An order fulfillment system and method includes storing a plurality of inventory items in a warehouse and a plurality of customer orders in a data base, wherein the inventory items make up the customer orders. Some of the orders being a single item order having only one inventory item assigned to that order and other of the orders being multiple item orders having multiple inventory items assigned to that order. Inventory items withdrawn from the warehouse are identified with an identifier and the identity of each withdrawn inventory item applied to the data base and matched item with a customer order. Inventory items are combined together that make up an order with a sortation system. The sortation system has an induct subsystem and the induction subsystem has an input. Inventory items are transported from the warehouse to the induction subsystem input with a transportation system. Inventory items assigned to multiple-item orders are forwarded to the sortation system with the induct subsystem responsive to the data base. Inventory items assigned to single item orders are forwarded to a packing station bypassing the sortation system responsive to the data base.

A carrier basket support and stabilizing system having cars configured to travel along a pathway, at least some support groups including three of the cars, and each support group of three of the cars includes a lead, center, and trailing car, and a carrier basket support is connected to the center car. The carrier basket support includes a center plate and a support post connected to the center car and first and second wing plates located on opposite sides of and pivotally connected to the center plate. The lead and trailing cars slidably support the respective wing plates there-against as the cars pivot while moving along the pathway. A carrier basket is pivotally connected to the support post and has rollers configured for rolling contact with the center, first, and/or the second wing plates, depending on an orientation of the carrier basket support.

A method of operating a conveyor system having a fixed, non-powered rail defining a conveyor path and a plurality of automated conveyor carriers (ACC). The ACCs are supported on the rail such that an interface is formed between the rail and at least one wheel of each of the ACCs. The ACCs are independently driven along the conveyor path through a plurality of work stations defining a forward direction by an on-board motor and an on-board power source selectively powering the on-board motor. A first ACC of the plurality drives itself to oscillate back and forth with respect to the forward direction at a selected one of the plurality of work stations. During the oscillating of the first ACC, a second ACC of the plurality of ACCs is stopped or moves only in a single direction.

A conveyor system including a fixed, non-powered rail defining a conveyor path, and a plurality of automated conveyor carriers supported on the rail. Each carrier includes an on-board motor, at least one wheel forming an interface with the rail, and an on-board power source selectively powering the on-board motor to drive the ACC along the rail. Each of the plurality of carriers operates to power the on-board motor from the on-board power source under the direction of instructions programmed to a local controller.

A conveyor system including a fixed, non-powered rail defining a conveyor path, and a plurality of automated conveyor carriers supported on the rail. Each carrier includes an on-board motor, at least one wheel forming an interface with the rail, and an on-board power source selectively powering the on-board motor to drive the ACC along the rail. Each of the plurality of carriers operates to power the on-board motor from the on-board power source under the direction of instructions programmed to a local controller.

An automated conveyor carrier includes a first trolley and a second trolley. The first trolley includes an on-board motor and at least one drive wheel driven from the on-board motor and configured for engagement with a conveyor rail. An on-board power source is configured to selectively power the on-board motor to drive the at least one drive wheel. The second trolley includes at least one wheel configured for engagement with the rail. A load bar connects the first trolley and the second trolley. The on-board power source is supported by the load bar between the first and second trolleys.

The invention relates to a suspended pouch (10) acting as a container for conveyed goods for transporting goods to be conveyed in a suspended conveyor device, comprising a first pouch side wall (12) and a second pouch side wall (14) which can be unfolded and folded up to open and close a conveyed goods receiving region (16), and comprising a suspension means (20), the first pouch side wall (12) comprising a rigid edge contour region (12r) and being connected at said region to the suspension means (20) so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis (26), and the second pouch side wall (14) being connected to the suspension means (20), or said suspension means being able to act on said second side wall, in such a way that the first and second pouch side wall (12, 14) can be unfolded and folded up by pivoting the first pouch side wall (12) about the pivot axis (26), wherein the suspended pouch (10) comprises a basic unit (50) and an interchangeable element (60), the basic unit (50) comprising the suspension means (20) and the rigid edge contour region (12r), and the interchangeable element (60) comprising at least part of the second pouch side wall (14), preferably the entire second pouch side wall (14), and being provided on the basic unit (50) in a replaceable manner.

A system and method are provided for processing a backhalve of a slaughtered poultry carcass, comprising a back portion and legs, and transported by a conveyor in a suspended manner. The system comprises a back turning device, having a stationary frame and a receiving element movably connected to the frame and configured to receive at least a part of the back portion and configured to be moved in the conveying direction with at least said part of the back portion received in the receiving element during continued movement of the backhalve so as to turn the back portion upside-down; and a separation device for separating the legs from the back portion with the back portion in said upside-down orientation.

A transport bag for a conveying apparatus includes a first bag wall, a second bag wall, and a suspension apparatus arranged at an upper end of one of the bag walls. Closing elements, which can reversibly be coupled to each other, are arranged at a bottom end of the bag walls remote from the suspension apparatus, with which the bottom ends of the bag walls can be connected to each other to form a bag base. The closing elements are latching strips oriented in parallel with respect to each other and can be latched onto each other. The latching strips are formed in such a way that they are displaceable from a transport position closing the transport bag at the bottom end and latches them together by displacement relative to each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the latching strips into an unlatching position in which the latching strips are releasable from each other, for opening the transport bag at the bottom end.

A carrier basket stabilizing system and method for use with a conveyor system having a pathway on which cars are guided, with at least some of the cars having a carrier basket pivotally mounted thereon. The conveyor system includes a curved portion of the pathway, that may be directly before at least one of a loading station or an unloading station. The system includes a support configured to be located adjacent to a portion of the pathway, with a deflectable element on the support that extends generally parallel to the portion of the pathway, with the deflectable element extending partially into a space envelope generated by the carrier basket as it moves through the portion of the pathway. The deflectable element includes bristles that suppress an outward swinging movement of the carrier basket.