Methods, apparatuses, devices, and computer program products are disclosed for container transportation. An example system includes a conveyor network that includes a plurality of conveyors and each conveyor supports one or more containers thereon. Each conveyor defines a conveyor length and a conveyor operating speed. The system further includes a computing device operably coupled to the conveyor network. The computing device receives a starting location and a destination location of a first container within the conveyor network and receives an operating density for each conveyor in the conveyor network. The computing device determines a first travel path for the first container between the starting location and the destination location based upon the conveyor length, the conveyor operating speed, and the operating density for each conveyor in the conveyor network. The first travel path minimizes a total travel time for the first container between the starting location and the destination location.

The present invention provides a device for grouping containers, comprising a plurality of transfer pallets for conveying containers upright on a pallet surface and a first transfer device comprising a first transfer platform and an infeed manipulator, wherein the pallet surface of each transfer pallet has a plurality of ridge-like elevations forming a support surface for the containers, and wherein the first transfer platform has a comb-shaped outlet area configured for allowing the ridge-like elevations of the pallet surface to pass through the intermediate spaces of the comb-shaped outlet area for taking over the at least one container.

A picking facility includes a first conveyor that transports a container containing an article, a picking apparatus that takes out a target article from the container, a second conveyor that transports the target article that has been taken out, and a working space. The working space is provided on a side opposite to the second conveyor with the first conveyor being located between the working space and the second conveyor. The picking apparatus is arranged at a position that overlaps at least one of the first conveyor and the second conveyor and does not overlap the working space in a plan view.

A picking facility includes a first conveyor that transports a container containing an article, a picking apparatus that takes out a target article from the container, a second conveyor that transports the target article that has been taken out, and a working space. The working space is provided on a side opposite to the second conveyor with the first conveyor being located between the working space and the second conveyor. The picking apparatus is arranged at a position that overlaps at least one of the first conveyor and the second conveyor and does not overlap the working space in a plan view.

A lane forming apparatus can include a first arm, a second arm, a moving device, and at least one supporting device. The first arm can be disposed for lateral, pivoting movement about a pivot axis and across a rectilinear path. The second arm can be telescopically engaged with the first arm and extend between a proximal end and a distal end. The moving device can be engaged with the distal end and configured to move the distal end in at least two dimensions relative to the pivot axis. The supporting device can be positioned on an underside of one of the first arm and the second arm and can be configured to bear at least a portion of a weight of at least one of the first arm and the second arm during the lateral, pivoting movement.

A lane forming apparatus can include a first arm, a second arm, a moving device, and at least one supporting device. The first arm can be disposed for lateral, pivoting movement about a pivot axis and across a rectilinear path. The second arm can be telescopically engaged with the first arm and extend between a proximal end and a distal end. The moving device can be engaged with the distal end and configured to move the distal end in at least two dimensions relative to the pivot axis. The supporting device can be positioned on an underside of one of the first arm and the second arm and can be configured to bear at least a portion of a weight of at least one of the first arm and the second arm during the lateral, pivoting movement.

A divider arrangement, guide device, for guiding packages between at least two conveyor belts, and method of controlling the same is provided.

A divider arrangement, guide device, for guiding packages between at least two conveyor belts, and method of controlling the same is provided.

An empties sorting device includes a sorting table with a table surface, a feed section, and a discharge section. The discharge section has a dividing device with at least one section partition wall. The device further includes a conveying device, which is designed in such a way that the empties can be transferred from the feed section to the discharge section, and a guiding device with a guiding element, designed to be movable at least into a first guiding position associated with a first collecting channel, and a second guiding position associated with a second collecting channel, and a controller designed to control the movement of the guiding element into the first and second guiding positions in accordance with the type of empties. A discharge section partition wall between the collecting channels can be moved parallel to the table surface, thus allowing an associated collecting channel size to be varied.

A multistage multi-lane singulator conveyor system for separating side by side packages in stages. A first high friction surface conveying moving articles forward is adjacent a second low friction conveying lane in lateral flow communication having both forward and lateral conveying forces urging parcels forward and away from the first conveying lane, wherein the second conveying lane can be level or transversely inclined and angled upward in lateral flow communication with a third high friction surface conveying surface. Controlling residence time and forward and lateral movement of articles by assembling high friction surface conveying lanes and low friction surface conveying lanes in an end to end and/or lateral arrangement in flow communication with one another and/or shifting articles moving forward and laterally by staggering the high friction conveying surfaces and low friction conveying surfaces and adjusting the width by adjusting the number of high friction conveying surfaces adjacent one another.