A distribution device can be used to distribute items in a container. The items can fall off of a chute into the interior of the container. Some of the items may contact the distribution device. The items that contact the distribution can have their trajectories changed prior to falling into the container. The distribution device can more evenly distribute the items in the container than in the absence of the distribution device.

An apparatus and system include an upper stepped chute having a substantially downward sloped configuration; a lower stepped chute having a substantially downward sloped configuration; and an intermediate conveyor section separating the upper stepped chute from the lower stepped chute. The intermediate conveyor section has a slope that is different from the slope of the upper stepped chute and the lower stepped chute.

An apparatus and system include an upper stepped chute having a substantially downward sloped configuration; a lower stepped chute having a substantially downward sloped configuration; and an intermediate conveyor section separating the upper stepped chute from the lower stepped chute. The intermediate conveyor section has a slope that is different from the slope of the upper stepped chute and the lower stepped chute.

A loading device for loading a container with packages, comprising a transport channel for transport of the packages in the direction of the container. The transport channel has an upper inlet to supply packages into the transport channel and a lower outlet to supply packages into the container. At least one upper, and at least one lower, finger position each with at least one finger element are provided in the transport channel. The at least one of the finger elements of the upper and lower finger positions in each case have at least two flexible flank elements extending from one end to the opposing end of the finger element. In each case, the at least two flexible flank elements are flexibly connected via a plurality of webs. The finger elements in each case may be adjusted from at least one curved position into at least one extended position and back.

A pass-through conveyance system and method includes a main assembly comprising at least a platform that is translatable along a radius and movable between two separate environments, an opening between the two separate environments and at least one opening sealing member. The platform is adapted to receive an object; e.g, article, container or package, loaded thereon from a first environment by manual or mechanical ways and translate the object through an opening to a second environment.

In a flange-nut posture control device includes a first opening, a direction controlling portion is constituted by two vertical wall portions extending in a vertical direction such that the vertical wall portions are distanced from each other to face each other via a space with a distance smaller than the diameter of a flange portion of the flange nut. A lower guide portion is provided such that a V-shaped groove having a bottom portion between the vertical wall portions extends to be inclined from a horizontal plane. A second opening is surrounded by at least the vertical wall portions and the lower guide portion and formed such that the flange nut is passed through the second opening. An outlet groove portion is connected to the lower guide portion at an end surface of the second opening and extends with the same inclination as the lower guide portion.

The present application relates to a spherical object falling buffer device including a flow-limiting pipe assembly and a central column assembly; wherein the flow-limiting pipe assembly includes a flow-limiting pipe, a redirecting joint and a sphere outlet pipe; a diameter of the flow-limiting pipe is greater than that of the sphere outlet pipe, and an inner surface of the redirecting joint is a conical surface; the central column assembly includes at least a central column arranged in the flow-limiting pipe; a flow-guiding region is provided between the flow-limiting pipe and the central column, and a plurality of gravity flow guide grooves are provided on an outer peripheral surface of the central column. The spherical object falling buffer device may restrict, guide and buffer spherical objects during falling, and avoids collision damage of the spherical objects or the stock bin due to the excessive falling speed of the spherical objects.

A directed delivery system for drone delivery of an item to a location. The directed delivery system includes a receptacle to receive the item at the location, a container to receive the delivered item spaced some distance from the container in the vertical plane. A conduit lies between the receptacle and the containers that directs the item from one to the other minimizing the risk of damage during travel. Drone delivery of the item to the location is so that the item is received in the receptacle, and directed by the conduit to the container at the desired delivery point with minimal impact.

A method for measuring dustiness of a product. The method can include providing the product onto a ramp. The method further can include allowing gravity to move the product down the ramp, toward a discharging end of the ramp, and to exit the ramp through a dam at the discharging end of the ramp. The dam can be configured to control a mass flow rate of the product exiting the ramp. The method additionally can include measuring, by a sensor, airborne particles to determine the dustiness of the product, wherein the airborne particles are generated by the product exiting the ramp and freely falling onto a support surface. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A rejection chute for a conveyor system, which receives and redirects rejected parcels, includes: a conduit defined by a plurality of side walls; a door; and an actuator operably connected to the door. The conduit includes an enclosed upper portion defining a first opening for receiving parcels into the rejection chute and a lower portion defining a second opening for discharging parcels from the rejection chute. The door is mounted proximate to the first opening and is configured to transition between a first position to cover the first opening and a second position to uncover the first opening. The rejection chute can be integrated into a walking surface alongside of a conveyor to receive and redirect parcels transferred off of the conveyor to a location below the walking surface. An enclosure can be combined with the rejection chute to regulate access and guide parcels into the rejection chute.