According to an embodiment, a supply apparatus includes first, second and third conveyance portions. The first conveyance portion removes processing targets from a feeder in which the processing targets are placed. The first conveyance portion conveys the processing targets along a first conveyance direction. The second conveyance portion is disposed on a downstream side of the first conveyance portion. In the second conveyance portion, a plurality of conveyance portions having mutually different conveyance directions are sequentially connected. The second conveyance portion conveys the processing targets from an upstream side to the downstream side along a second conveyance direction. The third conveyance portion is disposed on a downstream side of the second conveyance portion. The third conveyance portion conveys the processing targets along a third conveyance direction while separating the processing targets from each other at a predetermined pitch.

An arranging conveyor system has outlet conveyors in a plurality of lines, intermediate conveyors in the plurality of lines, and transferring/discharging conveyors in the plurality of lines. When a discharging interval has not passed from a previous discharging action and a predetermined clog condition in a specific line is fulfilled, a conveyed object which is present in the specific line at a stop position on the transferring/discharging conveyor is discharged outside of the arranging conveyor system.

An apparatus for unscrambling articles includes a transport system for transporting randomly-arranged articles on a transport plane and a system for extracting articles arranged with a predefined orientation and/or position. Devices for picking and releasing the articles are configured to pick up the articles randomly arranged on the transport system and release them to an extraction system with a predefined orientation and/or position. A detection system is designed to detect position and arrangement of the articles in transit and to provide information for controlling gripping and release devices, while a unit for processing and controlling components and drives of the apparatus is designed to receive the position and/or arrangement information of the articles and to control the gripping and release devices. The pick and release devices include a robot for picking up articles only from the first section, and a robot for picking up articles only from the second section.

An apparatus for unscrambling articles includes a transport system for transporting randomly-arranged articles on a transport plane and a system for extracting articles arranged with a predefined orientation and/or position. Devices for picking and releasing the articles are configured to pick up the articles randomly arranged on the transport system and release them to an extraction system with a predefined orientation and/or position. A detection system is designed to detect position and arrangement of the articles in transit and to provide information for controlling gripping and release devices, while a unit for processing and controlling components and drives of the apparatus is designed to receive the position and/or arrangement information of the articles and to control the gripping and release devices. The pick and release devices include a robot for picking up articles only from the first section, and a robot for picking up articles only from the second section.

A configurable assembly is provided for conveying products along a longitudinal direction; the assembly has a supporting structure and at least two conveyor units; at least one of said units is provided with at least two tracks which receive, in use, respective products and diverge from or converge towards each other along a lateral direction, proceeding longitudinally from an inlet to an outlet; the units are movable with respect to the supporting structure by the action of an actuator device between a working area and at least one storage area, so as to selectively arrange one of said units in the working area.

A configurable assembly is provided for conveying products along a longitudinal direction; the assembly has a supporting structure and at least two conveyor units; at least one of said units is provided with at least two tracks which receive, in use, respective products and diverge from or converge towards each other along a lateral direction, proceeding longitudinally from an inlet to an outlet; the units are movable with respect to the supporting structure by the action of an actuator device between a working area and at least one storage area, so as to selectively arrange one of said units in the working area.

Method and machine to carry out a control on a group of articles. An initial conveyor is configured to move the articles along an initial path, which starts in an input station; a final conveyor is configured to move the articles along a final path, which is parallel and next to the initial path and ends in an output station; a control unit is configured to carry out a simultaneous control of all articles of the group of articles; a first transferring device is configured to simultaneously transfer the whole group of articles to be controlled from the initial conveyor to the control unit; and a second transferring device is configured to simultaneously transfer the whole group of articles controlled by the control unit to the final conveyor.

Method and machine to carry out a control on a group of articles. An initial conveyor is configured to move the articles along an initial path, which starts in an input station; a final conveyor is configured to move the articles along a final path, which is parallel and next to the initial path and ends in an output station; a control unit is configured to carry out a simultaneous control of all articles of the group of articles; a first transferring device is configured to simultaneously transfer the whole group of articles to be controlled from the initial conveyor to the control unit; and a second transferring device is configured to simultaneously transfer the whole group of articles controlled by the control unit to the final conveyor.

According to an embodiment, an information processing device includes a first communication unit, second communication unit, and processor. The first communication unit transmits/receives data to/from a measurement device measuring, in a first transport mechanism transporting articles to an external device, a distance to each part in a predetermined region including the articles transported by the first transport mechanism. The second communication unit transmits/receives data to/from a speed control mechanism controlling a transport speed of a second transport mechanism transporting the articles to the first transport mechanism. The processor acquires distance information indicating the distance to each part in the predetermined region from the measurement device, sets a transport speed of the second transport mechanism based on the acquired distance information, and transmits speed information indicating the set transport speed of the second transport mechanism to the speed control mechanism.

Warehouse automation and methods of automatically sorting and sequencing items can be implemented to streamline and expedite order fulfillment and store replenishment processes in a cost-effective manner. Some embodiments described herein include sorting items to a truck-level and inducting those items for a first truck into a buffering and sequencing system. Items can temporarily accumulate in the buffering and sequencing system and thereafter be discharged in a desired sequence as the items become available within the buffering and sequencing system. In some embodiments, the buffering and sequencing system is used to sequence items for loading one or more store aisle-ready carts in a sequence that corresponds to a store aisle layout.