Abstract: A conveyor bed is provided that can include a conveyor frame, a roller frame and an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism can include a first wheel movable on a first rail and a second wheel movable on a second rail. A sled can be coupled to a bottom face of the roller frame, where an inner face of the sled is in contact with the first wheel and the first rail and an outer face of the sled is in contact with the second wheel and the second rail. An actuable component coupled to the sled, wherein the actuable component is configured to move the sled back and forth linearly along the first rail using the first wheel in response to rotation of the actuable component, wherein a movement of the sled rotates the second wheel and pivots the second rail to alter an angle of the roller frame.

Abstract: A conveyor is described. The conveyor includes: a conveyor frame having a sidewall and a roller. In some examples, the roller can be mounted on the conveyor frame so that a first portion of the roller extends beyond the sidewall of the conveyor frame. In this regard, the first portion of the roller is the portion that includes a bearing assembly of the roller and the sidewall is that portion of the conveyor frame that guards a conveying surface of the conveyor. The conveyor also includes a strip belt-mounted over a second portion of the roller. The second portion is a portion of the roller that is defined adjacent to the first portion of the roller. In some examples, the strip belt is mounted over the roller so that the strip belt is positioned adjacent to the sidewall on the conveyor.

Abstract: Various embodiments described herein relate to controlling an accumulation conveyor that comprises at least a first zone that is upstream of a second zone and the second zone that is upstream of a third zone. A second control module associated with the second zone receives a third feedback signal, indicating that a third sensor is blocked, from a third control module associated with the third zone. The second control module sets a second drive assembly associated with the second zone to a disengaged state, and receives a first signal from a first control module associated with the first zone. The first signal indicates that one of a first article having an irregular boundary or a second article having a regular boundary exits from the first zone. The second control module controls the second drive assembly and a second brake assembly based on the indication by the first signal.

Abstract: A material handling apparatus includes a first pop-up belt abutting a first cam. The first pop-up belt is configured to facilitate movement of a package between a first conveyor and a second conveyor. a separator wall abuts a second cam. The separator wall is configured to control movement of the package between the first conveyor and the second conveyor. In response to the camshaft rotating in a first direction, the first cam causes the first pop-up belt to extend out from the first conveyor. The second cam causes the separator wall to move to a first position. I in the first position, the separator wall allows the package to move from the first conveyor to the second conveyor. In response to the camshaft rotating in a second direction, the first pop-up belt move to a retracted position while the separator wall to move to a second position.

Abstract: A singulation conveyor is described. The singulation conveyor includes multiple rollers, for example, a first roller and a second roller. In some example embodiments, the first roller can be of a first roller cross-sectional profile and the second roller can be of a second roller cross-sectional profile. The first roller cross-sectional profile can be defined by a sleeve mounted around a circumference of the first roller and a dowel positioned between the sleeve and the first roller. Further, in some examples, the first roller cross-sectional profile can be different from the second roller cross-sectional profile. Furthermore, according to some examples, the first roller and the second roller can be configured to be rotated based on a first rotation pattern and a second rotation pattern respectively, to cause singulation of a shingled item.

Abstract: A conveyor system comprising a conveyor cartridge removably coupled with a first side plate and an opposite second side plate that delimit a direction of the conveyor cartridge transverse to transport direction. Conveyor rollers rotatably mounted to axles and extending a conveyor roller width between the first side plate and the second side plate. Braking mechanism positioned internally in the cartridge frame in between the first side plate and the opposite second side plate. The braking mechanism abuts the conveyor rollers to retard rotation of the conveyor rollers.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a goods to operator workstation for presenting a container of articles to an operator for picking. The goods to operator workstation includes a container presenting mechanism having laterally movable arms positioned at a first predetermined distance from each other to create a first space to receive and present the container to the operator for picking. A lifting unit moves vertically upwards into the first space to receive the picked container, the laterally movable arms move outwardly away from each other to be positioned at a second predetermined distance from each other, and the lifting unit moves vertically downwards through the at least two laterally movable arms to transfer the picked container onto the discharge conveyor.

Abstract: A robotic carton unloader for automatic unloading of cartons from a carton pile stacked within a trailer. In various embodiments, a robotic carton unloader may comprise a conveyor system, a manipulator movably attached to an end of a robotic positioner and configured to dislodge one or more cartons from a carton pile; and a frame comprising a bumper configured to be pressed against the carton pile below one or more cartons being dislodged from the carton pile by the manipulator to stabilize the carton pile below the one or more cartons being dislodged; and a shelf configured to catch the one or more cartons dislodged from the carton pile and guide the one or more cartons dislodged from the carton pile onto the conveyor system.

Abstract: Various example embodiments described herein relate to a flipper table for manipulating an item from a first orientation to a second orientation. The flipper table includes a body rotatable about an axis. The body includes an end configured to be mechanically attached to an actuation unit. In this regard, upon an actuation of the actuation unit, the body is configured to manipulate the item. The body further defines a top surface configured to support the item positioned thereon. The body also defines at least one tab disposed on the flipper table and configured to extend relative to the top surface. Furthermore, the body of the flipper table defines one or more suction cups disposed on the top surface of the body where the one or more suction cups are configured to engage to a surface of the item positioned on the top surface.

