Systems and methods of auto sacking of parcels
A parcel sack management system and related process. The parcel sack management system includes a gathering conveyor configured to receive a parcel group at an intake and transport the parcel group to a sack filling station. The system includes a plurality of fill chutes that are transported along a circulating track, each fill chute configured to hold a sack. The parcel sack management system is configured to transfer parcels in the parcel group into a first sack via a first fill chute when the first fill chute is at the sack filling station.
1. An intake for handling sorted parcels, the intake comprising:
a sorter, and
a plurality of individually controlled buffers, each buffer configured to collect sorted parcels from the sorter and to provide a controlled output of a parcel group;
wherein each buffer comprises a closable door, a belt and an interior paddle.
2. The intake of claim 1 ,
wherein the sorter comprises one or more chutes,
wherein a chute of the sorter is aligned with a buffer such that parcels slide into the individually controlled buffers via the chute.
3. The intake of claim 2 ,
wherein the parcels are sorted to parcel groups of a common destination into each buffer.
4. The intake of claim 1 ,
wherein the interior paddle is coupled to the belt so that the paddle moves with the belt.
5. The intake of claim 1 ,
wherein the closable door, the belt and the paddle are configured as a synchronously reciprocating door, belt and paddle configuration to provide the controlled output.
6. The intake of claim 5 ,
wherein, when the closable door is open, the paddle and belt push the parcel groups onto a gathering conveyor.
7. A parcel management system comprising:
an intake comprising:
a sorter, and
a plurality of individually controlled buffers, each buffer configured to collect sorted parcels from the sorter and to provide a controlled output of a parcel group, and
a gathering conveyor, wherein the parcel groups are released onto the gathering conveyor in a timed manner, such that the parcel groups are separated by vacancy or open space before and after each parcel group;
wherein each buffer comprises a closable door, a belt and an interior paddle.
8. The parcel management system of claim 7 ,
wherein the sorter comprises one or more chutes,
wherein a chute of the sorter is aligned with a buffer such that parcels slide into the individually controlled buffers via the chute.
9. The parcel management system of claim 7 ,
wherein the closable door, belt and paddle are configured as a synchronously reciprocating door, belt and paddle configuration to provide the controlled output.
10. The parcel management system of claim 9 ,
wherein, when the closable door is open, the belt and paddle push the parcel groups onto the gathering conveyor.
11. A method for handling sorted parcels comprising:
collecting parcels from a sorter and providing controlled outputs of sorted parcel groups by a plurality of individually controlled buffers onto a gathering conveyor, wherein each buffer comprises a synchronously reciprocating door, belt and paddle configuration to provide the controlled output of the sorted parcel groups.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
releasing the sorted parcel groups onto the gathering conveyor in a timed manner, such that the sorted parcel groups are separated by vacancy or open space before and after each parcel group.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
pushing, by the belt and paddle, the parcel groups onto the gathering conveyor when the closable door is open.