A system includes an article supply location, wherein the article supply location includes a plurality of articles to be sorted, first and second transport vehicles, each having a first position in which an article is stowed about the vehicle and a second position in which the article is deposited into a proximal container. And a control system. The control system is configured to receive an order for a plurality of disparate articles, determine one destination container of a plurality of destination containers to direct the transport vehicle to deposit a selected article, direct the first transport vehicle to transport a selected article to the destination container and deposit the article by manipulation of the first transport vehicle from the first position to the second position for deposit of the selected article in the destination container.

A system for packaging parcels includes a plurality of parcel packaging stations associated with varying packaging volume capacities. The system further includes a tote delivery conveyor configured to provide transport links to the plurality of parcel packaging stations, for transporting thereto, a tote containing a batch of parcels sorted to a common destination. The system is configured to select a parcel packaging station for the batch of parcels, from the plurality of parcel packaging stations, based on an overall volume of parcels being sorted to that destination. The tote delivery conveyor is controllable to transport the tote containing the batch of parcels to the selected parcel packaging station.

A system and method for item sorting that can include an item selection unit with a robotic pick-and-place machine positioned adjacent to a defined input item region; an item sortation unit comprising a horizontal multi-degree-of-freedom gantry system and an item tote array, wherein the horizontal gantry system is positioned above the item tote array; wherein the item sortation unit further comprises an item holding and depositing system that is coupled to and actuated by the gantry system. The system and method can singulate an item from a collection of items and sort into one of a set of item totes.

A system and method for item sorting that can include an item selection unit with a robotic pick-and-place machine positioned adjacent to a defined input item region; an item sortation unit comprising a horizontal multi-degree-of-freedom gantry system and an item tote array, wherein the horizontal gantry system is positioned above the item tote array; wherein the item sortation unit further comprises an item holding and depositing system that is coupled to and actuated by the gantry system. The system and method can singulate an item from a collection of items and sort into one of a set of item totes.

A system for packaging parcels includes a plurality of parcel packaging stations associated with varying packaging volume capacities. The system further includes a tote delivery conveyor configured to provide transport links to the plurality of parcel packaging stations, for transporting thereto, a tote containing a batch of parcels sorted to a common destination. The system is configured to select a parcel packaging station for the batch of parcels, from the plurality of parcel packaging stations, based on an overall volume of parcels being sorted to that destination. The tote delivery conveyor is controllable to transport the tote containing the batch of parcels to the selected parcel packaging station.

A sorting machine can include an output bin that includes a transport belt to transport a delivery item (e.g., a letter) from a distribution belt at a first speed. The output bin can include a braking roller to reduce the speed of the delivery item by operating at a second tangential speed that is slower than the first speed. The output bin can also include an auger assembly to apply a force to move at least the trailing portion of the item in a manner that clears the path to the braking roller for additional delivery items. The output bin can also include a bumper pad to stop the delivery item, where the delivery item is stopped against the bumper pad after being slowed down by contact with the braking roller. The slowed speed causes the delivery item to come to rest approximately in alignment with additional delivery items.

A system includes an article supply location, wherein the article supply location includes a plurality of articles to be sorted, first and second transport vehicles, each having a first position in which an article is stowed about the vehicle and a second position in which the article is deposited into a proximal container. And a control system. The control system is configured to receive an order for a plurality of disparate articles, determine one destination container of a plurality of destination containers to direct the transport vehicle to deposit a selected article, direct the first transport vehicle to transport a selected article to the destination container and deposit the article by manipulation of the first transport vehicle from the first position to the second position for deposit of the selected article in the destination container.

A system includes an article supply location, wherein the article supply location includes a plurality of articles to be sorted, first and second transport vehicles, each having a first position in which an article is stowed about the vehicle and a second position in which the article is deposited into a proximal container. And a control system. The control system is configured to receive an order for a plurality of disparate articles, determine one destination container of a plurality of destination containers to direct the transport vehicle to deposit a selected article, direct the first transport vehicle to transport a selected article to the destination container and deposit the article by manipulation of the first transport vehicle from the first position to the second position for deposit of the selected article in the destination container.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for automated item sorting for multi-item orders. In one embodiment, an example system may include a number of modular sorting machines coupled in series, the number of modular sorting machines comprising a first modular sorting machine, a first support coupled to the first modular sorting machine, a second support coupled to the first modular sorting machine, where the first support and the second support together form a first chute, and where the first support and the second support are configured to support a number of bins. The system may include a first bin of the number of bins disposed in the first chute at a first vertical position, and a second bin of the number of bins disposed in the first chute at a second vertical position, where the first bin and the second bin are configured to receive items for multi-item orders.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for automated item sorting for multi-item orders. In one embodiment, an example system may include a number of modular sorting machines coupled in series, the number of modular sorting machines comprising a first modular sorting machine, a first support coupled to the first modular sorting machine, a second support coupled to the first modular sorting machine, where the first support and the second support together form a first chute, and where the first support and the second support are configured to support a number of bins. The system may include a first bin of the number of bins disposed in the first chute at a first vertical position, and a second bin of the number of bins disposed in the first chute at a second vertical position, where the first bin and the second bin are configured to receive items for multi-item orders.