Collecting items via a chute in a material handling environment

A chute of a material handling system comprising:

• an inlet of the chute configured to interface with a surface of a conveyor at a defined angle with respect to the surface;
• an outlet of the chute configured to interface with an item accumulator;
• and
• a tube portion of the chute between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the tube portion is configured to be rotated about a central axis of the tube portion at a defined rotational speed by an actuation motor, wherein the defined angle at which the inlet is configured to interface with the surface of the conveyor and the defined rotational speed at which the at least tube portion is configured to be rotated about the central axis of the tube portion are based on at least one of a physical characteristic of an item to be passed through the chute, a rate of inflow of the item through the inlet, and a rate of outflow of the item through the outlet.

A method of collecting items in a material handling environment, the method comprising:

• receiving, via an inlet of a chute, an item from a conveyor, wherein the inlet of the chute is positioned at a defined angle with respect to the conveyor;
• receiving, via a tube defined at a portion of the chute, the item from the inlet, wherein the tube defines a first end mechanically coupled to the inlet and a second end;
• and
• rotating the tube about a central axis of the tube at a defined rotational speed, to cause a further movement of the item into an outlet mechanically coupled to the second end of the tube, wherein the defined angle of the inlet and the defined rotational speed at which the tube is to be rotated about the central axis of the tube is based on at least one of a physical characteristic of the item, a rate of inflow of the item through the inlet, and a rate of outflow of the item through the outlet.