The present invention relates to a conveying and distributing apparatus for delivering fish slaughtered by means of a plurality of slaughtering machines to at least one distributing device, comprising longitudinal conveyors downstream of each of the slaughtering machines, which are configured to receive the slaughtered fish longitudinally in a head to tail orientation, wherein each of the longitudinal conveyors comprises a weighing device for detecting the weight of the slaughtered fish, at least one first transfer device is arranged on each of the longitudinal conveyors, which are designed and configured to transfer the slaughtered fish to at least one transverse conveyor, wherein the at least one transverse conveyor is adapted to receive the slaughtered fish transversely with respect to the head to tail orientation, a feed device arranged on the end of the transverse conveyor, which is designed and configured to remove the slaughtered fish from the transverse conveyor and to feed the same to a distributing device, and a control device, wherein the control device comprises a position tracking means for tracking the respective positions of slaughtered fish and an allocation means for allocating the detected weights to the respective tracked positions of the slaughtered fish, and wherein the control device is designed and configured to control the distributing device on the basis of the detected weights when the slaughtered fish enter the distributing device according to a predefined distribution rule. The invention further relates to a corresponding arrangement and a corresponding method.

The present invention relates to a conveying and distributing apparatus for delivering fish slaughtered by means of a plurality of slaughtering machines to at least one distributing device, comprising longitudinal conveyors downstream of each of the slaughtering machines, which are configured to receive the slaughtered fish longitudinally in a head to tail orientation, wherein each of the longitudinal conveyors comprises a weighing device for detecting the weight of the slaughtered fish, at least one first transfer device is arranged on each of the longitudinal conveyors, which are designed and configured to transfer the slaughtered fish to at least one transverse conveyor, wherein the at least one transverse conveyor is adapted to receive the slaughtered fish transversely with respect to the head to tail orientation, a feed device arranged on the end of the transverse conveyor, which is designed and configured to remove the slaughtered fish from the transverse conveyor and to feed the same to a distributing device, and a control device, wherein the control device comprises a position tracking means for tracking the respective positions of slaughtered fish and an allocation means for allocating the detected weights to the respective tracked positions of the slaughtered fish, and wherein the control device is designed and configured to control the distributing device on the basis of the detected weights when the slaughtered fish enter the distributing device according to a predefined distribution rule. The invention further relates to a corresponding arrangement and a corresponding method.

A method and apparatus are provided for sorting items to a plurality of sort destinations. The items are fed into the apparatus at an input station having a scanning station. The scanning station evaluates one or more characteristics of each item. The items are then 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. The system may also include vehicles having edge-detection assemblies for detecting items being loaded onto or discharged from the vehicles.

An automated feeding, sorting, and packaging system includes a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt adjacent to the first conveyor belt. The second conveyor belt moves slightly faster than the first conveyor belt. A rotating size separation tool has slits or pockets, and is located between the first and second conveyor belt. The automated feeding, sorting, and packaging system also includes a backlit conveyor belt. A vision guided robot is arranged adjacent to the backlit conveyor belt. The vision guided robot is provided with a robotic gripper and a vision sensor. At least one scales is arranged adjacent to the vision guided robot. An arrangement of temporary storage bins is arranged adjacent to the vision guided robot. The automated feeding, sorting, and packaging system also includes a container handling system. A computer-based control system is connected to the vision guided robot and to the at least one scales.

An automated feeding, sorting, and packaging system includes a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt adjacent to the first conveyor belt. The second conveyor belt moves slightly faster than the first conveyor belt. A rotating size separation tool has slits or pockets, and is located between the first and second conveyor belt. The automated feeding, sorting, and packaging system also includes a backlit conveyor belt. A vision guided robot is arranged adjacent to the backlit conveyor belt. The vision guided robot is provided with a robotic gripper and a vision sensor. At least one scales is arranged adjacent to the vision guided robot. An arrangement of temporary storage bins is arranged adjacent to the vision guided robot. The automated feeding, sorting, and packaging system also includes a container handling system. A computer-based control system is connected to the vision guided robot and to the at least one scales.

Apparatuses, method and computer program products for automatically performing sorting operations are disclosed herein. An example apparatus may comprise: an array of gripping elements, and at least one processing component configured to: obtain image data corresponding with the plurality of items; identify, from the image data, one or more characteristics of the plurality of items; determine, based at least in part on the one or more characteristics, an ordered sequence corresponding with the plurality of items; and generate a control indication to cause at least one of the gripping elements to perform the sorting operations based at least in part on the ordered sequence.

Apparatuses, method and computer program products for automatically performing sorting operations are disclosed herein. An example apparatus may comprise: an array of gripping elements, and at least one processing component configured to: obtain image data corresponding with the plurality of items; identify, from the image data, one or more characteristics of the plurality of items; determine, based at least in part on the one or more characteristics, an ordered sequence corresponding with the plurality of items; and generate a control indication to cause at least one of the gripping elements to perform the sorting operations based at least in part on the ordered sequence.

A single-chain double-supported fruit cup device for sorting fruits and vegetables includes: a single-chain double-supported fruit cup which is provided on a conveyor track; wherein the single-chain double-supported fruit cup comprises: a fruit cup support frame, a hood, an internal liner, a tray, a pallet and an inverted L-shaped pallet (13); wherein the pallets are symmetrically hinged on the cup support frame along both sides of the conveyor track, the tray is provided on the pallet, and a hood is mounted on the tray for placing a spherical fruit; two inverted L-shaped pallets are hinged on the fruit cup support frame along a front end face and a rear end face of a conveyor track, and the two inverted L-shaped pallets extend towards the pallet (5) on both sides and are cooperatedly connected.

A single-chain double-supported fruit cup device for sorting fruits and vegetables includes: a single-chain double-supported fruit cup which is provided on a conveyor track; wherein the single-chain double-supported fruit cup comprises: a fruit cup support frame, a hood, an internal liner, a tray, a pallet and an inverted L-shaped pallet (13); wherein the pallets are symmetrically hinged on the cup support frame along both sides of the conveyor track, the tray is provided on the pallet, and a hood is mounted on the tray for placing a spherical fruit; two inverted L-shaped pallets are hinged on the fruit cup support frame along a front end face and a rear end face of a conveyor track, and the two inverted L-shaped pallets extend towards the pallet (5) on both sides and are cooperatedly connected.

Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in monitoring product placement within a shopping facility. Some embodiments provide an apparatus configured to determine product placement conditions within a shopping facility, comprising: a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications; a product monitoring control circuit coupled with the transceiver; a memory coupled with the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to: obtain a composite three-dimensional (3D) scan mapping corresponding to at least a select area of the shopping facility and based on a series of 3D scan data; evaluate the 3D scan mapping to identify multiple product depth distances; and identify, from the evaluation of the 3D scan mapping, when one or more of the multiple product depth distances is greater than a predefined depth distance threshold from the reference offset distance of the product support structure.