Abstract: An integrated hand and method for manipulating items received in a shipping container. The integrated hand is carried by a tote handler and includes a base with a slotted plate, fingers, and flat plates. The fingers are extendable from and slidably movable along slots in the slotted plate. The flat plates are extendable from the base. The fingers and flat plates are selectively extendable about the base to define a grip space shaped to receivingly grip the items whereby the items are secured in position. The method includes receiving items in an original orientation from the shipping container by: selectively extending fingers and plates of an integrated hand to define an item space shaped to support and grippingly receiving the items; and inserting the items into a tote while maintaining the items in the original orientation by selectively rotating the integrated hand and inserting the integrated hand into the tote.

Abstract: A system and method for handling includes a tote handler. The tote handler includes an adjustable grip hand or a merger hand. The adjustable grip hand includes finger assemblies movable by actuators between a closed with the fingers urged together and an open position with the fingers urged apart. The fingers are selectively movable by the actuators between a retracted and an extended position. The merger grip hand includes insert fingers and suction fingers. Each of the insert fingers include a polygonal body having a peripheral surface shaped for engaging receipt within an inner surface of a tote. The suction fingers include elongate members with suction cups thereon. The suction fingers are movable between a closed position with the suction fingers urged towards the insert fingers and an open position with the suction fingers urged away from the insert fingers.

Abstract: A tote handling system and method of handling items includes a tote and a grip hand. The tote includes a tote frame including walls extending above a bottom to define a chamber shaped to receive items. The bottom and/or walls include tool reliefs secured to a wall. The tool reliefs are in an aligned positioned parallel to each other with a tool receptacle defined between the tool reliefs. The tool receptacles are shaped to receive the fingers of the grip hand therethrough for engagement with the items in the chamber. The grip hand includes a bearing movably supported by a robot, a base slidably movable along the bearing, and finger assemblies supported by the base. The finger assemblies are movable by actuators towards a closed position with fingers of the finger assemblies together and an open position with the fingers apart.

Abstract: An automated container cutting apparatus configured to cut various sized rectilinear containers without unnecessary costs or lack of transportability. The automated container cutting apparatus includes a right angle transfer conveyor that positions a container in a first cutting position. The apparatus also includes a cutting mechanism configured to cut the container on two adjacent edges while in the first cutting position. The cutting mechanism further includes two cutting elements supported at right angles to one another for horizontally cutting a container on two adjacent edges.

Abstract: A hybrid diverter includes a base and a transfer assembly. The base includes a base frame and base rollers rotationally supported on the base frame to define a base path for passing the items therealong. The transfer assembly includes a transfer drive and a transfer bar. The transfer drive includes first and second independent drive tracks. The transfer bar has a fixed end connected to the first independent drive track and a slotted end movably connectable to the second independent drive track. The transfer bar is movable by the first and the second independent drive tracks along a variable transfer path about the base. The transfer bar has a surface for engagement with the items whereby, upon activation of the first independent drive track and the second independent drive track, the transfer bar selectively diverts the items away from the conveyor path.

Abstract: A hybrid diverter includes a base and a transfer assembly. The base includes a base frame and base rollers rotationally supported on the base frame to define a base path for passing the items therealong. The transfer assembly includes a transfer drive and a transfer bar. The transfer drive includes first and second independent drive tracks. The transfer bar has a fixed end connected to the first independent drive track and a slotted end movably connectable to the second independent drive track. The transfer bar is movable by the first and the second independent drive tracks along a variable transfer path about the base. The transfer bar has a surface for engagement with the items whereby, upon activation of the first independent drive track and the second independent drive track, the transfer bar selectively diverts the items away from the conveyor path.

Abstract: A modular handling system and method for transporting cases is disclosed. The system includes at least one mobile base including a base frame with a base diverter thereon and at least one collapsible wing. The base frame is supported by wheeled legs. The collapsible wing includes a wing frame. The wing frame is operatively connectable to the mobile base, and is supported by collapsible legs. The wing frame and the collapsible legs are movable between an operational position and a collapsed position whereby a configurable path is movably positionable about a work space. A sorting system including at least one sorter mounted to the mobile base(s) may also be provided. Each sorter is operatively connectable to the mobile bases to identify and route the cases. The sorters are interactively coupled for communication therebetween whereby the cases are selectively movable about the configurable path.

Abstract: A multi-level sorter of a handling system for transporting cases. The handling system has conveyors extending between locations of a facility. The multi-level sorter includes a multi-level frame positionable adjacent at least one outlet of at least one of the conveyors, at least one diverter carried by the multi-level frame, and at least one bin supported about at least one of the levels of the multi-level frame. Each of the outlets of the conveyors aligned with a level of the multi-level frame to pass the cases thereto. The diverter has rollers to pass the cases along a main path and crossbands to selectively divert the cases from the main path. Each of the bins is alignable with the diverter to receive the diverted cases therefrom whereby the cases are sorted.

