A transportation equipment branch convergence device has a curving transportation device that tangentially connects to a straight track anchored at a fixed height so as to transport an object along the entirety of a curving track at the same level as the straight track. The straight track comprises a straight track section of a fixed length encompassing an entire area of overlap with the curving transportation device. A straight transportation device constituting this straight track section of fixed length comprises a vertical transportation mechanism that slopes in the vertical direction with pivot points at both ends of the straight track section. When the vertical transportation mechanism is in a downward sloping state, the straight transportation device is retracted beneath the transported object for transport. When the vertical transportation mechanism is in an upward sloping state, the transported object for transport passes over the curving transportation device.

A transportation equipment branch convergence device has a curving transportation device that tangentially connects to a straight track anchored at a fixed height so as to transport an object along the entirety of a curving track at the same level as the straight track. The straight track comprises a straight track section of a fixed length encompassing an entire area of overlap with the curving transportation device. A straight transportation device constituting this straight track section of fixed length comprises a vertical transportation mechanism that slopes in the vertical direction with pivot points at both ends of the straight track section. When the vertical transportation mechanism is in a downward sloping state, the straight transportation device is retracted beneath the transported object for transport. When the vertical transportation mechanism is in an upward sloping state, the transported object for transport passes over the curving transportation device.

An embodiment includes: a first transport module on which a carriage moves; a second transport module that is configured to be able to move to a position for connecting to the first transport module and on which the carriage is able to move to and from the first transport module; a position detection unit that detects a position in a moving direction of the second transport module and outputs position information; a first control unit that controls motion of the carriage on the first transport module; a second control unit that controls motion of the carriage on the second transport module; a third control unit that controls motion of the second transport module; and a fourth control unit that controls the first to third control units. The fourth control unit corrects a position where the second transport module connects to the first transport module based on the position information.

The invention relates to a vertical diverter for a conveyor system having a lower conveyor track and an upper conveyor track, wherein the vertical diverter is provided and designed for vertically connecting the two conveyor tracks, and the vertical diverter has a lower diverter track and an upper diverter track. The vertical diverter is characterized in that the lower diverter track is shorter than the upper diverter track, that the lower diverter track is provided and designed to be lowered at least at one end in order to make room for the connection of the end of the upper diverter track to be lowered, and that the upper diverter track is provided and designed to be lowered at least at one end, and that the lowered end of the upper diverter track rests where the unlowered end of the lower diverter track previously rested.

A product order fulfillment system including a multi-level transport system and a lifting transport system. Each level of the multi-level transport system having a corresponding independent asynchronous level transport system separate and distinct from the asynchronous level transport system corresponding to each other level of the multi-level transport system. Each independent lift axis of the lifting transport system being configured to independently hold at least one case and being communicably coupled to each asynchronous level transport system so as to provide for exchange of the at least one case between each asynchronous level transport system and each independent lift axis. Each independent lift axis is communicably coupled to each other independent lift axis of the more than one lift axis and forms a common output of mixed cases so as to create an ordered sequence of mixed cases in accordance to a predetermined case out ordered sequence.

A conveyor is described. The conveyor includes a conveyor frame that includes a slot defined on a first portion of the conveyor frame and a notch defined on a second portion of the conveyor frame. Further, the conveyor includes a stanchion configured to be mounted on the conveyor frame. In this regard, the stanchion comprises a hook adapted to pass through the slot of the conveyor frame and a surface that defines an aperture, the aperture adapted to enable a bolt to pass through the stanchion and insert into the notch in the second portion of the conveyor frame.

A conveyor is described. The conveyor includes a conveyor frame that includes a slot defined on a first portion of the conveyor frame and a notch defined on a second portion of the conveyor frame. Further, the conveyor includes a stanchion configured to be mounted on the conveyor frame. In this regard, the stanchion comprises a hook adapted to pass through the slot of the conveyor frame and a surface that defines an aperture, the aperture adapted to enable a bolt to pass through the stanchion and insert into the notch in the second portion of the conveyor frame.

Provided is a transfer system including: a first conveyor, a second conveyor, a vertical position adjustment mechanism configured to adjust relative vertical positions of the first conveyor and the second conveyor; and a horizontal position adjustment mechanism configured to adjust, in a horizontal plane, relative positions of the first conveyor and the second conveyor in a direction orthogonal to a transfer direction.

A material handling apparatus for reorienting and transferring inventory items to a packaging device includes a support member and a packaging conveyor. The support member receives an inventory item and reorients the item to a rejection orientation or a packaging orientation. The item is moved onto the packaging conveyor in the packaging orientation and is transported to the packaging device.

An article sorting facility includes a plurality of storage members each configured to store one or more articles, a plurality of article transport vehicles each capable of traveling in at least a portion of a preset travel lane with one or more support members on board, each support member being configured to support one or more articles; a plurality of work areas each configured to allow work to be performed to transfer articles between one or more storage members and at least one of the one or more support members on board an article transport vehicle in the travel lane, wherein each of the work areas is located adjacent to one or more storage members and to the travel lane, wherein the plurality of work areas are arranged one adjacent to another along the travel lane, and wherein two or more article transport vehicles are in the travel lane simultaneously to travel in a line.