The invention relates to a package collecting apparatus for a package handling installation for unloading a plurality of packages from a transport supply means of the package handling installation and moving unloaded packages to a transport discharge means of the package handling installation, wherein the package collecting apparatus comprises a collecting element, which has a bearing surface for at least one package during the movement from the transport supply means to the transport discharge means, and at least one lateral element arranged thereon which can be moved between an inoperative position and a working position and which has a further bearing surface for at least one package, wherein, with the lateral element in the working position, the bearing surface of the lateral element adjoins the bearing surface of the collecting element flush, and the package collecting apparatus additionally comprises a coupling device for mechanical releasable coupling to the transport discharge means. The invention additionally relates to a package handling installation comprising such a package collecting apparatus.

Sorting apparatus including a chute, on which objects are moved in succession by gravitational force, the chute having a cutout with a measuring region. An LIBS laser device is arranged adjacent to the cutout to carry out spectroscopic measurement on the moving objects. A separating device separates out certain objects, and a control device controls and/or adjusts the separating device as a function of the measurement results of the LIBS laser device. The chute includes at least a first portion, through which the objects can be moved first and centered normal to the conveying direction by gravitational force, and a second portion that is flat. The cutout includes the measuring region is arranged in the second portion.

Sorting apparatus including a chute, on which objects are moved in succession by gravitational force, the chute having a cutout with a measuring region. An LIBS laser device is arranged adjacent to the cutout to carry out spectroscopic measurement on the moving objects. A separating device separates out certain objects, and a control device controls and/or adjusts the separating device as a function of the measurement results of the LIBS laser device. The chute includes at least a first portion, through which the objects can be moved first and centered normal to the conveying direction by gravitational force, and a second portion that is flat. The cutout includes the measuring region is arranged in the second portion.

A system for distributing a stream of articles includes a belt assembly (210) with a plurality of belt segments (212) carrying a stream of articles (150), a sensor assembly (220) with a plurality of sensors (222), a control system (240) interfacing with the belt assembly (210) and the sensor assembly (220), wherein the sensor assembly (220) determines spacing (230) in the stream of articles (150), and wherein the control system (240) controls a speed of the plurality of belt segments (212) to minimize the spacing (230) in the stream of articles (150) when the spacing (230) is greater than a predefined threshold.

A system for distributing a stream of articles includes a belt assembly (210) with a plurality of belt segments (212) carrying a stream of articles (150), a sensor assembly (220) with a plurality of sensors (222), a control system (240) interfacing with the belt assembly (210) and the sensor assembly (220), wherein the sensor assembly (220) determines spacing (230) in the stream of articles (150), and wherein the control system (240) controls a speed of the plurality of belt segments (212) to minimize the spacing (230) in the stream of articles (150) when the spacing (230) is greater than a predefined threshold.

In a system and method for identifying and transferring parcels from a first conveyor to a second conveyor aligned with the first conveyor, a camera of a vision and control subsystem is used to acquire image data of a bulk flow of multiple parcels on the first conveyor. The image data is processed by a computer of the vision and control subsystem to identify individual parcels in the bulk flow of multiple parcels. The computer then activates a robot to engage and transfer selected individual parcels in the bulk flow of multiple parcels in a predetermined sequence. After the robot has engaged and transferred the selected individual parcels, the computer communicates instructions to the first conveyor to advance remaining parcels in the bulk flow of multiple parcels on the first conveyor to the second conveyor.

In a system and method for identifying and transferring parcels from a first conveyor to a second conveyor aligned with the first conveyor, a camera of a vision and control subsystem is used to acquire image data of a bulk flow of multiple parcels on the first conveyor. The image data is processed by a computer of the vision and control subsystem to identify individual parcels in the bulk flow of multiple parcels. The computer then activates a robot to engage and transfer selected individual parcels in the bulk flow of multiple parcels in a predetermined sequence. After the robot has engaged and transferred the selected individual parcels, the computer communicates instructions to the first conveyor to advance remaining parcels in the bulk flow of multiple parcels on the first conveyor to the second conveyor.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for a dual conveyor sorting system. An apparatus includes a first conveyor belt assembly that includes a first conveyor belt moving at a first rate in a first direction. An apparatus includes a second conveyor belt assembly that includes a second conveyor belt moving at a second rate in a second direction. The first rate is faster than the second rate and the first direction is the same as the second direction. The first conveyor belt assembly is positioned along a first axis perpendicular to the second conveyor belt assembly positioned along a second axis. A first edge of the first conveyor belt assembly is positioned substantially adjacent to a first edge of the second conveyor belt assembly.

A sorting/handling system for sorting/handling parcels or packets comprises a primary conveyor for conveying the packets in series around a looped path, at least one platform secondary conveyor fed by the primary conveyor and having a throughput rate lower than that of the primary conveyor, and a transfer unit for transfer between the primary conveyor and the secondary conveyor, which transfer unit comprises n chutes into which the packets coming from the primary conveyor fall by gravity so as to be received at the outlets on n parallel channels of an accumulation zone having movable barriers. Downstream from the accumulation zone, the system further comprises mechanical members for putting the packets into series by spacing them apart at a constant pitch, and then for transferring them to free platforms of the secondary conveyor at a rate of one packet per platform.

A sorting/handling system for sorting/handling parcels or packets comprises a primary conveyor for conveying the packets in series around a looped path, at least one platform secondary conveyor fed by the primary conveyor and having a throughput rate lower than that of the primary conveyor, and a transfer unit for transfer between the primary conveyor and the secondary conveyor, which transfer unit comprises n chutes into which the packets coming from the primary conveyor fall by gravity so as to be received at the outlets on n parallel channels of an accumulation zone having movable barriers. Downstream from the accumulation zone, the system further comprises mechanical members for putting the packets into series by spacing them apart at a constant pitch, and then for transferring them to free platforms of the secondary conveyor at a rate of one packet per platform.