Abstract: A transfer device and method for diverting packages about a conveyor. The conveyor has a conveyor path extending between locations of a facility. The transfer includes a frame positionable about the conveyor, rollers rotationally supported on the frame (the rollers non-aligned with the conveyor path to define a transfer path way from the conveyor path), belts rotationally supported on the frame between the rollers with a closed gap therebetween (the belts aligned with the conveyor path), and a tub movably coupled to the frame to selectively lift the rollers above the belts to engage the packages whereby the packages are selectively movable to locations away from the conveyor path.

Abstract: The following simplified summary is provided in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the claimed subject matter. Its purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. In certain embodiments a system for opening packages is provided comprising a conveyer for supporting or conveying a package, wherein the package comprises a surface material and a measurement zone wherein the package is inspected and measured for a cutting operation to thereby determine a process location comprising a location on the package for introduction of a cut to the surface material.

Abstract: A multi-level sorter of a handling system for transporting cases is disclosed. The handling system has conveyors extending between locations of a facility. The multi-level sorter includes a multi-level frame positionable adjacent at least one outlet of at least one of the conveyors, at least one diverter carried by the multi-level frame, and at least one bin supported about at least one of the levels of the multi-level frame. Each of the outlets of the conveyors aligned with a level of the multi-level frame to pass the cases thereto. The diverter has rollers to pass the cases along a main path and crossbands to selectively divert the cases from the main path. Each of the bins is alignable with the diverter to receive the diverted cases therefrom whereby the cases are sorted.

Abstract: A transfer device and method are disclosed. The transfer diverts packages about a conveyor. The conveyor has a conveyor path extending between locations of a facility. The transfer includes a frame positionable about the conveyor, rollers rotationally supported on the frame (the rollers non-aligned with the conveyor path to define a transfer path way from the conveyor path), belts rotationally supported on the frame between the rollers with a closed gap therebetween (the belts aligned with the conveyor path), and a tub movably coupled to the frame to selectively lift the rollers above the belts to engage the packages whereby the packages are selectively movable to locations away from the conveyor path.

Abstract: A transfer device and method diverts packages about a conveyor. The conveyor has a conveyor path extending between locations of a facility. The transfer includes a frame positionable about the conveyor, rollers rotationally supported on the frame (the rollers non-aligned with the conveyor path to define a transfer path way from the conveyor path), belts rotationally supported on the frame between the rollers with a closed gap therebetween (the belts aligned with the conveyor path), and a tub movably coupled to the frame to selectively lift the rollers above the belts to engage the packages whereby the packages are selectively movable to locations away from the conveyor path.

Abstract: A transfer device and method are disclosed. The transfer diverts packages about a conveyor. The conveyor has a conveyor path extending between locations of a facility. The transfer includes a frame positionable about the conveyor, rollers rotationally supported on the frame (the rollers non-aligned with the conveyor path to define a transfer path way from the conveyor path), belts rotationally supported on the frame between the rollers with a closed gap therebetween (the belts aligned with the conveyor path), and a tub movably coupled to the frame to selectively lift the rollers above the belts to engage the packages whereby the packages are selectively movable to locations away from the conveyor path.

Abstract: An automated container cutting apparatus configured to cut various sized rectilinear containers without unnecessary costs or lack of transportability. The automated container cutting apparatus includes a right angle transfer conveyor that positions a container in a first cutting position. The apparatus also includes a cutting mechanism configured to cut the container on two adjacent edges while in the first cutting position. The cutting mechanism further includes two cutting elements supported at right angles to one another for horizontally cutting a container on two adjacent edges.

Abstract: The following simplified summary is provided in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the claimed subject matter. Its purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. In certain embodiments a system for opening packages is provided comprising a conveyer for supporting or conveying a package, wherein the package comprises a surface material and a measurement zone wherein the package is inspected and measured for a cutting operation to thereby determine a process location comprising a location on the package for introduction of a cut to the surface material.

Abstract: A modular handling system and method for transporting cases is disclosed. The system includes at least one mobile base including a base frame with a base diverter thereon and at least one collapsible wing. The base frame is supported by wheeled legs. The collapsible wing includes a wing frame. The wing frame is operatively connectable to the mobile base, and is supported by collapsible legs. The wing frame and the collapsible legs are movable between an operational position and a collapsed position whereby a configurable path is movably positionable about a work space. A sorting system including at least one sorter mounted to the mobile base(s) may also be provided. Each sorter is operatively connectable to the mobile bases to identify and route the cases. The sorters are interactively coupled for communication therebetween whereby the cases are selectively movable about the configurable path.