Abstract: An order fulfillment system includes a plurality of stock locations for storing items, and movable collection containers, each configured to hold one or more of the items. A network of tracks along which each of the collection containers is configured to move in a single direction includes junctions where at least two of the tracks intersect, each collection container being controllable at a junction to continue travelling along one of the tracks. The network of tracks is configured to enable the collection containers to move to the stock locations. A controller is configured to receive a list of ordered items, to determine a selected stock location at which each ordered item is stored, to calculate a route along the network of tracks to bring a collection container to each selected stock location, and to control movement of that collection container along the calculated route to the selected stock locations.

Abstract: A sorting system includes one or a plurality of transporter units, at least one loading station for loading a parcel onto transporter units, a plurality of destination stations, and a network of paths, each path including at least one track, the network including a plurality of junctions where at least two of the paths intersect. Each transporter unit is controllable to travel along the paths of the network of paths and to continue travelling along one of the at least two paths at a junction. A controller is configured to calculate a route within the network of paths between a loading station and a selected destination station, and to control the transporter unit to travel along the calculated route.

Abstract: A cart includes a chassis that is configured to travel over a track from a loading point to an unloading point; a swivel base supported by the chassis, configured to rotate substantially horizontally in a clockwise direction or an anti-clockwise direction; a tillable platform for carrying an item from the loading point to the unloading point; and a tilt mechanism mounted over the swivel base and configured to tilt the tillable platform between a loading position to an unloading position.

Abstract: A sack includes a flexible sack body and a mouth that includes two separable lips that form a mouth opening when the lips are separated from one another, and that close the opening when the lips are adjacent to one another. Closing structure is configured to enable a separating force that is applied to the lips to separate the lips from one another to form the mouth opening, and to bring the lips adjacent to one another to close the mouth opening in the absence of the applied separating force.

Abstract: A carrier includes a chassis that is configured to travel from a loading point to an unloading point and a tillable platform is mounted on the chassis. A resilient piston is connected between the chassis and the tillable platform, the piston configured to store energy when the platform is rotated from an unloading orientation to a loading orientation. The platform, when in the loading orientation, is configured to stably support one or more items that are loaded onto the platform at the loading point. A restraining mechanism is configured to maintain the platform in the loading orientation and a triggering mechanism is operable to release the restraining mechanism, releasing the stored energy of the piston to exert a restoring force to tilt the platform from the loading orientation to the unloading orientation.

Abstract: A multi-level sorting system may include a multi-level structure comprising: a plurality of chutes; a plurality of distribution floors, to deliver items for distribution to any of a plurality of unique address bins, each of the distribution floors located at a different level and comprising a network of lanes for independently operating a plurality of transporter carts on the network of lanes. The network of lanes of each of the floors includes a feeding lane to transport the items for distribution to at least one loading lane; a plurality of automated inductors along said at least one loading lane, to pick one of the items and load that item onto one of the transport carts; and a plurality of unloading lanes with unique unloading positions arranged so that unique unloading positions that are located at different floors and that are assigned to a single unique address bin, are each substantially aligned with an inlet of a shared chute of the plurality of chutes.

Abstract: A system for identifying a handled item includes a robotic arm having a gripper configured to grip an item, transfer the item and release the item, a conveyor track to receive the item from the robotic arm and to transport the item one or a plurality of sensors to scan one or a plurality of surfaces of the item in order to detect identifiable characteristics on the one or a plurality of surfaces of the item and a processor to receive scan data from the one or a plurality of sensors and to identify the item based on the detected identifiable characteristics.

Abstract: A sack includes a flexible sack body and a mouth that includes two separable lips that form a mouth opening when the lips are separated from one another, and that close the opening when the lips are adjacent to one another. Closing structure is configured to enable a separating force that is applied to the lips to separate the lips from one another to form the mouth opening, and to bring the lips adjacent to one another to close the mouth opening in the absence of the applied separating force.

Abstract: A carrier includes a chassis that is configured to travel from a loading point to an unloading point and a tillable platform is mounted on the chassis. A resilient piston is connected between the chassis and the tillable platform, the piston configured to store energy when the platform is rotated from an unloading orientation to a loading orientation. The platform, when in the loading orientation, is configured to stably support one or more items that are loaded onto the platform at the loading point. A restraining mechanism is configured to maintain the platform in the loading orientation and a triggering mechanism is operable to release the restraining mechanism, releasing the stored energy of the piston to exert a restoring force to tilt the platform from the loading orientation to the unloading orientation.

Abstract: An order fulfillment system includes a plurality of stock locations for storing items, and movable collection containers, each configured to hold one or more of the items. A network of tracks along which each of the collection containers is configured to move in a single direction includes junctions where at least two of the tracks intersect, each collection container being controllable at a junction to continue travelling along one of the tracks. The network of tracks is configured to enable the collection containers to move to the stock locations. A controller is configured to receive a list of ordered items, to determine a selected stock location at which each ordered item is stored, to calculate a route along the network of tracks to bring a collection container to each selected stock location, and to control movement of that collection container along the calculated route to the selected stock locations.

Abstract: A sorting system includes one or a plurality of transporter units, at least one loading station for loading a parcel onto transporter units, a plurality of destination stations, and a network of paths, each path including at least one track, the network including a plurality of junctions where at least two of the paths intersect. Each transporter unit is controllable to travel along the paths of the network of paths and to continue travelling along one of the at least two paths at a junction. A controller is configured to calculate a route within the network of paths between a loading station and a selected destination station, and to control the transporter unit to travel along the calculated route.