A side-by-side parcel separation method is provided. The side-by-side parcel separation method includes the following steps: dispersion: dispersing, by an angle difference existing in a conveying direction, parcels arriving at a dispersion device from a conveying line, wherein a gap is reserved between adjacent parcels; detection and recognition: photographing and recognizing detected parcels by a visual recognition device to obtain a three-dimensional size and real-time position data of each parcel; separation: applying different conveying speeds to the adjacent parcels by a separation device, arriving, by a first parcel-recognized to be at a front position, at a side-approaching device at a fast speed, and repeating the foregoing steps; and single-row queuing: forwardly conveying, in a single-row queuing mode, different parcels arriving at the side-approaching device in sequence. A separation device for implementing the side-by-side parcel separation method is also provided.

A side-by-side parcel separation method is provided. The side-by-side parcel separation method includes the following steps: dispersion: dispersing, by an angle difference existing in a conveying direction, parcels arriving at a dispersion device from a conveying line, wherein a gap is reserved between adjacent parcels; detection and recognition: photographing and recognizing detected parcels by a visual recognition device to obtain a three-dimensional size and real-time position data of each parcel; separation: applying different conveying speeds to the adjacent parcels by a separation device, arriving, by a first parcel-recognized to be at a front position, at a side-approaching device at a fast speed, and repeating the foregoing steps; and single-row queuing: forwardly conveying, in a single-row queuing mode, different parcels arriving at the side-approaching device in sequence. A separation device for implementing the side-by-side parcel separation method is also provided.

A system includes an article supply location, wherein the article supply location includes a plurality of articles to be sorted, first and second transport vehicles, each having a first position in which an article is stowed about the vehicle and a second position in which the article is deposited into a proximal container. And a control system. The control system is configured to receive an order for a plurality of disparate articles, determine one destination container of a plurality of destination containers to direct the transport vehicle to deposit a selected article, direct the first transport vehicle to transport a selected article to the destination container and deposit the article by manipulation of the first transport vehicle from the first position to the second position for deposit of the selected article in the destination container.

A system includes an article supply location, wherein the article supply location includes a plurality of articles to be sorted, first and second transport vehicles, each having a first position in which an article is stowed about the vehicle and a second position in which the article is deposited into a proximal container. And a control system. The control system is configured to receive an order for a plurality of disparate articles, determine one destination container of a plurality of destination containers to direct the transport vehicle to deposit a selected article, direct the first transport vehicle to transport a selected article to the destination container and deposit the article by manipulation of the first transport vehicle from the first position to the second position for deposit of the selected article in the destination container.

A system includes an article supply location, wherein the article supply location includes a plurality of articles to be sorted, first and second transport vehicles, each having a first position in which an article is stowed about the vehicle and a second position in which the article is deposited into a proximal container. And a control system. The control system is configured to receive an order for a plurality of disparate articles, determine one destination container of a plurality of destination containers to direct the transport vehicle to deposit a selected article, direct the first transport vehicle to transport a selected article to the destination container and deposit the article by manipulation of the first transport vehicle from the first position to the second position for deposit of the selected article in the destination container.

A system includes an article supply location, wherein the article supply location includes a plurality of articles to be sorted, first and second transport vehicles, each having a first position in which an article is stowed about the vehicle and a second position in which the article is deposited into a proximal container. And a control system. The control system is configured to receive an order for a plurality of disparate articles, determine one destination container of a plurality of destination containers to direct the transport vehicle to deposit a selected article, direct the first transport vehicle to transport a selected article to the destination container and deposit the article by manipulation of the first transport vehicle from the first position to the second position for deposit of the selected article in the destination container.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides an exemplary system that includes a mechanism configured to create by a digital mailing services provider, DMSP, a recipient-specific handling information indicia and provide said recipient-specific handling information indicia to a recipient; a mechanism configured to allow the recipient to provide said handling information indicia in delivery address C/O line, on a mail item, thereby indicating to said service provider their desired handling route for the mail item so that a paper mail recipient to receive improved transmission of correspondence from said service provider via both paper and electronic channels solely via including said handling information indicia contained in the delivery address C/O line of the recipient's delivery address on the mail item.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides an exemplary system that includes a mechanism configured to create by a digital mailing services provider, DMSP, a recipient-specific handling information indicia and provide said recipient-specific handling information indicia to a recipient; a mechanism configured to allow the recipient to provide said handling information indicia in delivery address C/O line, on a mail item, thereby indicating to said service provider their desired handling route for the mail item so that a paper mail recipient to receive improved transmission of correspondence from said service provider via both paper and electronic channels solely via including said handling information indicia contained in the delivery address C/O line of the recipient's delivery address on the mail item.

According to one embodiment, a detection apparatus includes a processor. The processor acquires height information at a plurality of points in a subject. The processor determines whether or not one or more steps are present at a height equal to or higher than a predetermined height from a reference in the subject based on the height information. The processor detects that the subject is in a state in which a plurality of objects are overlapped, if the number of the steps is equal to or greater than a first threshold value.

A method and apparatus are provided for sorting items to form groups at respective sort destinations. A scanning station evaluates one or more characteristics of each item fed into the apparatus. The items are loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles are individually driven to sort destinations. Once at the appropriate sort destination, the delivery vehicle ejects the item to the sort destination and returns to receive another item to be delivered. A re-induction conveyor may be provided for receiving select items from the vehicles and conveying the items back to the input station for re-processing. Additionally, a controller is provided to control the movement of the vehicles based on a characteristic each item being delivered by each vehicle. When an item to be manually sorted is encountered, a visual alert aligned with a selected destination is activated until manual transfer is confirmed.