Abstract: An apparatus for the suspended conveyance of items includes a conveyor system which has a conveyor rail along which the items can each be conveyed suspended from an overhead adapter, and a plurality of buffer devices which are coupled to the conveyor system, which buffer devices are each designed as a circulating storage device, which buffer devices have a discharge conveyor, a separating unit arranged upstream of the discharge conveyor, an identification unit arranged downstream of the separating unit, and a diverter element arranged on the discharge line for discharging the overhead adapters, wherein the discharge conveyor is operable at a first conveying speed when no overhead adapter to be discharged has been identified, is operable at a second conveying speed when an overhead adapter to be discharged has been identified, wherein the second conveying speed is lower than the first conveying speed.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus for goods comprises at least one goods source which provides the goods by means of conveyor containers, a plurality of goods sinks to which the goods are conveyed, and an endless conveyor which connects the at least one goods source and the goods sinks in terms of conveying technology and has a first conveyor strand and a second conveyor strand which follows the first conveyor strand along a goods conveying direction in the endless conveyor, wherein only the first conveyor strand has a fixed conveyor container entrainment.

Abstract: A conveying method for goods comprising the method steps of providing goods for multiple orders, wherein the goods are conveyed in conveyor containers in an endless conveyor along a goods conveying direction, detecting the goods provided in the endless conveyor, forming a list of complete orders on the basis of the goods provided in the endless conveyor, defining ordered goods as goods included in at least one of the complete orders, automatically evaluating the complete orders with regard to their suitability for allocation to one of multiple goods sinks, taking into account at least one characteristic of the ordered goods and/or the goods sinks, wherein the goods sinks are connected to the endless conveyor in terms of conveying technology, allocating a complete order to one of the goods sinks in dependence on the evaluation, and conveying the allocated ordered goods to the goods sink.

Abstract: A conveying method for goods comprises the method steps of requesting an order from a goods sink, wherein the order comprises at least one product which is an ordered product, requesting the at least one ordered product from a first endless conveyor to which the goods sink is directly connected in terms of conveying technology, requesting and automatically transferring the at least one ordered product from a consolidation storage unit, which is connected upstream of the first endless conveyor and has a circulating conveyor line, into the first endless conveyor, and conveying and discharging the at least one requested ordered product to the goods sink.

Abstract: An apparatus for the suspended conveyance of items includes a conveyor system which has a conveyor rail along which the items can each be conveyed suspended from an overhead adapter, and a plurality of buffer devices which are coupled to the conveyor system, which buffer devices are each designed as a circulating storage device, which buffer devices have a discharge conveyor, a separating unit arranged upstream of the discharge conveyor, an identification unit arranged downstream of the separating unit, and a diverter element arranged on the discharge line for discharging the overhead adapters, wherein the discharge conveyor is operable at a first conveying speed when no overhead adapter to be discharged has been identified, is operable at a second conveying speed when an overhead adapter to be discharged has been identified, wherein the second conveying speed is lower than the first conveying speed.

Abstract: A single-level rack serving apparatus for transporting load units, which comprises two chassis halves each having a pair of rollers and each having an extendible arm, a storage region between the chassis halves and a connection structure, wherein the chassis halves are connected to one another by the connection structure and travel on running rails by the rollers. The arms serve to pull up or push down load units onto or from the storage region which comprises at least two first and second lateral supporting plates for supportingly carrying the load units. The size of the storage region can be varied by varying the spacing between the arms together with the lateral supporting plates. A further third supporting plate is arranged between the first and second lateral supporting plates such that it supports a load unit centrally from below in the storage region irrespective of the size of the storage region.

Abstract: A single-level rack serving apparatus for transporting load units, which comprises two chassis halves each having a pair of rollers and each having an extendible arm, a storage region between the chassis halves and a connection structure, wherein the chassis halves are connected to one another by the connection structure and travel on running rails by the rollers. The arms serve to pull up or push down load units onto or from the storage region which comprises at least two first and second lateral supporting plates for supportingly carrying the load units. The size of the storage region can be varied by varying the spacing between the arms together with the lateral supporting plates. A further third supporting plate is arranged between the first and second lateral supporting plates such that it supports a load unit centrally from below in the storage region irrespective of the size of the storage region.

Abstract: A warehouse shuttle includes a chassis made up of first and second chassis portions and an article-carrying area between the chassis portions. Pairs of first and second running wheels are provided on the chassis to travel along the runway. One of a pair of arms is mounted to the first chassis portion and the other of the arms is mounted to the second chassis portion and are extendable and retractable to transfer an article between one of the shelves and the article-carrying area. A connector assembly connects the first and second chassis portions and can vary the spacing between the first and second chassis portions thereby varying the spacing between the arms to engage articles of different widths.

Abstract: A telescoping mechanism and method of extending and retracting a telescoping mechanism includes a first arm that extends in a particular direction with respect to a base, a second arm that extends in that direction with respect to the first arm, a first drive assembly that extends and retracts the first arm, and a second drive assembly that extends and retracts the second arm. The first drive assembly includes a rotatable drum and a cable. The cable is wrapped at least one turn around the drum. The cable has a first portion attached to one end portion of the first arm and a second end portion to an opposite end portion of the first arm.

Abstract: An aisle emergency brake system for a vehicle that is adapted to travel on at least one rail includes a brake assembly and a stop assembly that are adapted to stop the vehicle when engaged with each other. If the brake assembly is mounted to the vehicle, the stop assembly is mounted to the rail, or vice versa. The brake assembly includes a pair of brake pads and a biasing mechanism. The brake pads are nominally spaced apart an operating distance and face each other in a facing direction. The biasing mechanism biases the brake pads toward each other to the operating distance. The stop assembly includes a body defining two surfaces. The two surfaces face outwardly and have stopping portions that are spaced apart more than the operating distance of the brake pads.

Abstract: An aisle emergency brake system for a vehicle that is adapted to travel on at least one rail includes a brake assembly and a stop assembly that are adapted to stop the vehicle when engaged with each other. If the brake assembly is mounted to the vehicle, the stop assembly is mounted to the rail, or vice versa. The brake assembly includes a pair of brake pads and a biasing mechanism. The brake pads are nominally spaced apart an operating distance and face each other in a facing direction. The biasing mechanism biases the brake pads toward each other to the operating distance. The stop assembly includes a body defining two surfaces. The two surfaces face outwardly and have stopping portions that are spaced apart more than the operating distance of the brake pads.

Abstract: A telescoping mechanism and method of extending and retracting a telescoping mechanism includes a first arm that extends in a particular direction with respect to a base, a second arm that extends in that direction with respect to the first arm, a first drive assembly that extends and retracts the first arm, and a second drive assembly that extends and retracts the second arm. The first drive assembly includes a rotatable drum and a cable. The cable is wrapped at least one turn around the drum. The cable has a first portion attached to one end portion of the first arm and a second end portion to an opposite end portion of the first arm.