An unloading apparatus for horticultural products such as blueberries and the like, which are conveyed along a predefined advancement path by respective movement units includes at least one dispenser of pressurized fluid, which can be activated on command during the transit of each product in order to send a jet of the pressurized fluid toward the product and consequently cause its fall from the respective movement unit. The apparatus also includes at least one deflector screen arranged facing and proximate to the dispenser, on the opposite side with respect to the predefined trajectory in order to intercept the products struck by the jet. The screen is inclined so as to define, between its face directed toward the dispenser and a vertical plane that passes through the dispenser, a work angle one and ninety degrees configured for the optimum downward deflection of the products.

A sanitary napkin disposal device. The sanitary napkin disposal device includes a housing. The housing is defined by a base, where a plurality of sidewalls extends upward from the base towards a top wall. This housing defines an interior volume. An opening extends through a sidewall of the housing and provides access to the interior volume of the housing. The opening feeds into a chute, such that items placed through the opening will fall into the chute. A door is placed over the opening, the door is movable between an open position and a closed position. The door is spring-biased in a closed position.

Embodiments herein describe a chute for temporarily buffering packages when, for example, a container disposed at the end of the chute has been removed. The chute includes a flap that activates to hold packages in an accumulation area when the container is removed. In one embodiment, the flap is disposed at an end of the chute at a decline so that during normal operation packages slide off the flap into the container. An actuator can rotate the flap from a decline position into a vertical position such that the flap serves as a stop to prevent packages from sliding off the chute when containers are being swapped out. Once a new container is disposed at the end of the chute, the actuator can rotate the flap back to the decline position so that any accumulated packages are then ejected into the container.

A merchandise sorting device includes a conveyance path, a chute, and a sorting plate. The conveyance path includes a placement surface on which an item is placed, and along which the item moves. The chute is inclined downward from the conveyance path and forms an inclined surface on which the item can be slid. The sorting plate is provided at a lower end of the chute and is rotatable about an axis paralleling an edge of the lower end of the chute to open and close the lower end of the chute.

An adaptive roller conveyor for conveying objects, comprises a plurality of rollers and a control device, wherein the control device is connected with a sensor for detecting at least one parameter of an object, wherein at least one roller is connected with an adjustable brake device, wherein the brake device is connected with the control device, and wherein the control device is configured to control the brake device in dependence on the detected parameter to change the braking effect of the roller.

A gravity-driven tire delivery apparatus includes a base and a tire delivery chute that extends vertically from the base. The tire delivery chute includes a wall including a braking projection mounted to the wall that extends into a travel path of a tire through the tire delivery chute. The braking projection is sized to allow the tire to pass by the braking projection once the tire is moved laterally by the braking projection.

A material handling system includes a conveyor, an actuation unit, and a chute. The chute is mechanically coupled to the conveyor at a defined angle with respect to a surface of the conveyor. The chute includes an inlet defining a first end and a second end, where the first end of the inlet is mechanically coupled to the surface of the conveyor. Further, the chute includes at least one tube configured to be rotated by the actuation unit at a defined rotational speed. The chute also includes an outlet mechanically coupled to the at least one tube. In this aspect, the defined angle and the defined rotational speed is based on at least one of: physical characteristic of an item to be passed through the chute, a rate of inflow of the item through the inlet, and a rate of outflow of the item through the outlet.

A gravity-driven tire delivery apparatus includes a base and a tire delivery chute that extends vertically from the base. The tire delivery chute includes a wall including a braking projection mounted to the wall that extends into a travel path of a tire through the tire delivery chute. The braking projection is sized to allow the tire to pass by the braking projection once the tire is moved laterally by the braking projection.

An aerial roof height item receiving structure demonstrating novel solutions to issues of item drop damage, noise, aesthetic, weather, item temperature, and safety concerns related to aerial based item delivery systems is presented. A chimney like chute can be made high enough to avoid collisions with people or pets yet still safely receive items dropped into it from heights through the use of impact absorbing pads and a mesh box spring within the chute. Heat exchange with the building structure or active heating or cooling of the box spring mitigate snow, ice, and item temperature issues. A swing door to function as an aerial unit charging platform for added distance delivery can be added to the top of the chute. An item drop box placed at human accessible height can also be added to allow the chute to dual function for traditional item deliveries.

Apparatus for orienting objects, including a conveying apparatus, wherein the conveying apparatus has an inlet for receiving the objects and an outlet and is configured to convey the objects in a conveying direction. In this case, the conveying apparatus has an orienting apparatus which at least partially extends along the conveying direction. The orienting apparatus has a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are arranged next to one another along the conveying direction, wherein at least one of the first portion and the second portion is configured as an aero surface, and wherein the objects are subjected to a different acceleration/braking action by the first portion and the second portion for orientation purposes.