Systems and methods for processing objects including space efficient distribution stations and automated output processing

An object processing system comprising:

• an in-feed area at which a plurality of objects are indiscriminately received;
• a perception system for providing perception data regarding the plurality of objects;
• a control system for assigning each of the plurality of objects a selected destination container of a plurality of destination containers based on the perception data;
• a processing conveyor for moving each of the plurality of destination containers;
• a buffer conveyor, the processing conveyor being selectively linked to the buffer conveyor for holding a subset of the plurality of destination containers, the buffer conveyor including a front side and a back side, the buffer conveyor being configured to bias the subset of the plurality of destination containers to an end of the buffer conveyor;
• an output conveyor adjacent the buffer conveyor on the front side;
• a track adjacent the buffer conveyor on the back side;
• and
• a box kicker on the track and movable over the track length, the box kicker including a displacement mechanism, wherein the box kicker is aligned on the track to one of the subset of the plurality of destination containers, and the displacement mechanism ejects the one of the subset of the plurality of destination containers onto the output conveyor.

A method of processing objects, the method comprising:

• indiscriminately receiving a plurality of objects at an in-feed area;
• presenting the plurality of objects to a perception system, the perception system adapted to provide perception data regarding the plurality of objects;
• assigning an identification of a bin to one of the plurality of objects using the perception data;
• placing the one of the plurality of objects in the bin, the bin on a conveyor in a known order of bins;
• ejecting the bin from the conveyor using a displacement mechanism, the displacement mechanism moving on a track adjacent the conveyor;
• and
• adjusting the known order of bins on the conveyor after ejecting the bin.