Parcel and article sorting system and method

A system comprising:

• a first article supply location, wherein the first article supply location includes a plurality of articles to be sorted that have been pulled from batched orders from a first location in a distribution center;
• a second article supply location, wherein the second article supply location includes a plurality of articles to be sorted that have been pulled from batched orders from a second location in the distribution center;
• wherein a product type of each article is determined by an information acquisition device interacting with an identifier at the respective first article supply location and second article supply location;
• a platform assembly that includes:
• a platform elevated from a proximal surface,
• wherein the platform defines an opening and a destination container that is positioned proximal the opening in the platform;
• first and second computer controlled transport vehicles, each vehicle having a first position in which a selected article is stowed about the transport vehicle and a second position in which the selected article is deposited into a proximal container by manipulating a support of the vehicle that carried the selected article and deposits the selected article when in the second position,
• wherein the first transport vehicle traverses the platform and positions proximal the opening to deposit the selected article in the destination container by manipulation from the first position to the second position;
• a control system configured to:
• receive an order for a plurality of disparate articles, wherein the disparate articles are found within the first and second article supply location after the articles have been sorted and pulled at the distribution center;
• determine a first destination container of a plurality of receiving destination containers to direct the first transport vehicle to deposit the selected article, wherein the first destination container corresponds with an order for a first business;
• direct the first transport vehicle to transport a selected article to the first destination container and deposit the article by manipulation of the support of the first transport vehicle from the first position to the second position for deposit of the selected article in the destination container;
• determine a second destination container of a plurality of destination containers to direct the second transport vehicle to deposit a disparate selected article from the first or second article supply based on the determined product type, wherein the second destination container corresponds with an order for a second business;
• direct the second transport vehicle to transport the disparate selected article to the destination container and deposit the disparate selected article by manipulation of the support of the second transport vehicle from the first position to the second position for deposit of the disparate selected article in the destination container;
• and
• determine when the order for purchase has been completed.

A control system configured for use with material handling of a plurality of articles, the control system comprising a memory and a processor, the control system configured to:

• receive a plurality of orders for a plurality of disparate articles;
• batch the plurality of orders over a period of time, wherein the plurality of disparate articles are received from a first article supply location that has been pulled from batched orders from a first location in a distribution center and a second article supply location that has been pulled from batched orders from a second location in the distribution center;
• interact with an identifier affixed to an article or packaging associated with the article in order to determine a product type of a respective article at the first article supply location or the second article supply location;
• determine one destination container of a plurality of destination containers to deposit, with a transport vehicle, a selected article, wherein the destination container is determined based on at least one of the orders and the determined product type of the selected article;
• direct a first transport vehicle to transport the selected article to the determined one destination container and deposit the selected article by manipulation of a support of the first transport vehicle from a first position to a second position for deposit of the selected article in the destination container;
• determine another one destination container of a plurality of destination containers to deposit, with a transport vehicle, a disparate selected article, wherein the another destination container is determined based on at least one of the orders and the determined product type of the disparate selected article;
• direct a second transport vehicle to transport the disparate selected article to the another determined destination container and deposit the disparate selected article by manipulation of the support of the second transport vehicle from the first position to the second position for deposit of the disparate selected article in the another determined destination container;
• and
• determine when at least one order has been completed.