A conveying system is disclosed. The conveying system may have a first conveying apparatus that conveys a first article to a first location. The conveying system may also have a second conveying apparatus that conveys a second article to a second location. The conveying system may have a frame, a chute connected to the frame, and a third conveying apparatus. The chute may convey the first article received from the first conveying apparatus to a discharge location. The third conveying apparatus, disposed below the chute, may convey the second article received from the second conveying apparatus to the discharge location. The chute may be movable relative to the to the third conveying apparatus, such that the first or second article may be selectively conveyed to the discharge location via the chute or third conveying apparatus, depending on the position of the chute relative to the third conveying apparatus.

A sorting system having a buffer interposable between a discharge, such as a chute, supplying packages and multiple destination receptacles, such as wheeled bins. The buffer temporarily accumulates packages to ensure correct package delivery to assigned destination receptacles during overflow conditions. The buffer may be realized in various ways that operate in horizontal, vertical, or inclined planes.

A system for sorting and dispensing packages can include a flip gate assembly. The flip gate assembly can include a base, an inclined surface, one or more support legs extending from the base to the inclined surface, an actuator attached to the base, and a flip gate pivotably attached to the inclined surface. The flip gate can be configured to be actuated by the actuator between a retracted configuration, in which a top side of the flip gate is planar with a top surface of the inclined surface, and an extended configuration, in which the top side of the flip gate is disposed at an angle with respect to the top surface of the inclined surface.

A trapdoor rejection subsystem includes one or more trapdoor rejection mechanisms. Each trapdoor rejection mechanism is configured to be selectively transitioned between a closed position to support parcels and an open position to allow parcels identified as unconveyable to pass through the trapdoor rejection mechanism. Each trapdoor rejection mechanism includes a first door, a second door, and one or more actuators which can be selectively actuated to rotate the first door and the second door and transition the trapdoor rejection mechanism between the closed position and the open position. The trapdoor rejection subsystem can be utilized in a conveyor system in combination with one or more robot singulators, an upstream conveyor, a place conveyor, and a vision and control subsystem. Detection of unconveyable parcels and the transition of each trapdoor rejection mechanism of the trapdoor rejection subsystem is controlled by the vision and control subsystem.

A rooftop package delivery receptacle for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) is transformed from a normally closed downwardly pitched transparent or translucent aesthetically acceptable rooftop aperture, appearing as an ordinary skylight, into a preferably larger substantially horizontal delivery platform providing a safe, secure, above ground location for a drone to land or tether for package delivery. Upon a wireless command signal from either an arriving UAV or a local user, the curb frame mounted receptacle containing a center pivoting platform supporting a plurality of slidably mounted panels rotates upwards and expands both longitudinally and transversely enabling a larger substantially horizontal landing area. After the package is delivered the platform contracts to its original size and continues in an upwards rotation urging the package to move inwards for collection. A pair of weatherproof accordion shaped shudders surround the openings and enclose any gaps during the operation.

Diverting paddles (72) on discharge chutes guide packages into multiple destination receptacles (22, R1) assigned to the package. The paddles (38, 72) can present static or driven flat outer surfaces or static or driven roller surfaces to the packages. The paddles (38, 72) block packages from entering non-assigned receptacles (22, 24, R1). The chutes may be made tillable to feed packages into receptacles (22, 24, R1) at different elevations.

Devices and systems are provided for improved article sortation. An example sortation device includes a height adjustable frame and a sortation table movably attached to the height adjustable frame. The sortation table defines a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a body extending therebetween. The body defines a first surface that supports an article thereon where a location of the body between the first end and the second end pivotally attaches the sortation table with the height adjustable frame. The sortation device performs a tilt operation in which the sortation table rotates about the pivotal attachment between the second end and the height adjustable frame so as to convey the article supported by the sortation table. The height adjustable frame adjusts a vertical position of the sortation table so as to modify a vertical position at which the article is conveyed.

A sorting conveyor system comprising a main sorting conveyor sorting packages directly into destination receptacles or first onto discharge sorting conveyors and further onto other destination receptacles. Multi-destination discharge chutes service two or more destination receptacles. Package detectors detect packages delivered to the destination receptacles to help identify packages sorted to the wrong destination receptacles.

A conveying system is disclosed. The conveying system may have a first conveying apparatus that conveys a first article to a first location. The conveying system may also have a second conveying apparatus that conveys a second article to a second location. The conveying system may have a frame, a chute connected to the frame, and a third conveying apparatus. The chute may convey the first article received from the first conveying apparatus to a discharge location. The third conveying apparatus, disposed below the chute, may convey the second article received from the second conveying apparatus to the discharge location. The chute may be movable relative to the to the third conveying apparatus, such that the first or second article may be selectively conveyed to the discharge location via the chute or third conveying apparatus, depending on the position of the chute relative to the third conveying apparatus.

A conveyance mechanism (1) includes: a conveyance face (10) for conveyance of a plurality of articles having adhesion. The conveyance face includes: a first conveyance face (11); a second conveyance face (12) disposed downstream (D2) of the first conveyance face (11) in a conveyance direction (MD); and a protrusion (15) disposed between the first conveyance face and the second conveyance face, the protrusion protruding to space in which the plurality of articles glides. The protrusion protrudes beyond a first extension line (FL1) extending downstream in the conveyance direction along the first conveyance face, and protrudes beyond a second extension line (FL2) extending upstream in the conveyance direction along the second conveyance face.