A return receptacle system which uses a detection system to guide the user to deposit items into the correct receptacle. The system detects the item to be deposited and provides guidance or instruction to properly deposit the item. In addition, or alternatively, the system allows access to only the appropriate receptacle opening. Additional detection systems and/or sensors may be provided to monitor or ensure only the appropriate items are deposited.

A method and apparatus are provided for sorting items to form groups at respective sort destinations. A scanning station evaluates one or more characteristics of each item fed into the apparatus. The items are 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. When an item to be manually sorted is encountered, a visual alert aligned with a selected destination is activated until manual transfer is confirmed.

A method and apparatus are provided for sorting items to form groups at respective sort destinations. A scanning station evaluates one or more characteristics of each item fed into the apparatus. The items are 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. When an item to be manually sorted is encountered, a visual alert aligned with a selected destination is activated until manual transfer is confirmed.

The disclosure relates to a method for operating a transport apparatus with a storage apparatus and to a corresponding transport apparatus with a storage apparatus. The method includes the following steps, providing the transport apparatus (1) with the storage apparatus (2) for storing transport units (3), including a plurality of transport units (3), a plurality of storage conveyors (4), and a feeding conveyor (5) to the storage conveyors. Furthermore, the transport apparatus includes an optical sensor (7) arranged at the feeding conveyor (5) and an evaluation electronics (8) connected to the optical sensor. The method also includes determining measurement data with the optical sensor (7) from a transport unit (3) moving past the optical sensor (7), and processing the measurement data obtained from the optical sensor (7) with the evaluation electronics (8) in order to determine the spatial extent in at least one dimension of the transport unit (3) moving past; and selecting a storage conveyor (4) for storing the transport unit (3) moving past on the basis of the determined spatial extent of the transport unit (3) moving past.

The disclosure relates to a method for operating a transport apparatus with a storage apparatus and to a corresponding transport apparatus with a storage apparatus. The method includes the following steps, providing the transport apparatus (1) with the storage apparatus (2) for storing transport units (3), including a plurality of transport units (3), a plurality of storage conveyors (4), and a feeding conveyor (5) to the storage conveyors. Furthermore, the transport apparatus includes an optical sensor (7) arranged at the feeding conveyor (5) and an evaluation electronics (8) connected to the optical sensor. The method also includes determining measurement data with the optical sensor (7) from a transport unit (3) moving past the optical sensor (7), and processing the measurement data obtained from the optical sensor (7) with the evaluation electronics (8) in order to determine the spatial extent in at least one dimension of the transport unit (3) moving past; and selecting a storage conveyor (4) for storing the transport unit (3) moving past on the basis of the determined spatial extent of the transport unit (3) moving past.

A method and apparatus are provided for sorting items to a plurality of sort destinations. A scanning station evaluates one or more characteristics of each item fed into the apparatus. The items are 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. When an item to be manually sorted is encountered, a visual alert aligned with a selected destination is activated until manual transfer is confirmed.

A method and apparatus are provided for sorting items to a plurality of sort destinations. A scanning station evaluates one or more characteristics of each item fed into the apparatus. The items are 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. When an item to be manually sorted is encountered, a visual alert aligned with a selected destination is activated until manual transfer is confirmed.

A measurement apparatus used for a sorting apparatus for sorting objects includes a scanning unit configured to perform scanning with illumination light which illuminates the object, a control unit configured to control the scanning unit, and a sensor configured to measure reflection light from the illuminated object, wherein the control unit controls the scanning unit to track the object with the illumination light by changing a position of the illumination light in a moving direction of the object and a direction perpendicular to the moving direction.

A measurement apparatus used for a sorting apparatus for sorting objects includes a scanning unit configured to perform scanning with illumination light which illuminates the object, a control unit configured to control the scanning unit, and a sensor configured to measure reflection light from the illuminated object, wherein the control unit controls the scanning unit to track the object with the illumination light by changing a position of the illumination light in a moving direction of the object and a direction perpendicular to the moving direction.

An automated sorting and packing system is described. In an example implementation, the system may include a transfer station that transfers an item into a shipping carton, one or more conveyors that convey the item and/or carton to a transfer station, a scanner that scans the item, and a processor communicatively coupled with the scanner and the one or more conveyors. According to some implementations, the system may perform operations including determining a carton identifier associated with a carton based on an order, assigning a transfer station to the order and the carton identifier based on scan data identifying an item, transporting the item to the transfer station using a conveyor, and transferring the item from the conveyor to a carton associated with the carton identifier using the transfer station.