A sortation system uses short conveyors or transporter units on a lift to move products or packages to totes in a storage rack. The lift may be a carousel. Automated components remove the totes from the rack and place them on outfeed conveyors. The system to remove the totes can include a transfer vehicle. The sortation system may be modular.

A sortation system uses short conveyors or transporter units on a lift to move products or packages to totes in a storage rack. The lift may be a carousel. Automated components remove the totes from the rack and place them on outfeed conveyors. The system to remove the totes can include a transfer vehicle. The sortation system may be modular.

A storage, retrieval and processing system for processing objects is disclosed that includes a plurality of bins including objects to be distributed by the storage, retrieval and processing system, the plurality of bins being provided on an input conveyance system, a programmable motion device that includes an end effector for grasping and moving any of the objects, a perception system for providing perception data regarding a selected object that is presented to the perception system by the programmable motion device, and a routing conveyance system for receiving the selected object, and for moving the selected object in each of horizontal and vertical directions toward a destination container responsive to the perception data, the destination container being provided among a plurality of destination containers in a row that are provided as a set on a destination conveyance system.

A storage, retrieval and processing system for processing objects is disclosed that includes a plurality of bins including objects to be distributed, the plurality of bins being provided on a conveyance system, a programmable motion device that includes an end effector for grasping and moving any of the objects, the programmable motion device being capable of reaching any of the objects within at least one of the plurality of bins in an input area of the conveyance system, a perception system for providing perception data regarding a selected object that is presented to the perception system by the programmable motion device, and a routing conveyance system including a routing conveyor for receiving the selected object, and for moving the selected object in each of vertical and rotational directions toward a destination container responsive to the perception data.

A storage, retrieval and processing system for processing objects is disclosed that includes a plurality of bins including objects to be distributed, the plurality of bins being provided on a conveyance system, a programmable motion device that includes an end effector for grasping and moving any of the objects, the programmable motion device being capable of reaching any of the objects within at least one of the plurality of bins in an input area of the conveyance system, a perception system for providing perception data regarding a selected object that is presented to the perception system by the programmable motion device, and a routing conveyance system including a routing conveyor for receiving the selected object, and for moving the selected object in each of vertical and rotational directions toward a destination container responsive to the perception data.

A conveyor belt having a plurality of spaced tractive rods including opposing inner and outer ends, and a support surface transversely disposed with respect to a direction of travel and interconnecting the plurality of spaced tractive rods, wherein at least one of the inner and outer ends of at least some of the plurality of spaced tractive rods includes a cone shaped end portion.

A conveyor belt having a plurality of spaced tractive rods including opposing inner and outer ends, and a support surface transversely disposed with respect to a direction of travel and interconnecting the plurality of spaced tractive rods, wherein at least one of the inner and outer ends of at least some of the plurality of spaced tractive rods includes a cone shaped end portion.

Variable-capacity store for cylindrical articles of the tobacco processing industry; the store comprises a conveying assembly comprising a first conveyor having a substantially helical shape; a second conveyor having a substantially helical shape and arranged above the first conveyor; and a linear transfer conveyor, which is adapted to convey the articles from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, having a variable length and, by extending and shortening, changes the area of the first conveyor from which it picks up the articles and the area of the second conveyor to which it feeds the articles, thus varying the capacity of the store.

Variable-capacity store for cylindrical articles of the tobacco processing industry; the store comprises a conveying assembly comprising a first conveyor having a substantially helical shape; a second conveyor having a substantially helical shape and arranged above the first conveyor; and a linear transfer conveyor, which is adapted to convey the articles from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, having a variable length and, by extending and shortening, changes the area of the first conveyor from which it picks up the articles and the area of the second conveyor to which it feeds the articles, thus varying the capacity of the store.

A spiral conveyor system including a tank for containing a liquid at a predetermined temperature therein. A conveyor conveys items through the liquid. A guiding structure is disposed in the tank for guiding the conveyor in a spiral-type fashion. The spiral conveyor system further comprises means for securing the items while being conveyed through the liquid.