Abstract: The invention provides a method for cargo sorting, configured to control an end effector with a package placement platform to sort the cargo, and the method includes: moving the package placement platform to a package obtaining position and obtaining the cargo to be sorted that enters into the package placement platform; moving the package placement platform to a package storage location; and exerting a first force to push the cargo into a package storage unit. With the help of the package placement platform, the method of the invention can receive the packages of different types or different sizes or different material so as to sort and transport all kinds of packages.

Abstract: An inventory management system includes an inventory holder and sensors. The sensors measure distances to locations on the inventory holder. The measurements are used to determine pitch, roll, and yaw of the inventory holder. The pitch, roll, and yaw are used to determine a location of an inventory cubicle in the inventory holder.

Abstract: A workstation for a material handling system is provided. The system may include a plurality of vehicles for retrieving items from a plurality of storage locations located in one or more racks. The workstation is configured to accommodate the vehicles so that the vehicles drive into the workstation and drive upwardly along a track in the workstation. In one configuration, the track is configured to tilt the vehicle at a predetermined angle relative to the horizon as the vehicle is driven upwardly. After the vehicle is tilted to the predetermined angle the vehicle continues to drive upwardly while maintaining the predetermined angle.

Abstract: Overhead transport vehicles with a hoist travel on a traveling rail for the overhead transport vehicles including a straight segment and a curved segment. A traveling rail for a local vehicle is provided below the traveling rail for the overhead transport vehicles, allows articles passing upward and downward over the traveling rail, has one end below the straight segment, extends from the one end parallelly to an extended line of the straight segment to a transfer position at the ground side, and has the other end outside an area under the straight segment. A buffer for the articles is provided below the straight segment and also below the traveling rail for the local vehicle. The local vehicle with a hoist traveling on the traveling rail for the local vehicle transfers the articles between the transfer position at the ground side and the buffer.

Abstract: An inventory handling system includes multiple shelving units for mounting over a horizontal floor. Each shelving unit contains a vertical array of shelves on which containers are placed. One or more floor robots travel among the shelving units along first paths on the floor. One or more lift robots move independently of the floor robots along second paths in a vertical plane over vertical faces of the shelving units, and transfer the containers between the shelves and the floor robots.

Abstract: A storage system (10) comprises a plurality of storage areas (39) for receiving stored goods, the storage areas being situated in at least one storage level and being accessible by an associated handling device (19, 20, 21) to store stored goods at the storage areas (39) or retrieve them from these storage areas (39). Quicker, simplified storage and retrieval is achieved in that for storing and retrieving the stored goods, in addition a conveyor (15) is provided which is designed as a continuous conveyor and is led on a storage level through the arrangement of the storage areas (3).

Abstract: The plant cultivation device includes a frame having four columns, cultivation beds a raising/lowering member, and a cultivation spaces. The cultivation beds are positioned one above the other and each is supported by the affixing claws of the frame. The raising/lowering member has an arm for engaging the cultivation beds and drives vertically between adjacent cultivation beds. The cultivation spaces each formed between vertically adjacent cultivation beds. The affixing claws are fixed to the framed storable in the columns and are driven between a supporting position and a non-supporting position. The arm is fixed to the raising/lowering member storable in the raising/lowering member, and is driven between an engaging position and a non-engaging position.

Abstract: In a picking system, commodities are efficiently transported to a picking area and a shipment area by one type of transportation vehicle travelling along a travelling route including a diverging section and a merging section. The picking system is provided with a transportation vehicle, racks, picking units, the shipment area, and a controller configured and programmed to control the transportation vehicle. The picking units are provided with a carrying-in station to which the transportation vehicle transports a container and a carrying-out station from which the transportation vehicle transports the container and the picked commodities. The transportation vehicle transports a container containing ordered commodities from the racks to a carrying-in station, the picked commodities to the shipment area, and a container after picking the commodities to the racks.

