Disclosed are various embodiments for a singulator that has a port for diverting items. An item is received on at least one conveyor segment of a singulator. The item is transported using at least one conveyor segment to a side wall of the singulator. The item is transported using at least one conveyor segment through a port in the side wall of the singulator.

Disclosed are various embodiments for a singulator that has a port for diverting items. An item is received on at least one conveyor segment of a singulator. The item is transported using at least one conveyor segment to a side wall of the singulator. The item is transported using at least one conveyor segment through a port in the side wall of the singulator.

A split shaft screw system includes a screw configured to convey an article along a movement path. The screw includes a plurality of threads, each thread having a crest, a root and a pair of sidewalls, wherein the root and pair of sidewalls are configured to capture the article. Provided are a first screw segment connected to a first drive shaft configured to be driven by a first motor, and a second screw segment immediately adjacent to the first screw segment and connected to a second drive shaft concentric to the first drive shaft, the second drive shaft configured to be driven by a second motor independently of the driving of the first screw segment.

A handling device for buffering products includes a transport unit having at least one feed conveying element for conveying products along a main conveying direction of the transport unit. A transverse conveying element is configured as a transverse conveyor belt having a conveying direction that runs transversely to the main conveying direction, and includes a conveying element for conveying products along the main conveying direction after an influencing of a product arrangement by the transverse conveying element. The transverse conveying element is arranged downstream of the feed conveying element along the main conveying direction. The handling device includes at least one control or regulation unit for controlling or regulating a drive parameter of the transverse conveying element for influencing a product arrangement on the conveying element. The transverse conveying element is arranged inclined relative to a main conveying plane of the transport unit.

A handling device for buffering products includes a transport unit having at least one feed conveying element for conveying products along a main conveying direction of the transport unit. A transverse conveying element is configured as a transverse conveyor belt having a conveying direction that runs transversely to the main conveying direction, and includes a conveying element for conveying products along the main conveying direction after an influencing of a product arrangement by the transverse conveying element. The transverse conveying element is arranged downstream of the feed conveying element along the main conveying direction. The handling device includes at least one control or regulation unit for controlling or regulating a drive parameter of the transverse conveying element for influencing a product arrangement on the conveying element. The transverse conveying element is arranged inclined relative to a main conveying plane of the transport unit.

A tray feeding system having a buffer conveyor for trays including a belt with spaced apart free running rollers having a rotation axis perpendicular to the conveying direction. These rollers extend upward from the belt such that the trays partly rest on the rollers. A tray conveyor receiving end is adjacent to an outputting end of the buffer conveyor where items are placed into the trays by a tray filler. A roller interactor is positioned below and adjacent to the surface of the buffer conveyor belt at an outputting end to engage with the rollers at the outputting end area when the buffer conveyor belts move forward rotating the rollers positioned within the outputting end area accelerating the trays on the buffer conveyor within the outputting end area of the buffer conveyor towards the receiving end of the tray conveyor.

There is disclosed a distributing system for distributing articles, comprising a channel for conveying articles and which extends from an input opening to an output opening adapted to output articles along a first direction; channel comprises a first portion which defines input opening; and a second portion which defines output opening and is articulated with respect to first portion; output opening is movable along a second direction transversal to first direction; first portion may be arranged, in use, sloped relative to first direction as a result of the movement of output opening along second direction; distributing system comprises a pair of first conveyors and a pair of respective second conveyors which define first portion of channel; each first conveyor is free to slide with respect to respective second conveyor.

There is disclosed a distributing system for distributing articles, comprising a channel for conveying articles and which extends from an input opening to an output opening adapted to output articles along a first direction; channel comprises a first portion which defines input opening; and a second portion which defines output opening and is articulated with respect to first portion; output opening is movable along a second direction transversal to first direction; first portion may be arranged, in use, sloped relative to first direction as a result of the movement of output opening along second direction; distributing system comprises a pair of first conveyors and a pair of respective second conveyors which define first portion of channel; each first conveyor is free to slide with respect to respective second conveyor.

A mixed article sortation system and method of sorting the bulk flow of mixed articles being of various sizes and shapes to separate destinations includes at least two bulk flow singulators, each configured to receive a bulk flow of mixed articles and arrange the articles to respective first and second single-file flows. A first article induct arranges the first flow of articles from one of the singulators to a first flow of gapped articles and a first article sensor senses the identity and weight of each article. A second article induct arranges the single-file flow of articles from the other singulator to a second flow of gapped articles and a second article sensor senses the identity and weight of each article in said second single-file flow. A combiner combines the first and second single-file flow of articles into a third single-file flow of articles. A sorter receives the third single-file flow of mixed articles and sorts the articles to separate destinations.

Various embodiments provide systems and methods for providing a desired gap between articles within a continuously flowing train of articles. Various embodiment methods may include operating a material handling system including a plurality of conveying units, by generating motion profiles for a plurality of articles to provide a pre-determined gap between the articles, and controlling the plurality of conveying units to move each article in accordance with its motion profile as the plurality of articles move through the material handling system.