In order, e.g., to provide a line sorter in which acoustic noise resulting from the polygon effect is reduced, there is disclosed a sorter (102) for sorting items of various shapes, sizes and weights, such as postal parcels or airport baggage. The sorter includes a closed loop comprising a plurality of sorting carts (302) for moving along an upper track section, a lower track section and end track sections in a moving direction. The plurality of carts are coupled at couplings (312), which enable the carts to pivot relatively to each other in at least one plane when in operation. Each cart is able to pivot relatively to an adjacent cart at two or more pivot points (404, 414, 1002) where the two or more pivot points are positioned a pivot point distance greater than zero apart in the moving direction of the carts.

Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to systems and methods for emptying and/or cleaning a tray within in an assembly line grow pod. In one embodiment, a sanitizer component for cleaning a tray coupled to a cart in an assembly line grow pod is disclosed. The sanitizer component is coupled to a track such that the cart and the tray are received in the sanitizer component via the track. The sanitizer component comprises a first actuator arm positioned underneath the track and extendable through an opening in the track and an aperture at a bottom end of the cart to contact the tray such that the tray rotates in a first direction. The sanitizer component further includes an actuator motor coupled to the first actuator arm for extending the first actuator arm and a controller. The controller is communicatively connected to the actuator motor in the sanitizer component.

A weighing system for weighing an item when being conveyed from a receiving section to an outlet section, the weighing system comprising: at least one container for transporting the item; a conveyor means connected to the container for conveying said container in a conveying direction at a first vertical position relative to the conveyor means; and a weighing device for weighing the container when said container is being conveyed and supported on said weighing device; wherein the container is connected to the conveyor means via a primary connecting means and a secondary connecting means, each of the two connecting means comprising a first section permanently connected to the container, a second section permanently connected to the conveyor means, and a third section hingedly connected to both the first section and the second section; wherein both connecting means are arranged such that the third section of the primary connecting means and the third section of the secondary connecting means are rotatable about a first axis substantially parallel to the conveying direction, such that the rotation of said third sections about the first axis allows for movement of the container with respect to the conveyor means in a vertical direction from the first vertical position to a second vertical position, and wherein the third section of the primary connecting means and the third section of the secondary connecting means are mutually coupled.

An article carrier is disclosed. The article carrier comprises a mounting portion adapted for connection to a conveyor such that when the article carrier is connected to the conveyor the conveyor is positioned on a conveyor axis of the article carrier. The article carrier has first and second carrier portions connected to the mounting portion which are configured to allow weighing of one or more articles carried, in use, by the carrier portions. The first carrier portion comprises a first bearing surface and a second bearing surface, and the second carrier portion comprises a third bearing surface and a spaced apart fourth bearing surface. A distance between the conveyor axis and any point on one of the bearing surfaces, measured orthogonally to the conveyor axis, is different to a distance between the conveyor axis and any point on any of the other bearing surfaces, measured orthogonally to the conveyor axis.

An apparatus including a delivery device including a tray, and a device for changing the tray from a receiving state to a dumping state; a device for supplying one or more materials to the delivery device, while the tray of the delivery device is in a receiving state; a track device including a track and a motor; and a mold having an elongated opening, wherein the delivery device is configured to move back and forth on the track of the track device in response to the motor of the track device; wherein the track of the track device is substantially parallel to the elongated opening of the mold; and wherein the device for changing the tray from the receiving state to the dumping state causes one or more materials to fall from the tray through the elongated opening of the mold into an inner chamber of the mold.

A sorter for agricultural items comprising a main frame with a circular horizontal plate having an outer edge cam surface. A circular sub-frame is mounted for rotation about the plate's vertical axis, in parallel relation to the plate. The sub-frame includes plural item cups pivotally mounted on its periphery. The cam surface tilts the cups from a raised loading position, to a horizontal viewing position, to a lowered ejection position. A loading zone includes means for loading an individual item into a respective cup. A viewing zone has camera means for optically viewing individual items as each rolls through the cup, producing an output signal corresponding to reflectivity characteristics. Computer means compares the output signal to predetermined values and produces a corresponding ejection signal. A re-direction zone includes plural ejectors, whereby a selected one of the ejectors ejects the item out its cup in response to an ejection signal.

A conveyor device for conveying articles includes: travel units, trays provided for the respective travel units, and infill plates, each covering a clearance left between the trays. A swing bar supports the infill plate so as to vertically swing the infill plate and is provided at a position shifted by a predetermined distance L in a direction opposite to the traveling direction of the travel unit from the position of a coupler connecting the travel unit supporting a plate-tilting shaft and the travel unit traveling ahead, the plate-tilting shaft supporting the infill plate so as to laterally tilt the infill plate.

Disclosed are various embodiments for using air pressure to increase or decrease the force of static friction between an item and the surface of a conveyance system. The conveyance system can include a track and a conveyor segment affixed to the track. The conveyor segment can include an air permeable surface on which an item can be placed. Mounted underneath the air permeable surface is an air displacement device.

A conveyor device for conveying articles includes: travel units, trays provided for the respective travel units, and infill plates, each covering a clearance left between the trays. A swing bar supports the infill plate so as to vertically swing the infill plate and is provided at a position shifted by a predetermined distance L in a direction opposite to the traveling direction of the travel unit from the position of a coupler connecting the travel unit supporting a plate-tilting shaft and the travel unit traveling ahead, the plate-tilting shaft supporting the infill plate so as to laterally tilt the infill plate.

Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to systems and methods for emptying and/or cleaning a tray within in an assembly line grow pod. In one embodiment, a sanitizer component for cleaning a tray coupled to a cart in an assembly line grow pod is disclosed. The sanitizer component is coupled to a track such that the cart and the tray are received in the sanitizer component via the track. The sanitizer component comprises a first actuator arm positioned underneath the track and extendable through an opening in the track and an aperture at a bottom end of the cart to contact the tray such that the tray rotates in a first direction. The sanitizer component further includes an actuator motor coupled to the first actuator arm for extending the first actuator arm and a controller. The controller is communicatively connected to the actuator motor in the sanitizer component.