Siemens Industry, Inc.

Siemens Logistics LLC

Korber Supply Chain LLC

Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.

Michael D Carpenter

Dale E Redford

Francisco Grupp

Stanley Wayne Sipe

James Moody Pippin

Floyd W Worth, Ii

John J Mampe

Morgan H Dunn

Michael O Norris

Carsten Aschpurwis

Luiz Carlos Harres

Brent Alan Raney

Svetlozar Delianski

Ingolf Rauh

Tamas Eger

Eric S Wilson

Matthias Krause

Wolfgang Schwarz

Jeffrey Eugene Gilb

Marcus Boerkei

Stanley W Sipe

Floyd W Worth Ii

Embodiments include a parcel processing system and methods for operating the same. The parcel processing system includes a collector configured to receive a flow of parcels and a slug accumulation system configured to receive the flow of parcels and produce a normalized bulk flow of parcels. The parcel processing system also includes a bulk transport conveyor configured to receive the normalized bulk flow of parcels and a singulator configured to receive the normalized bulk flow of parcels from the bulk transport conveyor. The normalized bulk flow of parcels is a flow of parcels having an approximately constant parcel density traveling at a fixed speed.

System and method for parcel slug accumulation and redistribution

A parcel processing system () includes infeed conveyors () each conveying parcels () with an assigned orientation class, a merging conveyor () configured to merge parcels fed by the infeed conveyors into a single stream of parcels, and an induction conveyor () configured to feed the merged stream of parcels along an induction feed path () to a sorting conveyor (). The infeed paths (a,a) of the infeed conveyors are arranged at different angular orientations in relation to a merging feed path () of the merging conveyor such that each parcel in the merged stream of parcels has an orientation that is dependent upon its assigned orientation class. The merging conveyor () includes a multi-axis transport mechanism configured to move parcels along a principal axis parallel to the merging feed path and a secondary axis perpendicular to the principal axis, the merging conveyor being operable to selectively activate movement along the secondary axis for centering parcels being loaded thereon.

Parcel processing system and method including hybrid orientation active merge induction equipment

A baggage handling system includes a multi-tiered carousel system, an input conveyor system, an output conveyor system and a control system. Each tier of the multi-tiered carousel system includes an array of addressable storage cells movable along a loop having a charge point and a discharge point. Each storage cell is configured to store a single baggage item. The input conveyor system transfers baggage items selectively to the addressable storage cells of the multiple tiers at the respective charge points, for storage therein. The output conveyor system retrieves baggage items selectively from the addressable storage cells of the multiple tiers at the respective discharge points and conveys the retrieved baggage items in a queue. The storage and retrieval of baggage items is controlled by the control system such that the retrieved baggage items are queued to conform to a determined sequence.

Multi-tiered carousel for storage and sequencing of baggage

A system () for delaminating a stream () of articles (A, B, C, D, E) includes a delamination unit () with a plurality of individually controlled rollers () configured to carry a stream () of articles (A, B, C, D, E), a detection unit () with a sensor (), and a control unit () with a processor () and interfacing with the delamination unit () and the detection unit (), wherein the detection unit () is configured to detect a position of each of the articles (A, B, C, D, E) and to transmit position data to the control unit (), and wherein the control unit () is configured, through operation of the processor (), to correlate positions of the articles (A, B, C, D, E) with the plurality of individually controlled rollers (), and to individually control the rollers () based on the position data to delaminate the stream () of articles (A, B, C, D, E).

Powered, angled-roller array delamination equipment

A baggage processing system includes a storage array having a plurality of cells, each cell being configured to contain a single baggage item which is associated with a flight. The baggage processing system further includes a loading conveyor that receives baggage items retrieved from the storage array. A control system prepares a sequenced list of baggage items and controls the retrieval of baggage items from the storage array based on the sequenced list, whereby the retrieved baggage items are placed on the loading conveyor in an order conforming to the sequenced list. The baggage processing system also includes a queue of carts, where each cart is positionable to receive baggage items in sequence from a loading point on the loading conveyor, for transporting the baggage items to an aircraft. The sequenced list of baggage items defines a sequence of loading baggage items from the carts to the aircraft.

Method and system for automatic sequencing of baggage

A system for sorting and delivering packages to one of a plurality of loading points includes a first movable cart positioned adjacent a first conveyor in a receiving position to receive packages from the first conveyor, a second movable cart positioned in a staging position, the second movable cart being empty, and a vehicle selectively engageable with the second movable cart to move the second movable cart from the staging position to the receiving position while simultaneously abutting and displacing the first movable cart from the receiving position to a transfer position.

System and method for processing irregular parcels

A diverter system includes a diverter arm operated by an actuator assembly. The actuator assembly moves the diverter arm between an extended dwell position and a retracted dwell position. The position of the diverter arm is monitored by a sensor. A control system derives a motion signature of the diverter arm based on the positions of the diverter arm measured by the sensor and evaluates the motion signature of the diverter arm to identify an abnormal operation of the diverter arm.

