Abstract: In one embodiment, a shelving unit has first and second sides, a frame, and a barrier. The frame defines a storage bay between the first and second sides, a first opening at the first side, and a second opening at the second side. The second opening receives a storage bin therethrough and into the storage bay. The first opening receives inventory items therethrough and into the storage bin when the storage bin is disposed in the storage bay. The barrier moves between (i) an open position, where the first opening is open to the storage bay so as to allow inventory items to be passed therethrough and into the storage bin, and (ii) a closed position, where the barrier at least partially obstructs at least one of the first and second openings so as to impede a human from reaching through the storage bay when the storage bin is removed.

Abstract: A method of preparing a container includes manipulating it from an open toward a fully closed configuration. In the open configuration, first and second top end flaps are folded outwardly such that a first pair of handle apertures defined in a first endwall and first top end flap are aligned and a second pair of handle apertures defined in the second endwall and second top end flap are aligned along a first direction. The manipulating step comprises: folding top side flaps inwardly along a second direction until the side flaps are substantially perpendicular to the endwalls, thereby at least partially covering a top opening of the container; and folding the end flaps inwardly until they are substantially parallel with the side flaps, wherein the top side flaps underlie the respective ones of the pairs of handle apertures that are defined in the first and second top end flaps.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system has a carousel that has a guiderail that forms a loop that has a loading position and an unloading position. The carousel also has a plurality of buckets, each having an upper end and a lower end. The lower end includes at least one bottom wall that is moveable between (i) a transporting configuration where the at least one bottom wall substantially closes the lower end of the bucket and (ii) a discharge configuration where the at least one bottom wall is moved so as to define an opening in the lower end of the bucket. The buckets are supported by the guiderail such that the buckets can be driven from the loading position towards the unloading position in the transporting configuration. The buckets can be transitioned to the discharge configuration so as to unload inventory items at the unloading position into a packaging material.

Abstract: A packaging system employs a cartridge having moveable walls such that the cartridge discharges or inducts one or more items into a cavity of a package, such as a film that is sealed into a pouch or mailer. A bottom wall of the cartridge is retracted relative to an end panel of the cartridge during the induction process.

Abstract: Sortation systems and methods are described, in which the sortation systems may include a cylindrical sortation tower. The cylindrical sortation tower may include a plurality of sortation levels, and each of the sortation levels may include a plurality of sortation positions arranged around a periphery of the level. Each sortation position may include a sortation container. The cylindrical sortation tower may also include one or more horizontal tracks and vertical tracks, and each of the sortation levels may further include a circumferential track. Shuttles may traverse the horizontal, vertical, and circumferential tracks to transport items to desired sortation containers. Further, robotic arms may remove completed sortation containers from and add empty sortation containers to the cylindrical sortation tower.

Abstract: A conveyor for use in an inventory management system includes a body, one or more displacement elements connected with the body for interfacing with and moving the conveyor along rails, and a sorting mechanism for selectively depositing items from the conveyor to either side of the conveyor. A sorting mechanism includes first and second hinge release assemblies for connecting with, and selectively releasing, a panel that supports the item at either of respective first and second panel ends to allow the panel to fully disconnect at one of the ends and swing open in the first or second direction.