Abstract: An article supply system according to an embodiment includes an article supply apparatus and a first recognition apparatus. The article supply apparatus reads a first image from a first surface of an article conveyed by a first conveyance path, outputs the first image, and supplies the article to an article sorting apparatus. The first recognition apparatus recognizes sorting information based on the first image and outputs a first recognition result including the recognized sorting information. The article sorting apparatus causes a second conveyance path to convey the article supplied from the article supply apparatus, reads a second image from a second surface of the conveyed article, receives the first recognition result or a second recognition result including sorting information recognized from the second image, and controls sorting of the article based on the first recognition result or the second recognition result.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an information processing apparatus comprises a first interface, a second interface, a third interface, and a processor. The first interface acquires a character string image that includes a character string. The second interface transmits and receives data to and from an internal device through a first network. The third interface transmits and receives data to and from an external device through a second network. The processor transmits, if the character string image includes personal information, the character string image to the internal device through the second interface and receive an input of the character string from the internal device and transmits, if the character string image does not include the personal information, the character string image to the external device through the third interface and receive an input of the character string from the external device.

Abstract: A packaging assistance device according to an embodiment includes: an acquirer; a determiner; and a display. The acquirer acquires, for each group including one or more articles to be shipped to the same destination, article information pertaining to the articles. The determiner determines, based on the article information acquired by the acquirer, a packaging material for packing the articles included in the group among a plurality of packaging materials having different accommodation space sizes and a method of packing the article having a sequence in which the article included in the group is to be packed in the packaging material. The display displays information indicating the packaging material and the packing method determined by the determiner.

Abstract: An article movement apparatus detects information about articles in an accumulation area, picks up one or more articles based on the detected information with a robot arm, then detects the holding state of the articles held on the robot arm, and measures a separation distance between held articles and a sorting area of a conveyance path. When a plurality of held articles is held by the robot arm, an article is selected from amongst the plurality according to distance from the article and to a surface of the sorting area. The selected article is then released to the sorting area.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sorting apparatus includes a controller, a holding device, and a driver. The controller acquires holding position information corresponding to identification information of an article to be processed, and sets a holding position based on the holding position information. The holding device holds the article. The drive unit causes the holding device to hold the article in the holding position set by the controller, and moves the article held by the holding device.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a sorting system includes a sorting device configured to sort items by destination and to group items to be shipped to a common destination at a sorting destination of the sorting device. A control device is configured to receive information about the items being shipped to the common destination and to select a box type to accommodate the items going to the common destination based on the received information about the items. An information providing device is configured to indicate the box type that has been selected by the control device.

Abstract: An article movement apparatus detects information about articles in an accumulation area, picks up one or more articles based on the detected information with a robot arm, then detects the holding state of the articles held on the robot arm, and measures a separation distance between held articles and a sorting area of a conveyance path. When a plurality of held articles is held by the robot arm, an article is selected from amongst the plurality according to distance from the article and to a surface of the sorting area. The selected article is then released to the sorting area.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sorting apparatus includes a controller, a holding device, and a driver. The controller acquires holding position information corresponding to identification information of an article to be processed, and sets a holding position based on the holding position information. The holding device holds the article. The drive unit causes the holding device to hold the article in the holding position set by the controller, and moves the article held by the holding device.

Abstract: A delivery processing apparatus includes: a plurality of stackers configured to stack delivery objects; a conveyer configured to transport the delivery objects to a designated stacker out of the plurality of stackers; a first detector configured to detect that a monitored stacker out of the plurality of stackers is in an overflow state in which more than a predetermined amount of delivery objects have accumulated; a second detector configured to detect that a monitored stacker out of the plurality of stackers is in an empty state in which all delivery objects have been retrieved from the stacker; and a main controller configured to specify a regular stacker that is a stacker out of the plurality of stackers and serving as a sort destination of the delivery object.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a delivery processing apparatus includes a plurality of stackers configured to stack delivery objects; a conveyer configured to transport the delivery objects to a designated stacker out of the plurality of stackers; a first detector configured to detect that a monitored stacker out of the plurality of stackers is in an overflow state in which more than a predetermined amount of delivery objects have accumulated; a second detector configured to detect that a monitored stacker out of the plurality of stackers is in an empty state in which all delivery objects have been retrieved from the stacker; and a main controller configured to specify a regular stacker that is a stacker out of the plurality of stackers and serving as a sort destination of the delivery object, based on address information that is obtained from the delivery object and, control the conveyer such that the delivery object is transported to the regular stacker serving as the sort destination, out of the plurality of