Abstract: An automated receiving station is provided for inventorying stock items. The receiving station comprises a plurality of independently driven conveyor sections arranged sequentially for moving items along a predetermined path from a deposit end to a removal end while reading bar coded labels on the items and weighing the items. Further, identification labels are affixed to those items not otherwise having labels. More specifically, the independently driven conveyor sections include a receiving conveyor section for sequentially receiving items thereon, a scanner conveyor section along which items thereon may be scanned for identifying indicia, a weighting conveyor section for weighting any of the terms positioned thereon and a labeler conveyor section for affixing identifying indicia onto any one of the items.

Abstract: A warehouse material handling automation system is disclosed which includes a portable module (22) with which to load and unload material onto and off of an automatic guided vehicle (14). The system operates such that the automatic guided vehicle (14) can calculate its position relative to a destination and follow a route to the destination. In addition, the system operates even when the portable module (22) is displaced or moved from its original position to establish a new destination.

Abstract: In order to reduce operating costs while enhancing the overall operating efficiency of an industrial plant, a method for automating a plant or warehouse using portable gantry robots is provided. Work stations for the robots are organized along rows in various parts of the plant where work is present. An overhead rail system is provided over the work stations wherein at least some overhead rail system have sections of displaceable rails. A transporter is provided for transporting the portable robots between rail systems or locations within a rail system. The transporters have a section of transfer rails which are identical in size to the displaceable rail section. A displaceable rail section is displaced following which the transfer rail section is locked into plance. The transfer rail section may also be aligned at one end of an overhead rail system. The robots are then added or removed from the overhead rail system while the transfer rail section is aligned with the overhead rail system.