the conveyor belt, and cause the automated gate to move to the first position.

There is provided a conveyor assembly for sorting merchandise items. In one form, the conveyor assembly includes: a merchandise identification module; sortation modules each comprising a multi-directional sorting portion with two sets of rollers, a first wing including a third set of rollers, a second wing including a fourth set of rollers, and a controller configured to receive an IP address; a first, disassembled state of the sortation modules; a second, assembled state of the sortation modules; a merchandise database; and a control circuit configured to receive identifying information about an unsorted merchandise item, assign a unique IP address to each sortation module corresponding to the position of the sortation module, determine a sortation destination for the unsorted merchandise item, determine the sortation module corresponding to the sortation destination; and instruct the controller of the corresponding sortation module to divert the unsorted merchandise item to the sortation destination.

There is provided a conveyor assembly for sorting merchandise items. In one form, the conveyor assembly includes: a merchandise identification module; sortation modules each comprising a multi-directional sorting portion with two sets of rollers, a first wing including a third set of rollers, a second wing including a fourth set of rollers, and a controller configured to receive an IP address; a first, disassembled state of the sortation modules; a second, assembled state of the sortation modules; a merchandise database; and a control circuit configured to receive identifying information about an unsorted merchandise item, assign a unique IP address to each sortation module corresponding to the position of the sortation module, determine a sortation destination for the unsorted merchandise item, determine the sortation module corresponding to the sortation destination; and instruct the controller of the corresponding sortation module to divert the unsorted merchandise item to the sortation destination.