Abstract: Systems and methods can enhance efficiencies of order fulfillment processes. For example, this document describes systems and methods for optimizing the efficiency of multiple order sortation process lines to expedite order processing in a cost-effective manner. In some embodiments, this innovation includes an efficient method for loading or filling the capacity of multiple parallel order sortation process lines so that they operate at peak efficiently and the operators are utilized at a high level. Additionally, the systems and methods promote efficiency enhancements of order sortation equipment by reducing the potential for downtime due to material flow interferences.

Abstract: Processes are provided for dynamically sorting and storing items in a warehouse without the need for presorting items and without delaying or negatively impacting the efficiency of operators in the warehouse. Items are individually scanned and placed in totes of a tote-array provided on a mobile robot. An optimized route is calculated based on the items in the tote-array, and the robot navigates to a first location on the route. When the item has been put away, a replacement item is placed in the just-emptied tote of the tote-array, and an updated route is calculated. A robot capable of navigating to predefined locations for storing items is a warehouse is provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods can enhance efficiencies of order fulfillment processes. For example, this document describes systems and methods for optimizing the efficiency of order sortation processes to expedite order processing in a cost-effective manner. The systems and methods facilitate high utilization of labor due to reductions in wasted movements and even loading of workers of a team of workers. Additionally, the systems and methods promote efficiency enhancements of order sortation equipment by reducing the potential for downtime due to material flow interferences.

Abstract: A system may include a vehicle for delivering items and a plurality of racks having a plurality of storage locations. The racks may be arranged to form one or more aisles. The vehicles are configured to drive horizontally along a path that may extend along a path under the racks that is parallel to the aisles. Additionally, the vehicles may be operated to turn while the vehicle is positioned under one of the racks. The vehicles may travel under the racks and cross one or more aisles to reach a particular column in one of the aisles. The vehicle climbs upwardly within the particular column to retrieve an item from a storage location in the column.

Abstract: A semi-autonomous processing system for processing objects is disclosed. The semi-autonomous processing system includes an input conveyance system for moving objects to a presentation area, a perception system including perception units that are directed toward a detection area for providing perception data regarding an object in the presentation area, at least two transport systems, each of which is adapted to receive the object and move the object in either of reciprocal directions, and a manual workstation area between the perception area the at least two transport systems.

Abstract: The present application provides a transfer device and a transfer method. The transfer device includes: a frame; a module transfer arm, arranged above the frame and with a number of at least one; a pre-inspection station, arranged on the frame at an initial placement position in a conveying direction of the module transfer arm, and configured to place thereon a target object to be inspected; a post-inspection station, arranged on the frame at a finish-placement position in the conveying direction of the module transfer arm, and configured to place thereon the target object after being inspected; an inspection station, respectively arranged on the frame and between the pre-inspection station and the post-inspection station, and configured to place thereon and inspect the target object; a feed mechanism.

Abstract: A method of fulfilling orders by making orders available in order units by picking from product units in a storage facility that includes a routed product order picking area, and an automated storage and retrieval racking area that is upstream from the routed products order picking area and connected thereto by a routing conveyor. The method includes reassigning order fulfillment of orders requiring products from product units requiring many exchanges between adjoining storage racks from a source storage rack to an adjacent storage rack via cross conveyance locations in the storage racks themselves to reach a destination storage rack, where the orders are reassigned to the routed products order picking area for parallel order fulfillment such that bottlenecks within the automated storage and retrieval racking area can be prevented or at least decreased.

Abstract: Goods storage and retrieval systems and materials handling vehicles are provided. The goods storage and retrieval system includes a multilevel warehouse racking system; a materials handling vehicle comprising a mast assembly, a picking attachment, and vehicle-based cart engagement hardware; a mobile storage cart; and a transporter comprising transporter-based engagement hardware. The transporter-based engagement hardware enables the transporter to engage, transport, and disengage the mobile storage cart. The vehicle-based cart engagement hardware is coupled to the mast assembly to (i) engage and disengage the mobile storage cart and (ii) transport the mobile storage cart to multiple levels of the multilevel warehouse racking system. The mast assembly and the picking attachment are configured to access multiple levels of the multilevel warehouse racking system. The picking attachment is configured to transfer totes between the multilevel warehouse racking system and the mobile storage cart.

Abstract: A method for retrieving an inventory item based on a handling robot, where the handling robot includes: a storage frame; and a material handling device installed on the storage frame, and including a telescopic arm and a manipulator installed to the telescopic arm; and the method for retrieving an inventory item includes: driving, by the telescopic arm, the manipulator to extend to a preset position of warehouse shelf along a preset horizontal reference line; loading, by the manipulator that is remained on the reference line, the inventory item located in the preset position; driving, by the telescopic arm, the manipulator loaded with the inventory item to move to the storage frame along the reference line; and unloading, by the manipulator that is remained on the reference line, the inventory item to the storage frame.

Abstract: Embodiments of this application disclose methods and apparatuses for processing information for a goods-picking container, and a store system including a first area for storing goods and performing a plurality of goods-picking tasks, wherein each of the plurality of goods-picking tasks corresponds to one of one or more delivery batches and is performed with one of a plurality of goods-picking containers; an automatic transfer device configured to automatically transfer each of the plurality of goods-picking containers containing goods picked according to a corresponding goods-picking task in the first area to the second area; the second area for grouping the plurality of goods-picking containers into one or more groups, and for transferring the group of goods-picking containers to a third area; and the third area for packing the goods contained in the plurality of goods-picking containers according to each of the plurality of delivery batches.

Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus auto-teach system for auto-teaching a substrate station location, the system including a frame, a substrate transport connected to the frame, the substrate transport having an end effector configured to support a substrate, and a controller configured to move the substrate transport so that the substrate transport biases the substrate supported on the end effector against a substrate station feature causing a change in eccentricity between the substrate and the end effector, determine the change in eccentricity, and determine the substrate station location based on at least the change in eccentricity between the substrate and the end effector.

Abstract: A computer-implemented product palletizing system and a method of product palletizing which includes processor in communication with a memory element containing a computer code executable to coordinate the discrete activities of one or more pickers and conveyor product sorting assembly to allocate a plurality of products to a plurality of pallets.

Abstract: A method for picking orders (22a . . . 22e) in a storage and order-picking system (1a, 1b) is provided, which comprises an article storage (2), a loading station (3), a sorting unit (4), a packing station (5), an overhead conveyor system (7a . . . 7f) and a control system (8). At the loading station (3), articles (22a . . . 22e) are transferred from a loading aid (23, 24, 25a . . . 25c) into a transport means (28a, 28b) and at the packing station (5) from a transport means (28a, 28b) into a shipping loading aid (30). In this regard, transporting an article (22a . . . 22e) out of the article storage (2) to the loading station (3) takes place individually and independently of the other picking orders for each picking order. Furthermore, transporting the transport means (28a, 28b) from the loading station (3) into the sorting unit (4) also takes place individually and independently of the other picking order and directly for each picking order.

Abstract: A method for sequencing loads in an automated load-distribution system having k sources with k?2; at least one destination; k FIFO-type source buffer devices, each receiving loads from one of the k sources; a collector collecting the loads from the k source buffer devices and transporting them to the at least one destination. The collector includes k successive nodes each configured to collect the loads from one of the source buffer devices. The control system processes customer orders listing loads for a given destination and being each associated with a sequential order number of destination. The control system: builds a collection list containing n loads to be collected and reducing a disorder of the n loads relative to a rising order of the sequential order numbers of destination; and controls the collector and the source buffer devices to collect loads compliant with the collection list.

Abstract: A system for replenishing a self-service pick-up cabinet, a self-service pick-up cabinet system, an apparatus, and a method are provided. The system for replenishing self-service pick-up cabinet controls, by means of a control system, an goods transport device to acquire replenishing goods at an inlet of a self-service pick-up cabinet, and transports the replenishing goods to a goods locker, which is designated by the control system, of the self-service pick-up cabinet. The self-service pick-up cabinet system comprises the system for replenishing a self-service pick-up cabinet, the self-service pick-up cabinet and an unmanned delivery vehicle. The unmanned delivery vehicle transports and unload the replenishing goods to the inlet of the self-service pick-up cabinet. The replenishing efficiency of the self-service pick-up cabinet is improved and the labor cost is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for handling one or more tyres simultaneously in storage shelving of a high bay warehouse, where the tyres are brought in and stored and from where the tyres are taken. The arrangement according to the invention comprises a shelving track and a load handling device arranged to move along the shelving track, which load handling device comprises a horizontal longitudinal picking bar having a first end and a second end and which longitudinal picking bar is arranged to handle one or more tyres simultaneously in an axial direction of the tyres when the tyres stand in upright position one after the other so that the longitudinal picking bar is arrangeable to the centre of the tyre, and a rear support arranged to the longitudinal picking bar. The present invention also relates to a method for handling tyres and a high bay warehouse.

Abstract: A piece goods cabinet including a plurality of piece goods modules is disclosed. Each piece goods module has a plurality of piece goods compartments. Each piece goods compartment is assigned a closure unit which is displaceable from a closed position into an open position. At least individual piece goods modules within the piece goods cabinet are arranged such that they can be displaced between at least two module positions, at least substantially in the vertical direction and/or at least substantially in at least one horizontal direction. In order that the displacement of piece goods modules of appropriate piece goods cabinets can be simplified further, provision is made for the at least individual displaceable piece goods modules to be connected to mover units of the piece goods cabinet, which are designed to displace the piece goods modules in the piece goods cabinet.

Abstract: Apparatus for identifying, measuring and positioning piece goods with an increased throughput of piece goods are provided. An apparatus includes an optically transparent turntable having a support surface for piece goods which support surface extends in an X and Y direction of the apparatus, a first conveying device for arranging a piece good on the support surface of the turntable, a first optical reading device arranged below the turntable for detecting the dimensions of a piece good and an identifier, a second optical reading device for detecting the height of a piece good resting on the support surface and an identifier, a storage area for a plurality of piece goods which storage area is arranged downstream of the turntable, a second conveying device with a gripping device for piece goods, wherein the gripping device is movable over the storage area, at least in an X and Y direction, in such a way that piece goods can be arranged side by side in the storage area in the X and/or Y direction.

Abstract: A robot control unit for a substrate conveying robot raises a hand from a first lower position below a first target position at which the hand picks up a substrate to a first upper position above the first target position, and displaces at least one of a plurality of joints in one direction, in a first interval from the first lower position to a first intermediate position between the first lower position and the first target position.

Abstract: A method includes arranging, on a robot, a set of suctions cups on an actuator of the robot to allow for removable engagement of the set of suction cups to a container surface. The method further includes initiating movement of the actuator to cause the robot to (1) engage the set of suction cups to the container surface, generating a pressure within at least a subset of the set of suction cups; (2) detect the pressure within the subset of the set of suction cups; (3) connect the subset of the set of suction cups to a set of vacuum pumps to generate a vacuum, resulting in a grip on the container; and (4) move the container on to a platform of the robot to prepare the container for delivery.