An automated vial feed system for an automated prescription filling system. The system has a plurality of sensors located above a vial distribution table for controlling the pace of vial delivery to the table. The sensors determine the load of vials on the table and a control system uses the information as feedback to the vial delivery system.

The invention relates to a method for picking order goods which are allocated to an order comprising a plurality of shipping containers. In the method, order goods allocated to the order are removed from a store (2), transported into a dynamic buffer (5, 5a, 5b) and stored there temporarily. The dynamic buffer (5, 5a, 5b) comprises an infeed line (6), an outfeed line (7), a plurality of buffer lanes (8) arranged between the infeed line (6) and the outfeed line (7), and at least one return lane (9) arranged therebetween. If a portion of the order goods available in the dynamic buffer (5, 5a, 5b) is sufficient to fill a predefinable number of shipping containers and is ready for packing, this portion of the order goods ready for packing is discharged from the dynamic buffer (5, 5a, 5b), transported to a picking workstation (10) and transferred, there, into the predefined number of shipping containers. The predefined number of shipping containers is smaller here than the total number of shipping container necessary to fulfill the order. The invention also relates to a goods storage system (1a . . . 1g) for carrying out said method.

A multistage multi-lane singulator conveyor system for separating side by side packages in stages. A first high friction surface conveying moving articles forward is adjacent a second low friction conveying lane in lateral flow communication having both forward and lateral conveying forces urging parcels forward and away from the first conveying lane, wherein the second conveying lane can be level or transversely inclined and angled upward in lateral flow communication with a third high friction surface conveying surface. Controlling residence time and forward and lateral movement of articles by assembling high friction surface conveying lanes and low friction surface conveying lanes in an end to end and/or lateral arrangement in flow communication with one another and/or shifting articles moving forward and laterally by staggering the high friction conveying surfaces and low friction conveying surfaces and adjusting the width by adjusting the number of high friction conveying surfaces adjacent one another.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an accumulation module for a product delivery system includes an input shaft configured to receive an external drive force. A transfer shaft reverses an operation of the external drive force to define a reversing drive force. An output shaft receives the reversing drive force. An accumulation belt is operated by the reversing drive force. The accumulation belt operates in opposition to the external drive force.

A method for feeding articles including the steps of: feeding transversally, by means of a first conveyor, a succession of parallel rows of articles to a transfer area; moving longitudinally, using a second conveyor, a succession of rows of articles from the transfer area; sending at least one row of articles, coming from the first conveyor, to a storage unit whilst the row of articles is fed transversely, preferably perpendicularly, to the row; transferring the row of articles inside the storage unit, positioning said row of articles in a longitudinal direction at an outfeed section of the storage unit; extracting longitudinally portions in sequence of said row, portions formed preferably by one or more articles, from the storage unit feeding said portions of row to the transfer area.

An article sorting control apparatus includes a memory, a processor, and a communication interface. The memory stores sorting destination management information including reference conveyance route information, fixed sorting destination information, and dynamic sorting destination information. The processor selects a first diverging control signal or a second diverging control signal. The communication interface transmits the first or the second diverging control signal to an article sorting apparatus.

The invention relates to a method for picking order goods which are allocated to an order comprising a plurality of shipping containers. In the method, order goods allocated to the order are removed from a store (2), transported into a dynamic buffer (5, 5a, 5b) and stored there temporarily. The dynamic buffer (5, 5a, 5b) comprises an infeed line (6), an outfeed line (7), a plurality of buffer lanes (8) arranged between the infeed line (6) and the outfeed line (7), and at least one return lane (9) arranged therebetween. If a portion of the order goods available in the dynamic buffer (5, 5a, 5b) is sufficient to fill a predefinable number of shipping containers and is ready for packing, this portion of the order goods ready for packing is discharged from the dynamic buffer (5, 5a, 5b), transported to a picking workstation (10) and transferred, there, into the predefined number of shipping containers. The predefined number of shipping containers is smaller here than the total number of shipping container necessary to fulfill the order. The invention also relates to a goods storage system (1a . . . 1g) for carrying out said method.

A slaughtered animal meat handling device and a method for transporting meat products from a receiving area to a discharge area device are provided. The device includes at least one supply conveyor, a suction transporter and at least one return conveyor. Meat products that are not engaged by the suction transporter are transported away from the transfer area towards the receiving area by the return conveyor. The meat products are reintroduced onto the supply conveyor away for the transfer area, for again being transported towards the transfer area. The supply conveyor and the return conveyor provide a circulation of meat products. By reintroducing the meat products onto the supply conveyor away from the transfer area, the chance of getting the meat products correctly positioned on the supply conveyor with respect to a suction opening of the suction transporter is increased.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an accumulation module for a product delivery system includes an input shaft configured to receive an external drive force. A transfer shaft reverses an operation of the external drive force to define a reversing drive force. An output shaft receives the reversing drive force. An accumulation belt is operated by the reversing drive force. The accumulation belt operates in opposition to the external drive force.

A multistage multi-lane singulator conveyor system for separating side by side packages in stages. A first conveying lane having a high friction surface is combined with a second conveying lane adjacent thereto in lateral flow communication therewith having a lower friction conveying surface including both forward and lateral conveying forces urging parcels forward and away from the first conveying lane. The conveying surface of the second conveying lane may form an inclined plane extending above an inner lateral receiving edge of an adjacent third conveying lane having a high friction surface in lateral flow communication therewith. Each of the high friction conveying lanes may utilize a plurality of narrow belts to vary the area of the high friction surface. Assembling one or more multi-lanes comprising narrow belts on a conveyor end to end, or assembling multi-lane conveyors end to end in flow communication provides means to control the residence time and lateral movement of articles with formation of high friction surface conveying lanes of narrow belts in selected locations in lateral flow communication with conveying lanes having a low friction conveying surface with forward and lateral movement to control movement of parcels.