Abstract: An apparatus and system include an upper stepped chute having a substantially downward sloped configuration; a lower stepped chute having a substantially downward sloped configuration; and an intermediate conveyor section separating the upper stepped chute from the lower stepped chute. The intermediate conveyor section has a slope that is different from the slope of the upper stepped chute and the lower stepped chute.

Abstract: An apparatus and system include an upper stepped chute having a substantially downward sloped configuration; a lower stepped chute having a substantially downward sloped configuration; and an intermediate conveyor section separating the upper stepped chute from the lower stepped chute. The intermediate conveyor section has a slope that is different from the slope of the upper stepped chute and the lower stepped chute.

Abstract: An article induction system for preparing a stream of articles, such as mail parcels, for processing employs a series of conveyors operating under control of a controller for feeding articles to an operator at a cull belt at an optimal paced rate. The article induction system includes a destacking section, a separation and alignment section, a buffer section and a culling section manned by an operator. A controller controls the speed of each component based on measurements provided by sensors so as to feed articles to the operator at a desired paced rate.

Abstract: An article induction system for preparing a stream of articles, such as mail parcels, for processing employs a series of conveyors operating under control of a controller for feeding articles to an operator at a cull belt at an optimal paced rate. The article induction system includes a destacking section, a separation and alignment section, a buffer section and a culling section manned by an operator. A controller controls the speed of each component based on measurements provided by sensors so as to feed articles to the operator at a desired paced rate.

Abstract: An article induction system for preparing a stream of articles, such as mail parcels, for processing employs a series of conveyors operating under control of a controller for feeding articles to an operator at a cull belt at an optimal paced rate. The article induction system includes a destacking section, a separation and alignment section, a buffer section and a culling section manned by an operator. A controller controls the speed of each component based on measurements provided by sensors so as to feed articles to the operator at a desired paced rate.

Abstract: A conveyor system and methods for conveying and unstacking flat and non-flat packages. The conveyor system includes an inclined conveyor belt delivering packages to a tilted conveyor belt that conveys flat packages along its length while non-flat packages tumble off its lower side edge to initially cull flat packages from a bulk flow of packages. Retention means, such as a high-friction outer conveying surface or a raised barrier along the length of the outer conveying surface of the tilted conveyor belt, holds flat packages on the tilted conveyor belt. The inclined conveyor belt has stop elements spaced apart along the belt's length and is advanced in stop-and-go fashion to help unstack piggy-backed packages as they are conveyed up the incline.

Abstract: A divert chute and a sorting conveyor system having divert chutes that include an array of high-friction rollers in a landing zone to resist the cross-chute momentum of parcels diverted off the sorting conveyor at high speeds. The rollers, which protrude above a flat slide region of the chute, rotate only in a direction down the chute. Parcels sliding axially along the high-friction rollers across the chute are slowed or stopped in the cross-chute direction while being redirected down the chute.

Abstract: A divert chute and a sorting conveyor system having divert chutes that include an array of high-friction rollers in a landing zone to resist the cross-chute momentum of parcels diverted off the sorting conveyor at high speeds. The rollers, which protrude above a flat slide region of the chute, rotate only in a direction down the chute. Parcels sliding axially along the high-friction rollers across the chute are slowed or stopped in the cross-chute direction while being redirected down the chute.

Abstract: An article induction system for preparing a stream of articles, such as mail parcels, for processing employs a series of conveyors operating under control of a controller for feeding articles to an operator at a cull belt at an optimal paced rate. The article induction system includes a destacking section, a separation and alignment section, a buffer section and a culling section manned by an operator. A controller controls the speed of each component based on measurements provided by sensors so as to feed articles to the operator at a desired paced rate.

Abstract: An article induction system for preparing a stream of articles, such as mail parcels, for processing employs a series of conveyors operating under control of a controller for feeding articles to an operator at a cull belt at an optimal paced rate. The article induction system includes a destacking section, a separation and alignment section, a buffer section and a culling section manned by an operator. A controller controls the speed of each component based on measurements provided by sensors so as to feed articles to the operator at a desired paced rate.

Abstract: Methods for preparing parcels for final sorting. The methods include dividing a mass flow of parcels into individual streams, separating and singulating the parcels in each stream, delivering each stream at a steady rate to a human operator that faces and culls the parcels, reading identifying indicia on the parcels, delivering the scanned parcels to a presorter in parallel lanes, and selectively discharging parcels from the lane closest to a side of the presorter off the side at multiple discharge points.

Abstract: A sorter having bullpens with double runout lanes and a method for sorting to those bullpens. The sorter comprises a main conveyor conveying articles, such as mail pieces, parcels, or mail trays. Diverters disposed along the main conveyor selectively divert the articles to pairs of side-by-side runout lanes depending on the articles' destinations. Each pair of runout lanes is flanked on opposite sides across an aisle by a row of destinations, such as carts, baskets, bins, hampers, and pallets. Each article is diverted from the main conveyor onto the runout lane closer to its destination cart. An operator picks up the article and carries it across the aisle to the pre-assigned destination cart.

