An automated carrier system is disclosed for moving objects to be processed. The automated carrier system includes a discontinuous plurality of track sections on which an automated carrier may be directed to move, and the automated carrier includes a base structure on which an object may be supported, and at least two wheels assemblies being pivotally supported on the base structure for pivoting movement from a first position to a second position to effect a change in direction of movement of the carrier.

A maintenance system is disclosed for assisting in maintaining an automated carrier system for moving objects to be processed. The maintenance system includes a plurality of automated carriers that are adapted to move on an array of discontinuous standard track sections, each said automated carrier including a carrier body that is no larger in either a length or width direction that a standard track section, and an automated maintenance carrier that is adapted to move on the array of discontinuous track sections, said automated maintenance system including a maintenance body that is larger in at least one of a length or width direction than the standard track section.

A parcel or packet sorting installation comprising a bin conveyor having bins (4) that are designed to convey the parcels in series in a certain conveying direction over a plurality of sorting outlets, and a parcel injector designed to inject one parcel per bin, said sorting conveyor being designed to sort the parcels into the sorting outlets from the bins as a function of sorting information affixed to each of the parcels. Each bin comprises two side walls (9) and a floor (10) mounted to pivot between the two side walls, and a flap (11) mounted to pivot at an upstream end of the floor relative to the conveying direction.

A parcel or packet sorting installation comprising a bin conveyor having bins (4) that are designed to convey the parcels in series in a certain conveying direction over a plurality of sorting outlets, and a parcel injector designed to inject one parcel per bin, said sorting conveyor being designed to sort the parcels into the sorting outlets from the bins as a function of sorting information affixed to each of the parcels. Each bin comprises two side walls (9) and a floor (10) mounted to pivot between the two side walls, and a flap (11) mounted to pivot at an upstream end of the floor relative to the conveying direction.

The invention relates to a method for order picking of items at a picking station, wherein the source containers (5) are transported to a retrieval position (33) in an arbitrary sequence, and the target containers (27) are provided in a sorting buffer (36) with buffer positions (39) ahead of a single loading position (35). A first target container is transported back into the sorting buffer for processing of different order lines after placement of an item for a first order line, and is temporarily buffered at a sorting position (42) until a source container with an item for a second order line is conveyed onward into a buffer track section (23) provided upstream of the retrieval position. A second target container is transported back into the sorting buffer for processing of different order lines after placement of an item for a first order line, and is moved via a second sorting position to one of the buffer positions and subsequently to the loading position if a source container with an item for a second order line has already been transported into the buffer track section. In addition, the invention relates to a picking station.

The invention relates to a method for order picking of items at a picking station, wherein the source containers (5) are transported to a retrieval position (33) in an arbitrary sequence, and the target containers (27) are provided in a sorting buffer (36) with buffer positions (39) ahead of a single loading position (35). A first target container is transported back into the sorting buffer for processing of different order lines after placement of an item for a first order line, and is temporarily buffered at a sorting position (42) until a source container with an item for a second order line is conveyed onward into a buffer track section (23) provided upstream of the retrieval position. A second target container is transported back into the sorting buffer for processing of different order lines after placement of an item for a first order line, and is moved via a second sorting position to one of the buffer positions and subsequently to the loading position if a source container with an item for a second order line has already been transported into the buffer track section. In addition, the invention relates to a picking station.

A parcel sorter system and method. A process performed by a parcel sorter system includes receiving sorting information of a first parcel. The process includes identifying a first destination pallet corresponding to the sorting information. The first destination pallet is associated with a first pallet carousel and a first destination chute. The process includes transporting the first parcel toward the first destination chute. The process includes, while transporting the parcel toward the first destination chute, operating the first pallet carousel to move the first destination pallet proximate to the first destination chute. The process includes delivering the first parcel at the first destination chute for placement on the first destination pallet.

A parcel sorter system and method. A process performed by a parcel sorter system includes receiving sorting information of a first parcel. The process includes identifying a first destination pallet corresponding to the sorting information. The first destination pallet is associated with a first pallet carousel and a first destination chute. The process includes transporting the first parcel toward the first destination chute. The process includes, while transporting the parcel toward the first destination chute, operating the first pallet carousel to move the first destination pallet proximate to the first destination chute. The process includes delivering the first parcel at the first destination chute for placement on the first destination pallet.

An automated carrier system is disclosed for moving objects to be processed. The automated carrier system includes a discontinuous plurality of track sections on which an automated carrier may be directed to move, and the automated carrier includes a base structure on which an object may be supported, and at least two wheels assemblies being pivotally supported on the base structure for pivoting movement from a first position to a second position to effect a change in direction of movement of the carrier.

The present invention is related to a replenishment method and device in an assembly line. A usage storage area for storing a first object set and a spare storage area for storing a second object set are defined in the replenishment apparatus. The replenishment apparatus comprises a fixing carrier in the usage storage area and a moving carrier in the spare storage area. The replenishment method comprises driving the moving carrier to move the second object set in the spare usage area to the fixing carrier in the usage storage area when a remaining number of objects in the first object set carried in the fixing carrier is zero and the first object set in the fixing carrier is removed; and moving the moving carrier to leave the fixing carrier and recover to the spare usage area.