A system for sorting and dispensing packages includes a first conveyor system, a gate assembly with a plurality of chutes that receive at least two packages of a plurality of packages selectively dispensed from the first conveyor system, a second conveyor system that receives the plurality of packages selectively dispensed from the gate assembly, a sensor that senses a characteristic of the plurality of packages, and an electronic controller that receives signals from the sensor. The plurality of chutes each include a gate moveable via an actuator between a first position, in which the at least two packages are held within the respective chute, and a second position, in which the at least two packages are released from the respective chute onto the second conveyor system. The controller is configured to selectively control each actuator of the gate assembly based on signals received from the sensor.

A blockage clearing system for a multi-story building chute system having a vertical chute spanning multiple floors of a building, refuse doors for each floor and a lower exit, has a controller, a drive motor operably coupled to the controller, a blockage release mechanism driven by the drive motor to travel along an interior of the chute and a detector subsystem which detects an object blocked within the chute. The controller is programmed for retaining the blockage release mechanism in a home position above the refuse doors by default and, when receiving an input from the detector subsystem indicating an object blocked within the chute, operating the drive motor to cause the blockage release mechanism to travel down the chute to force the object down the chute.

System and method are provided where parcels or packages are associated or grouped, into logical group or logical containerization of parcels or packages, without need for physical container, such that parcels or packages can be tracked as a group, for example with a unique group ID. Logical group may be tracked within specified logical zone on conveyor, transported, sorted and/or otherwise processed as unique logical group without need to be contained in physical container. System and method for automated sortation can accumulate set number or set volume of packages, and then process the accumulated set number or volume of packages, including automatically closing a container filled with the packages.

A helical conveyor for transporting products in downward direction by means of gravity comprises a frame and a helical track extending around an upright centerline. The helical track is supported by the frame and comprises a bottom for bearing a product. The bottom has an inclination angle in a direction (X) along the helical track. At least a portion of the bottom is formed by a transport surface of a drivable conveying system such that the transport surface has a predefined speed in downward direction (X) along the helical track. The inclination angle at an inner bend of the transport surface of the conveying system is larger than 20?.

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 through a dam. The dam can be configured to control a mass flow rate of the product moved down 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.

Conveyor arrangement, adapted for taking over a conveyed object, in particular a postal parcel, at a takeover area, in particular from an upstream feed device, for transferring the conveyed object at a transfer area, in particular to a terminal; for transferring the conveyed object in a chute area from the takeover area to the transfer area, wherein the chute region comprises at least one chute which is inclined downwardly in the conveying direction and on which the conveyed object is conveyed in a gravitationally sliding manner, wherein the chute region comprises a belt conveyor with a conveyor belt, characterized in that the belt conveyor has a holding brake which is adapted to hold the conveyor belt in a stop position.

A battery aligning device includes an inlet through which a first cylindrical battery is input, an outlet from which the first cylindrical battery is discharged, regulating plates constituting a slit in a path from the inlet to the outlet, and a support member which supports one end portion and the other end portion of each of the regulating plates, in the regulating plates, a length from the one end portion to the other end portion is longer than a length of the first cylindrical battery, an X-Z cross-section has a non-linear shape, in an interval between the one regulating plate and the other regulating plate, a facing interval between surfaces is larger than a diameter of the first cylindrical battery, and when a line segment having the same length as that of the first cylindrical battery is in contact with the regulating plate at two points on the X-Z cross-section, a distance between the line segment and the regulating plate is arranged at an interval smaller than the diameter of the first cylindrical battery.

A component supply device includes a storage section, a mounting section, and a component support section. The storage section stores multiple components. The storage section is mounted to the mounting section. The storage section is attachable and detachable in relation to the mounting section. The component support section supports, in a scattered state, multiple components which are discharged from an opening of the storage section which is in a state of being mounted to the mounting section.

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 conveyor chute is suitable for use as a store for goods, such as packages and pieces of luggage. The conveyor chute has at least one sliding section with an inclined sliding surface with a direction of fall along the sliding surface as well as a sliding width. The sliding section has a width adjusting mechanism which allows the goods to be distributed across at least part of the sliding width and which thus allows the conveyor chute to be used in an improved manner for storing the goods.