A sorting system having a buffer interposable between a discharge, such as a chute, supplying packages and multiple destination receptacles, such as wheeled bins. The buffer temporarily accumulates packages to ensure correct package delivery to assigned destination receptacles during overflow conditions. The buffer may be realized in various ways that operate in horizontal, vertical, or inclined planes.

A sorting system having a buffer interposable between a discharge, such as a chute, supplying packages and multiple destination receptacles, such as wheeled bins. The buffer temporarily accumulates packages to ensure correct package delivery to assigned destination receptacles during overflow conditions. The buffer may be realized in various ways that operate in horizontal, vertical, or inclined planes.

A powered carton magazine assembly includes a lateral conveyor configured for conveying a plurality of upright folded/flat cartons in a feed direction, the lateral conveyor having a load end and an outfeed end. A picking station is located at the outfeed end of the lateral conveyor, the picking station including a downwardly angled feed path and a pick location at a lower portion of the feed path. A gating mechanism is provided at the outfeed end of the lateral conveyor for selectively controlling delivery of cartons from the lateral conveyor into the feed path. The gating mechanism may include a roller.

A powered carton magazine assembly includes a lateral conveyor configured for conveying a plurality of upright folded/flat cartons in a feed direction, the lateral conveyor having a load end and an outfeed end. A picking station is located at the outfeed end of the lateral conveyor, the picking station including a downwardly angled feed path and a pick location at a lower portion of the feed path. A gating mechanism is provided at the outfeed end of the lateral conveyor for selectively controlling delivery of cartons from the lateral conveyor into the feed path. The gating mechanism may include a roller.

A system for sorting and dispensing packages can include a flip gate assembly. The flip gate assembly can include a base, an inclined surface, one or more support legs extending from the base to the inclined surface, an actuator attached to the base, and a flip gate pivotably attached to the inclined surface. The flip gate can be configured to be actuated by the actuator between a retracted configuration, in which a top side of the flip gate is planar with a top surface of the inclined surface, and an extended configuration, in which the top side of the flip gate is disposed at an angle with respect to the top surface of the inclined surface.

Systems and methods are disclosed to secure rollable carts to sortation systems. In one embodiment, an example system may include a first chute configured to guide packages to a first moveable cart that is disposed at a first end of the first chute, and a first anti-tip mechanism configured to prevent tipping of the first moveable cart. The first anti-tip mechanism may include a frame, a first C-shaped component coupled to the frame, and a second C-shaped component coupled to the frame. The first C-shaped component may be configured to engage a first portion of the first moveable cart, and the second C-shaped component may be configured to engage a second portion of the first moveable cart, such that the first moveable cart is prevented from vertical movement.

Systems and methods are disclosed to secure rollable carts to sortation systems. In one embodiment, an example system may include a first chute configured to guide packages to a first moveable cart that is disposed at a first end of the first chute, and a first anti-tip mechanism configured to prevent tipping of the first moveable cart. The first anti-tip mechanism may include a frame, a first C-shaped component coupled to the frame, and a second C-shaped component coupled to the frame. The first C-shaped component may be configured to engage a first portion of the first moveable cart, and the second C-shaped component may be configured to engage a second portion of the first moveable cart, such that the first moveable cart is prevented from vertical movement.

A powder spreading apparatus includes a hopper having a first end, a second end opposite from the first end, a front wall, a rear wall opposite from the front wall, and a floor. The front wall, the rear wall, the first end, the second end, and the floor define an interior. An impeller is disposed within the interior of the hopper. The impeller includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced flutes and is configured to rotate about an impeller axis that extends from the first end of the hopper to the second end of the hopper to deposit powder onto a print area. A spreader rod is coupled to the hopper and extends along a spreader rod axis parallel to the impeller axis. The spreader rod is configured to rotate about the spreader rod axis to smooth the powder as it is deposited onto the print area.

A powder spreading apparatus includes a hopper having a first end, a second end opposite from the first end, a front wall, a rear wall opposite from the front wall, and a floor. The front wall, the rear wall, the first end, the second end, and the floor define an interior. An impeller is disposed within the interior of the hopper. The impeller includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced flutes and is configured to rotate about an impeller axis that extends from the first end of the hopper to the second end of the hopper to deposit powder onto a print area. A spreader rod is coupled to the hopper and extends along a spreader rod axis parallel to the impeller axis. The spreader rod is configured to rotate about the spreader rod axis to smooth the powder as it is deposited onto the print area.

A device for sorting trunks (1), in particular logs, comprises a conveyor device (3), which has carriers (2), and ejectors (4), which are arranged along the conveyor device (3), for a controlled discharge from the conveyor device (3) into log magazines (5) according to signals from a superordinate controller (6). A common rotary drive (9) is connected with each set of at least two ejector pairs (8), which are drivingly connected together by means of an axle (7). The rotary drive (9) is a torque motor, the rotor (10) of which is rigidly connected directly to the axle (7) and the stator (11) of which is rotationally fixed relative to the conveyor device (3).