A processing system including a singulation system is disclosed. The singulation system includes a conveying system for moving objects to be processed from a source area along a first direction, a detection system for detecting objects at the conveying system, and for selecting certain selected objects for redistribution on the conveying system, and a movement redistribution system for redistributing the certain selected objects on the conveying system for providing a singulated stream of objects.

An apparatus comprises a hopper housing, a first auger, a second auger, a dividing panel, and a motor. The hopper housing holds a bulk material, with the hopper housing including a first end at which the bulk material is added to the hopper housing and a second end comprising a discharge opening at which the bulk material exits the hopper housing. The first auger is disposed proximate to the discharge opening. The second auger is disposed between the first end of the hopper housing and the first auger. The dividing panel is disposed between the first auger and the second auger and the dividing panel is coupled to the hopper housing at the first side thereof and forming a panel opening between the hopper housing and the second side thereof. The motor rotates the first auger and the second auger to move the bulk material into the discharge opening.

A screw conveyor system includes a conveyor body defining a conveyor cavity. The conveyor body includes an inlet for a conveyed material and an outlet. A screw blade is rotatably connected to the conveyor body via a shaft. The screw blade extends within the conveyor cavity between the inlet and the outlet. A hanger bearing support extends from an interior surface of the conveyor body into the conveyor cavity and a hanger bearing is attached to the hanger bearing support with the hanger bearing contacting the shaft to support the screw blade. A sensor support structure is connected to the hanger bearing support and the conveyor body. A capacitive sensor is attached to the sensor support structure and includes a first conductive plate and a second conductive plate spaced apart from one another to allow the conveyed material to travel between the first and second conductive plates.

An arrangement and method for storing items is provided which may be applied, for example, in the storage of postal packages and the like. The size of an item to be stored is detected and the item is placed inside a storage structure in sufficient, but not excessive, space. In the arrangement and method, at least two, preferably three, dimensions of the item in directions perpendicular to each other are considered to determine the space in which to store it. Correspondingly, the storage structure of the arrangement comprises a plurality of vertical racks in which rack groups are present in which compartments of different width, and possibly of different depth, can be defined. The racks can possibly be mounted on rotatable platforms to further increase the capacity of the storage structure.

A grouping station for grouping pallets includes an inbound conveyor, which is a gravity conveyor. The grouping station includes a fixed-height pairing conveyor and a grouping conveyor with three height positions for different grouping functions.

A control unit provided in an automated warehouse system includes a misalignment determination unit that, after storage of an article in a storage rack, determines whether or not an article is estimated to have been subjected to vibration exceeding a predetermined threshold value, and a misalignment correction instruction unit that, if the misalignment determination unit determined that the article is estimated to have been subjected to vibration exceeding the predetermined threshold value, outputs a control signal to a transport device to drive the transport device to execute a misalignment correction operation with respect to the placement position of the article.

The invention relates to an overhead conveyor system (1a . . . 1d) with hanging bags (2, 2a . . . 2d), which are adjustable between a transport position and a loading position and which are designed for transporting articles (4, 4a . . . 4i), with a loading station (5a . . . 5d), at which a hanging bag (2, 2a . . . 2d) can be loaded with an article (4, 4a . . . 4i), and with an overhead conveying device (6, 6a . . . 6d) for transporting a hanging bag (2, 2a . . . 2d) into the loading station (5a . . . 5d) and for transporting the hanging bag (2, 2a . . . 2d) out of the loading station (5a . . . 5d). The overhead conveyor system (1a . . . 1d) further comprises a measuring device (11a . . . 11d), by means of which an expansion (a) of the bag body (3) in a transport direction of the loaded hanging bag (2, 2a . . . 2d) is determined in the transport position of the bag body (3). Moreover, the invention relates to a method for operating such an overhead conveyor system (1a . . . 1d).

[Problem]

There is provided a goods inspection device making it possible to make a diagnosis easily for inspection function failure caused by dynamic behavior of goods attributed to a conveyance subsystem of an inspection line.

[Solution]

The goods inspection device 1 that inspects goods being carried on an inspection line includes a diagnosis unit 25c that diagnoses a conveyance subsystem of the inspection line, based on data of acceleration and angular velocity obtained with respect to respective axial directions from a test object 2 when the test object 2 having a motion sensor 12 to detect acceleration and angular velocity with respect to respective directions of three-dimensional axes is carried.

Methods and apparatuses for performing article singulation are provided. An article singulator can include an intake conveyor, an out-take conveyor, and multiple intermediate conveyors. The intake conveyor can receive multiple articles and convey the articles to the multiple intermediate conveyors. Further, the out-take conveyor may convey singulated articles from amongst the multiple articles (e.g. to an outfeed). Further, the multiple intermediate conveyors may include successive conveyors to convey the articles and provide the singulated articles to the out-take conveyor. In some examples, each successive conveyor of the multiple intermediate conveyors may be positioned at a lower level than a preceding conveyor. Further, each successive conveyor can convey the articles in a different direction and at a different speed than a preceding conveyor such that the articles are singulated upon conveyance by the article singulator.

Systems and methods for under-floor storage include a robotic retrieval system. The robotic retrieval system includes a robot disposed under an upper floor. The robot may retrieve and deposit objects in a space under the upper floor. A portal provides access to the space from above the upper floor. Objects are stored in locations within the space. The robot selectively locates and retrieves the objects.