A stacking device for flat objects standing upright stacks the objects to form a stack which increases in a stacking direction. The stacking device includes at least one stacking point at which the objects are respectively added to the stack. The stacking device also includes at least one stack holder drive with which at least one stack holder receiving the stack can be moved in the stacking direction relative to the stacking point. A stack holder for a stack of flat objects standing upright and a sorting system for sorting flat objects including a plurality of stacking devices, are also provided.

A truck, a loading bridge, a sorting system for items being dispatched and a retrofit kit for a sorting machine for items being dispatched. In order to ensure that an item being dispatched can be removed in simple ways from the sorting machine for items being dispatched and transported to a further sorting step, the truck has a displaceable floor and the loading bridge has a driving device for the floor.

Presently disclosed embodiments are directed to a system and method for controlling/adjusting a position of mail product or other contents in an automated mail tray. Specifically, the disclosed embodiments utilize an automated mail tray with a ridged construction to allow automation equipment to adjust, load, and unload mail product in a structured manner. An adjustment feature, along with a moveable bottom surface of the mail tray, may be used to adjust a position of mail product in the automated mail tray into a vertical position. In some embodiments, the system may actuate the adjustment feature in response to sensor feedback that the mail product has fallen from the vertical position. Once the mail is in the vertical position, the moveable tray bottom may lift the mail product until it is elevated out of the tray for movement into other automation equipment without tray wall interference.

A processing system is disclosed for providing processing of homogenous and non-homogenous objects in both structured and cluttered environments. The processing system includes a programmable motion device including an end effector, a perception system for recognizing any of the identity, location, and orientation of an object presented in a plurality of objects at an input location, a grasp acquisition system for acquiring the object using the end effector to permit the object to be moved from the plurality of objects to one of a plurality of destination bins, and a motion planning system for determining a changing portion of a trajectory path of the end effector from the object to a base location proximate to the input location, and determining an unchanging portion of a trajectory path of the end effector from the base location to a destination bin location proximate to a destination bin, wherein the unchanging portion of the trajectory path is chosen to provide a path from the base location to the destination bin location that is consistent with paths taken by other objects.

Features for loading, transporting and unloading of items are disclosed. Systems, devices and methods for such operations using a tray are described. In some embodiments, a tray having a moveable bottom allows for switching between a configuration for loading and unloading items in and out of the tray and a configuration for transportation of items inside the tray. The trays may also be stacked, for transportation of multiple trays at once, and nested, for saving space when storing the trays. In some embodiments, the trays may be used in conjunction with loading and unloading systems.

Equipment for handling postal articles, in particular for preparing a delivery round, includes a sorting machine (4) with a feed inlet (2) and sorting outlets (3). The articles (4) sorted into the sorting outlets are transported in storage trays (5) by shuttle robot carts (6). A monitoring and control unit (7) causes the shuttle robot carts with full trays of articles to move from the sorting outlets to the feed inlet and causes the shuttle robot carts with empty trays to move past the sorting outlets, where the shuttle robot carts move in convoys and in a target-seeking mode.

A method and apparatus are provided for sorting items to a plurality of sort destinations. The items are fed into the apparatus at an input station having a scanning station. The scanning station evaluates one or more characteristics of each item. The items are then loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles are individually driven to sort destinations. Once at the appropriate sort destination, the delivery vehicle ejects the item to the sort destination and returns to receive another item to be delivered. A re-induction conveyor may be provided for receiving select items from the vehicles and conveying the items back to the input station for re-processing. Additionally, a controller is provided to control the movement of the vehicles based on a characteristic each item being delivered by each vehicle.

A storage, retrieval and processing system for processing objects is disclosed. The storage, retrieval and processing system includes a plurality of storage bins providing storage of a plurality of objects, where the plurality of storage bins is in communication with a retrieval conveyance system, a programmable motion device in communication with the retrieval conveyance system for receiving the storage bins from the plurality of bins, where the programmable motion device includes an end effector for grasping and moving a selected object out of a selected storage bin, and a movable carriage for receiving the selected object from the end effector of the programmable motion device, and for carrying the selected object to one of a plurality of destination bins.

The present invention relates to a sorting robot and a sorting method. The sorting method is applicable to the foregoing sorting robot, where the sorting robot is configured to deliver specific goods to be sorted to a specific sorting position, and a sorting mechanism carrying the specific goods to be sorted corresponds to the specific sorting position. The sorting method includes: S130: the sorting mechanism receiving goods to be sorted; S140: the sorting mechanism being raised or lowered to a height corresponding to the sorting position under drive of a lifting mechanism; and S160: the sorting mechanism performing an action to deliver the goods to be sorted that is placed on the sorting mechanism to the corresponding sorting position.

An item sorting system having a tray handling system and a tote handling system. The tray handling system having a tray conveying system, a tray transfer system, and optionally a tray storage region. The tote handling system may have a cubby array, the cubby array having a plurality of cubbies into which a tote may be placed. The system can transfer an item from the tray into the tote, and a method is disclosed for the same.