Abstract: Various embodiments described herein generally relate to techniques for conveying articles on a conveyor system of a robotic carton unloader in a material handling environment. In accordance with an embodiment, the robotic carton unloader includes angled center guides for conveying and guiding one or more articles on one or more individually actuatable zones of the center conveyor. In this aspect, one or more zones may be actuated selectively to move rollers-driven belts of respective zones, in either of an upstream direction or a downstream direction, to separate and convey cartons on the center conveyor.

Abstract: A coupling mechanism includes a pair of bracket and a spacer plate sandwiched in between the pair of brackets. Each bracket of the of brackets comprise a first cutout formed on a top face of each bracket of the brackets. A retainer bar coupled to the pair of brackets, wherein the retainer bar comprises a second cutout formed on a bottom face of the retainer bar and a flat top surface. The second cutout and the first cutout abut each other to form an opening, wherein the opening receives an axle of a conveyor roller.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a material handling method that generates three-dimensional (3-D) point cloud data based on a field-of-view of an image capturing unit. A first set of cluster areas are extracted from a plurality of cluster areas based on orientation data of the 3-D point cloud data. Further, a two-dimensional depth map is generated based upon the 3-D point cloud data. A candidate region that corresponds to a cluster area from the first set of cluster areas is determined. A ratio of a cross-sectional area of the cluster area and a cross-sectional area of the container is determined that exceeds a first cross-sectional threshold. Accordingly, a classification score of the candidate region is determined when the determined ratio exceeds a first cross-sectional threshold. In response to classifying the candidate region as a region-of-interest, a navigation path in the container that prevents collision with the region-of-interest is defined.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a goods to operator workstation for presenting a container of articles to an operator for picking. The goods to operator workstation includes a container presenting mechanism having laterally movable arms positioned at a first predetermined distance from each other to create a first space to receive and present the container to the operator for picking. A lifting unit moves vertically upwards into the first space to receive the picked container, the laterally movable arms move outwardly away from each other to be positioned at a second predetermined distance from each other, and the lifting unit moves vertically downwards through the at least two laterally movable arms to transfer the picked container onto the discharge conveyor.

Abstract: A modular order fullment system uses a number of inexpensive mobile apparatuses such as containers with horizontally accessible bins that are brought to a stationary frame that supports a pick-to-light system to direct a human or robotic operator to pick from or put to receptacles in the mobile apparatus.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a pouch conveying system for routing one or more pouches. Each pouch may include at least one self-closing frame attached to an end of a pouch body. The self-closing frame has a first frame section having at least two portions coupled to each other through a first joint, and a second frame section having at least two portions coupled to each other through a second joint. The second frame section coupled to the first frame section at a first end by a first coupler and at a second end by a second coupler, such that at least one of the first coupler and the second coupler move inward, flexing the first frame section and the second frame section about the first joint and the second joint.

Abstract: A reconfigurable carrying device, such as a cart, is provided for storing and/or transporting objects. The cart may include a first storage section for receiving the objects, and a second storage section pivotally attached to the first storage section. The second storage section may be movable upwards relative to the first storage section to be positioned on top of the first storage section in a first mode of operation of the cart and may be movable downwards relative to the position in the first mode of operation to be positioned adjacent to the first storage section in a second mode of operation of the cart.

Abstract: A system and method provides data reporting and real-time user interfaces to a client device of a material handling system according to a unified architecture. The method includes (i) receiving, by a machine automation controller, real-time data of one or more machine automation devices of a material handling system; (ii) controlling, by the machine automation controller, the one or more machine automation devices using the real-time data as feedback; (iii) shaping the real-time data according to a domain model into a staging object; (iv) maintaining a cache object that corresponds to the staging object in a broker process; and (v) responding to one or more client requests for a data item by transmitting at least a portion of data contained in the cache object to a client device for presenting in a user interface. The client device may also be collecting historical data or statistical data for reporting purposes.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an axle retainer and associated conveyor system. An example axle retainer is defined by a housing that includes a first surface configured to be secured to an inner-sidewall of a conveyor frame and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second surface defines two or more apertures configured to mount a conveyor roller axle therein. Each aperture includes a snap-fit bracket defining two arms each with a corresponding protrusion. The two arms of the snap-fit bracket are configured to expand from a first position to a second position within the aperture to receive a conveyor roller axle and rebut from the second position to the first position such that the pair of corresponding protrusions defined by the two arms of the snap-fit bracket retain the conveyor roller axle in the aperture.

Abstract: A material handling system automatically each picking orders using a put wall. A controller determines whether any of more than one removable intermediate holders in a put wall that are within the reach of a first robotic arm contain one or more articles that are ready for transporting away from the put wall. The controller directs the first robotic arm to: (i) engage the selected removable intermediate holder, (ii) move the selected removable intermediate holder to an empty order container, and (iii) reorient the selected removable intermediate holder to transfer the one or more articles from the selected removable intermediate holder to the empty order container. In one or more embodiments, the articles can be placed in the put wall by conveying donor totes to an each picking robotic arm that places picked articles into an end effector of a second robotic arm.

Abstract: An autonomous device for loading and unloading trucks comprises a mobile body, a robot arm and a body conveyor system to convey cartons during loading and unloading. A manipulator attaches to a moveable end of the robot arm and is maneuverable within the tight confines of the truck. The manipulator picks up a row of articles at a first location and places the row of articles down at a second location. The manipulator is reconfigurable to match to both locations.