Reciprocating motion signature monitoring and trend analysis system

A system for automatic unloading of articles from a container or trailer comprising a control system comprising at least one processor configured via computer executable instructions to perform automated unloading operations utilizing a plurality of unloading apparatuses, generate, on a display, an identification for each of the plurality of unloading apparatuses, generate, on the display, an identification of an operating status for each of the plurality of unloading apparatuses, monitor the automated unloading operations, automatically detect an exception of an automated unloading operation performed by an unloading apparatus, halt the automated unloading operation based on a detected exception, and modify, on the display, the identification of the operation status of the unloading apparatus indicating that the automated unloading operation has halted.

Systems and methods for automatic unloading of parcels

A parcel sorter system and method. A process performed by a parcel sorter system includes receiving sorting information of a first parcel. The process includes identifying a first destination pallet corresponding to the sorting information. The first destination pallet is associated with a first carousel and a first destination chute. The process includes transporting the first parcel toward the first destination chute. The process includes, while transporting the parcel toward the first destination chute, operating the first carousel to move the first destination pallet proximate to the first destination chute. The process includes delivering the first parcel at the first destination chute for placement on the first destination pallet.

Parcel sorting system and method

Parcel processing systems and methods. A parcel processing system includes a boom conveyor section configured to extend into a loading area, transport parcels into the loading area, and adjust a height of a discharge end of the boom conveyor section. The parcel processing system includes a sensor pod configured to scan the loading area into which the parcels can be placed. The parcel processing system includes a control system configured to determine a placement of the one or more parcels in the loading area, arrange the one or more parcels on the boom conveyor section according to the determined placement, control the boom conveyor section to transport one or more parcels into the loading area, control the height of the discharge end of the boom conveyor section, and place the one or more parcels into the loading area in the determined placement.

Automatic parcel accumulation transfer system

Parcel processing systems and methods. A parcel processing system includes a parcel transport configured to receive a flow of parcels, and transport the flow of parcels at a rate greater than a processing capacity of a downstream processing device. The parcel processing system includes a diverter configured to divert individual parcels from the flow of parcels to be recirculated. The parcel processing system includes the downstream processing device configured to process the remaining flow of parcels. The parcel processing system includes a control system configured to cause the diverter to divert the individual parcels from the flow of parcels until the remaining flow of parcels is not greater than the processing capacity of a downstream processing device.

Synchronized, high efficiency provisioning, handling, and excess recirculation design

A diverter system includes a conveyor belt with a horizontal belt surface, a diverter arm comprising a diverter belt with a vertical diverting belt surface, the diverter arm being operated by an actuator assembly, a sensing device for monitoring a speed of the vertical diverting belt surface, and a control unit operably coupled to the sensing device, wherein the control unit adjusts the speed of the vertical diverting belt surface according to a predefined ratio of speed between the horizontal belt surface and the vertical diverting belt surface.

System and method for belted arm divert actual speed sensing

A parcel sorting system and related process. The parcel sorting system includes a parcel sorter, a plurality of shuttles, and a control system. The control system is configured to control the parcel sorting system to assign a first sorting destination to a first output of a plurality of outputs. A first container is positioned to receive parcels sorted to the first output. The control system is configured to control the parcel sorting system to sort parcels corresponding to the first sorting destination to the first output and deposit the parcels into the first container; when the first container has reached a target capacity, remove the full first container using a first shuttle; and position a third container to receive parcels sorted to the first output using a second shuttle.

Container-based material handling for automatic parcel sacking system

Parcel processing systems and methods. A parcel processing system includes a parcel singulation transport configured to transport a stream of singulated parcels. The parcel processing system includes a parcel sorter configured to sort individual parcels in the stream of singulated parcels into a plurality of buffers. Multiple buffers comprise a set of buffers corresponding to a single load builder, and each buffer accumulates and buffers sorted parcels before transfer to the load builder. The parcel processing system includes a parcel flow merge configured to selectively receive buffered parcels from each of the buffers in the set and feed the received parcels to the load builder. The parcel processing system includes the load builder, configured to receive the parcels from the parcel flow merge and build successive stacks of parcels on a parcel pallet.

Volumetrically efficient loading of cartons with increased throughput yield

A mail processing system and method. A method includes receiving a mailing manifest that includes mailpiece identifiers. Each mailpiece identifier corresponds to an individual mailpiece in a group of mailpieces, and the mailing manifest includes a mailer identification that identifies the mailer of the group of mailpieces. The method includes processing the group of mailpieces and tracking the status of each of the mailpieces. The method includes updating the status of the mailpiece identifiers on the mailing manifest according to the tracking, and producing mail processing data. The method includes analyzing and storing the mail processing data.

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Arlington, TX, United States of America

Michael D Carpenter