A method and apparatus are provided for sorting or retrieving items to/from a plurality of destinations areas. The items are loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles follow a track that guides the delivery vehicles to/from the destination areas, which are positioned along the track. Once at the appropriate destination area, an item is transferred between the delivery vehicle and the destination area.

Systems and methods for sorting delivery items are disclosed. The system may include an intake area, a sorting area operably coupled with the intake area, and a computing system operably coupled with the intake area and the sorting area. The intake area may include a source of delivery items having a plurality of delivery items, and a scanner for scanning respective indicia of each of the plurality of delivery items. The sorting area may include a conveyor having a respective sensor disposed at opposing end portions thereof, one or more sort locations disposed about the conveyor, and one or more indicators configured to indicate a proper sort location for the delivery items. The computing system may receive data corresponding to a delivery item from the scanner, determine the proper sort location for the delivery item, and send a signal to the indicator to indicate the proper sort location.

There is provided a parcel determination device that determines whether or not parcel recognized in a first recognition region provided in a predetermined transport path and parcel recognized in a second recognition region being disposed on a downstream side from the first recognition region in the transport path and being discontinuous with the first recognition region are the same parcel, the device including: a processor; and a memory, in which by cooperating with the memory, the processor determines whether or not parcel which leaves the first recognition region and parcel which enters the second recognition region are the same parcel, based on whether or not a time when parcel leaves the first recognition region and a time when parcel enters the second recognition region correspond to a time required for parcel to be transported between the two recognition regions.

A method and apparatus are provided for sorting or retrieving items to/from a plurality of destinations areas. The items are loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles follow a track that guides the delivery vehicles to/from the destination areas, which are positioned along the track. Once at the appropriate destination area, an item is transferred between the delivery vehicle and the destination area.

A workpiece collecting point unit for a machine tool, in particular for a flatbed machine tool, such as a laser cutting or punching flatbed machine tool, has a placing area for workpieces produced by the machine tool within the framework of a processing plan, a display unit adapted to display information about the workpieces, which are to be further processed and were placed on the placing area, to an operator, and a signal device adapted to output an identification signal indicating to an operator the location of the selected workpiece collecting point unit for placing the workpiece, which is to be further processed, on the placing area. The workpiece collecting point unit can be used inter alia in a process to support a sequence of processing steps for processing workpieces.

An interior localization system for manufacturing control, with multiple, fixedly installed transceivers for determining the position of multiple mobile units, the position being determined in particular by evaluating the runtime of electromagnetic (radio) signals. The interior localization system is used to associate one of the mobile units to a person in an industrial manufacturing plant that processes steel and/or sheet metal, to determine the position of the associated person by localizing the associated mobile unit using the interior localization system and to integrate the interior localization system into a manufacturing control system of the industrial manufacturing plant.

In order to detect a correct sorting and a correct passing of an object through an assigned opening of a plurality of openings, a sorting detection system for detecting a passage of the object through the opening of the plurality of openings is provided. Each opening is assigned to a container. The containers receive the object; at least a first sensor identifies the object and generates an identification signal. A control unit receives the identification signal of the first sensor and assigns the identified object to a container based on the identification signal. At least one second sensor having a field of view directed towards the openings and includes at least one detection surface. The detection surface is located within the respective container at a predetermined distance from an edge of a respective opening, and an object passing the detection surface triggers a detection signal of the second sensor.

There is provided a parcel recognition device that recognizes a parcel based on an image including the parcel, the device including: a processor; and a memory, in which by cooperating with the memory, the processor recognizes a person in a recognition target space in the image, subtracts a space within a predetermined range including at least a part of the recognized person from the recognition target space, and recognizes the parcel by using a space obtained by the subtraction as a new recognition target space.

According to various example embodiments, information providing method of an electronic device may include identifying delivery-related information regarding a load moving along a moving path of the load past at least one sensor, identifying a task position at which the load is to be picked up from among a plurality of task areas along the moving path based on the delivery-related information, estimating a point in time at which the load approaches the task position, and providing information related to an approach of the load to the task position based on the estimated point in time. In addition, other various embodiments are possible.

A device is disclosed which includes a processor, a screen, and either or both of a camera and a microphone. The device may receive input related to a waste item, identify the waste item, classify a disposal type for the waste item, and provide a suggestion for disposing of the waste item.