Abstract: A conveyor system and methods for conveying and unstacking flat and non-flat packages. The conveyor system includes an inclined conveyor belt delivering packages to a tilted conveyor belt that conveys flat packages along its length while non-flat packages tumble off its lower side edge to initially cull flat packages from a bulk flow of packages. Retention means, such as a high-friction outer conveying surface or a raised barrier along the length of the outer conveying surface of the tilted conveyor belt, holds flat packages on the tilted conveyor belt. The inclined conveyor belt has stop elements spaced apart along the belt's length and is advanced in stop-and-go fashion to help unstack piggy-backed packages as they are conveyed up the incline.

Abstract: A workstation to aid in the manual unloading of a pallet. The workstation comprises a work area bounded on tows ides by a pallet load platform, a takeaway conveyor, and two parallel conveyors. An operator standing in the work area removes pallet elements from the top layer of the pallet load to one or the other of the parallel conveyors, which convey them to the takeaway conveyor. The parallel conveyors, which may be tilted gravity conveyors or powered conveyors, are hinged so that they can be raised to an open position allowing operator to enter or exit the work area. The pallet layer may be supported on a tilted scissor lift.

Abstract: A conveyor system and methods for conveying and unstacking flat and non-flat packages. The conveyor system includes an inclined conveyor belt delivering packages to a tilted conveyor belt that conveys flat packages along its length while non-flat packages tumble off its lower side edge to initially cull flat packages from a bulk flow of packages. Retention means, such as a high-friction outer conveying surface or a raised barrier along the length of the outer conveying surface of the tilted conveyor belt, holds flat packages on the tilted conveyor belt. The inclined conveyor belt has stop elements spaced apart along the belt's length and is advanced in stop-and-go fashion to help unstack piggy-backed packages as they are conveyed up the incline.

Abstract: An article induction system for preparing a stream of articles, such as mail parcels, for processing employs a series of conveyors operating under control of a controller for feeding articles to an operator at a cull belt at an optimal paced rate. The article induction system includes a destacking section, a separation and alignment section, a buffer section and a culling section manned by an operator. A controller controls the speed of each component based on measurements provided by sensors so as to feed articles to the operator at a desired paced rate.

Abstract: Methods for preparing parcels for final sorting. The methods include dividing a mass flow of parcels into individual streams, separating and singulating the parcels in each stream, delivering each stream at a steady rate to a human operator that faces and culls the parcels, reading identifying indicia on the parcels, delivering the scanned parcels to a presorter in parallel lanes, and selectively discharging parcels from the lane closest to a side of the presorter off the side at multiple discharge points.

Abstract: A conveyor system and methods for conveying and unstacking flat and non-flat packages. The conveyor system includes an inclined conveyor belt delivering packages to a tilted conveyor belt that conveys flat packages along its length while non-flat packages tumble off its lower side edge to initially cull flat packages from a bulk flow of packages. Retention means, such as a high-friction outer conveying surface or a raised barrier along the length of the outer conveying surface of the tilted conveyor belt, holds flat packages on the tilted conveyor belt. The inclined conveyor belt has stop elements spaced apart along the belt's length and is advanced in stop-and-go fashion to help unstack piggy-backed packages as they are conveyed up the incline.

Abstract: A workstation to aid in the manual unloading of a pallet. The workstation comprises a work area bounded on tows ides by a pallet load platform, a takeaway conveyor, and two parallel conveyors. An operator standing in the work area removes pallet elements from the top layer of the pallet load and places them on one or the other parallel conveyors, which convey them to the takeaway conveyor. The parallel conveyors, which may be tilted gravity conveyors or powered conveyors, are hinged so that they can be raised to an open position allowing operator to enter or exit the work area. The pallet layer may be supported on a tilted scissor lift.

Abstract: A package-culling conveyor system and a method for culling flat packages from a bulk flow of flat and non-flat packages. The conveyor system includes a tilted conveyor belt that conveys flat packages along its length while non-flat packages tumble off its lower side edge to initially cull flat packages from a bulk flow of packages. Retention means, such as a high-friction outer conveying surface or a raised barrier along the length of the outer conveying surface of the tilted conveyor belt, holds flat packages on the tilted conveyor belt. The initially separated packages are more fully culled in a conveyor comprising a roller conveyor belt with package-supporting belt rollers rotated in a direction to push packages sidewise toward a culling element that extends along the length of the roller conveyor belt. Examples of culling elements include powered rollers and vertical walls forming side guards. The powered roller lifts the contact side of non-flat packages to free flat packages underneath.