An automated system for transferring articles from a container. An item transfer system includes retainers configured to secure a first tray and a second tray, a movable paddle assembly, a frame, and a plurality of actuators. The system is configured to transfer articles from the first tray to the second tray by an automated process including securing the articles within the first tray with the paddle assembly, rotating the frame by approximately 90° to 100°, moving the paddle assembly in a series of linear translations to remove the items from the first tray and place the items into the second tray, rotating the frame back to its initial orientation, and releasing the items into the second tray.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for flexible container chutes for sortation systems. In one embodiment, an example system may include a first extendable arm, a second extendable arm, a first flexible container removably coupled to the first extendable arm and the second extendable arm, and a second flexible container removably coupled to the first extendable arm and the second extendable arm. The system may include a chute assembly having a first ramp, a first separator coupled to a first end of the first ramp, a second ramp, and a second separator coupled to a second end of the second ramp. The first ramp and the second ramp may be vertically aligned, and the first flexible container may receive items via the first ramp, and the second flexible container may receive items via the second ramp.

A conveyor system for conveying goods having a lying conveyor for conveying the goods horizontally, where the lying conveyor includes a sorting device with multiple delivery points, and having an overhead conveyor, by way of which the goods are conveyed in a suspended manner on a goods carrier, where the overhead conveyor is connected to at least one of the delivery points for delivering the goods.

A conveyor system for conveying goods having a lying conveyor for conveying the goods horizontally, where the lying conveyor includes a sorting device with multiple delivery points, and having an overhead conveyor, by way of which the goods are conveyed in a suspended manner on a goods carrier, where the overhead conveyor is connected to at least one of the delivery points for delivering the goods.

Hybrid sortation systems and methods may include a floor having a plurality of transfer locations, a plurality of container drive units or pods that may be positioned at respective transfer locations to receive packages, and a plurality of overdrive units that may travel over and sort packages to respective transfer locations. The overdrive units may be configured to travel over container drive units or pods, such that operations or movements of container drive units or pods may be substantially decoupled or independent from operations or movements of overdrive units. In this manner, sort density and throughput of such hybrid sortation systems may be increased, while also reducing congestion associated with operations or movements of robotic drive units.

Embodiments herein describe a controller for a machine that wirelessly transmits a destination address to a robot which is tasked with transporting an item to the destination corresponding to the received address. Using the address, the robot can select a predefined path stored in its memory for that address. Because multiple robots can move items in the machine at the same time, the robots may collide if their predefined paths intersect. The machine can use a variety of different techniques to prevent collisions between the robots as the robots deliver items to different locations along their predefined paths.

A method and apparatus are provided for sorting or retrieving items to/from a plurality of destinations areas. The items are loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles follow a path to/from the destination areas, which are positioned along the path. Once at the appropriate destination area, an item is transferred between the delivery vehicle and the destination area.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for container chutes for sortation systems. In one embodiment, an example system may include a frame and a chute assembly coupled to the frame, where the chute assembly is configured to pivot from a first position to a second position with respect to the frame. The chute assembly may include a first planar ramp, a first support on a first side of the first planar ramp, and a second support on a second side of the first planar ramp. The chute assembly may include a first pneumatic lift component coupled to the first support and to the frame, and a second pneumatic lift component coupled to the second support and to the frame. The chute assembly may be held in the second position when the first pneumatic lift component and the second pneumatic lift component are in a compressed configuration.

The present invention relates to a picking cell for a job-related automated picking of goods that can remove different goods from supply bins and can transfer them into an output bin in an automated manner, said picking cell comprising: an object detection device for detecting the goods in a supply bin; a gripper for removing the goods from a supply bin; and a cell control for evaluating the data of the object detection device and for a path planning and a control of the gripper, wherein the cell control controls the gripper such that different goods of a job or of a partial job are placed at a predefined position and/or with a predefined orientation in the output bin.

An automated system for transferring articles from a container. An item transfer system includes retainers configured to secure a first tray and a second tray, a movable paddle assembly, a frame, and a plurality of actuators. The system is configured to transfer articles from the first tray to the second tray by an automated process including securing the articles within the first tray with the paddle assembly, rotating the frame by approximately 90° to 100°, moving the paddle assembly in a series of linear translations to remove the items from the first tray and place the items into the second tray, rotating the frame back to its initial orientation, and releasing the items into the second tray.