Patent ID: 7861844

Claim:
A delivery vehicle operable with a material handling system having a plurality of sort locations and a guide system, wherein the delivery vehicle comprises: a platform for receiving an item to be conveyed to one of the sort locations; a motor for driving the vehicle to one of the sort locations; a drive system cooperable with the guide system to guide the vehicle to one of the sort locations, wherein the drive system is configured to maintain the orientation of the vehicle relative to the horizon as the vehicle changes from a first direction of travel to a second direction of travel, wherein the first direction is at an angle to the second direction; a releasable retainer for positively engaging the item to be delivered by the vehicle, wherein the retainer includes a release for releasing the retainer when the vehicle is adjacent the one sort location; and an ejector for ejecting the item from the vehicle toward the one sort location after the retainer releases the item to be delivered to the one sort location; wherein the drive system for the vehicle is operable to move the vehicle in a first direction and a second direction transverse the first direction, and wherein the ejector is operable to eject the item along a third direction that is transverse both the first and second directions.