Abstract
A controller of a robotic material handling system performs a method that conveys articles from a pile within a confined space. One or more articles per operation are robotically moved onto a vertically-positionable nose conveyor surface conveys toward a narrower rearward conveyor. Controller detects a jammed article that is at least partially supported by the nose conveyor and that has failed to fully convey onto the rearward. The controller attempts to dislodge the jammed article by causing at least one of: (i) vertically repositioning the nose conveyor surface; and (ii) activating at least one of the two or more parallel conveyors of the nose conveyor surface to run in a forward direction. After the attempt to dislodge, the controller activates at least one parallel conveyor that is contact with the jammed article in a rearward direction.