Abstract: An automated sortation system includes infeed and outfeed conveyors, a singulator including an array of a plurality of independently-addressable rollers, a monitor system, and a control system. Based on input from one or more sensors of the monitor system and/or status information of one or more of the conveyors and rollers, real-time parcel status data is generated of parcels conveyed within the system; the plurality of parcels are prioritized within a priority queue based on the real-time parcel status data; trajectories are generated for the parcels; and the rollers are dynamically controlled to form dynamically changing conveyance vector fields. A cycle including real-time sensing and tracking, generating and updating parcel status data, generating and updating the priority queue, determining and updating the parcel trajectories, and dynamically controlling the singulator is repeated with data from various operations being fed back to inform and update other operations.

Abstract: A container exchange method is provided including monitoring a status of containers disposed in a parcel transfer area and automatically controlling an automated mobile exchange device, holding an empty container, to approach a position of a first container, of the plurality of the containers, based on the status of the first container. The automated mobile exchange device may be controlled based on a fill level of the first container. The automated mobile exchange device may then us the empty container to push the first container from the parcel transfer area to a transfer mechanism, whereby the first container is transferred to a takeaway conveyor, and the empty container is moved into the parcel transfer area.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for identifying and controlling slats and shoes of a conveyor. An conveyor system includes an electronic reader reading an identification (ID) corresponding to each of a plurality of slats traversing an end of the conveyor. One or more slats on which a package is disposed are identified, and another electronic reader identifies the one or more slats as they approach a conveyor output. Based on the identification, one or more shoes corresponding to the one or more slats are diverted, thereby directing the package to the conveyor output. The one or more slats on which the package is disposed may be identified by imaging the package traversing the end of the conveyor and determining a correspondence between identification of the package and the IDs.

Abstract: Described herein are an automated roller module, a sortation system including the module, and methods of controlling the module and system. The module includes multiple pucks each including a roller whose rotation about a driving axis within an upper plane and rotation about a swivel axis normal to the upper plane are each independently and dynamically controllable. The module is thereby configured to dynamically create and control various conveyance vector fields formed by the plurality of rollers. The system is thereby configured to dynamically control items in a conveyance flow; and the method may include, but is not limited to: shifting bulk flow items into a single flow, diverting item(s) in a new direction, directing item(s) into and/or out of a flow, changing the position, orientation, and/or spacing of item(s), separating one flow of items into multiple flows, and merging items from multiple flows into a single flow.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shipment loading system for loading shipments into an unit load device, comprising a conveyer, a platform and a cargo space for placing the unit load device on a static rack, whereby the conveyer is provided on a ground floor and tiltable across its longitudinal axis, the conveyer comprises an extendo extending the conveyer along the longitudinal extension of the conveyer, the extendo is movable between a retracted position and an extracted position, in the extracted position the extendo faces the cargo space, the platform is movable between a first position and a second position along the longitudinal extension of the conveyer, in the first position the platform faces the cargo space and at least in one of the first and second positions the platform is arranged between the ground floor and the conveyer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shipment loading system for loading shipments into an unit load device, comprising a conveyer, a platform and a cargo space for placing the unit load device on a static rack, whereby the conveyer is provided on a ground floor and tiltable across its longitudinal axis, the conveyer comprises an extendo extending the conveyer along the longitudinal extension of the conveyer, the extendo is movable between a retracted position and an extracted position, in the extracted position the extendo faces the cargo space, the platform is movable between a first position and a second position along the longitudinal extension of the conveyer, in the first position the platform faces the cargo space and at least in one of the first and second positions the platform is arranged between the ground floor and the conveyer.