Abstract: The invention relates to a storage system which comprises at least one station, such as a goods input station, a goods relocation station, a goods picking station, or a goods removal station, and a storage shelf, which has a plurality of storage places for storing goods, which storage places are arranged adjacent to each other and/or one over the other. The storage system also comprises at least one goods transport vehicle, which transports at least one good from the station to the storage place or vice versa, and the transport occurs without the good being transferred onto another goods transport vehicle or another means of transport.

Abstract: A transportation system for a building includes a horizontal travel lane, a vertical travel lane, and a transportation cab configured for travel along the horizontal travel lane and vertical travel lane, a cab floor of the transportation cab orientable such that the cab floor is non perpendicular to a gravitational force acting on the transportation cab. A method of operating a transportation system for a building includes locating a transportation cab at a travel lane positioned at a building, accelerating the transportation cab in a non-vertical direction along the travel lane and orienting a cab floor of the transportation cab to be non-perpendicular to a gravitational force acting on the transportation cab during non-vertical acceleration of the transportation cab.

Abstract: A storage device includes a frame and a plurality of adjusting structures. The frame includes a base and a plurality of partition components. The partition components stand on the base so that the partition components and the base form a plurality of accommodation spaces together. Each of the adjusting structures includes a sliding component and a blocking component that are connected to each other. The sliding components are slidable on the base. The blocking components are located within the accommodation spaces, respectively. The blocking components protrude from the base so that the base, the partition components and the blocking components form a plurality of storage compartments together. The sliding components are for sliding relative to the base so as to respectively adjust depths of the storage compartments.

Abstract: In a palette movement in which a palette (24) which holds a tray (6) whose components are used up is moved from a palette carrying part (27) where the palette (24) was carried for the exchange with a new tray (6) to a palette accommodating part (23), the accommodating address of the return destination is specified based on a readout result of a palette identification mark of a palette information readout sensor (32) and palette accommodating data which are stored in advance. Therefore, even if the components in two or more palettes (24) are used up in the same period, the palettes (24) can be returned to the palette accommodating parts (23) corresponding to the specified accommodating addresses of the return destinations.

Abstract: An automated storage/retrieval system has two pairs of multi-tier racks that are arranged in series. An elevator is disposed between the two pairs of multi-tier racks. The elevator enables a load to be delivered to and received from the two pairs of multi-tier racks. The automated storage/retrieval system having such a tandem structure not only can provide the same storage capacity as that of a conventional configuration in which two pairs of multi-tier racks are arranged in parallel, but also can be applied to a building with a limited height since the system does not need to have an extended height. Since only one elevator is needed, the number of units is less than that of a conventional system, reducing manufacturing cost and an installation space for the system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a container storage facility in which inert gas can be supplied to a container in a container storage section that can be moved between the storage position and the transfer position while preventing deterioration of the gas supply line and generation of dust to the extent possible. The container storage section of the container storage facility in accordance with the present invention includes a container support provided to be movable with respect to the fixed frame member between a storage position and a transfer position for transferring the container to and from a transporting device. The gas supply line of gas supply system for supplying the inactive gas to the container supported by the container support of the storage position includes a fixed side portion and a moving side portion which can be moved in unison with the container support.

Abstract: The apparatus is a Lift and Storage Racking Apparatus for Human Remains to store human remains in an efficient manner. The lift component of the apparatus, through other connected components, when operated will either raise or lower human remains vertically, while maintaining the horizontal orientation of the human remains. The storage component of the apparatus accommodates extraordinary variations in the height, width, depth, and weight of human remains. Parallel storage rollers, glides, slides, and/or bearings facilitate efficient loading and unloading, as well as, expansion of the depth of storage for multiple human remains. Additional vertical levels placed within the storage component proportionally increase the capacity of the storage component. The apparatus is suitable for new installation as well as existing spaces for the storage of human remains; including but not limited to temperature controlled environments, such as buildings, structures, rooms, coolers, and/or freezers.

Abstract: In a storage system (1; 18) with at least one shelving level (3, 4, 5, 6, 7), comprising at least one transport aisle (10), shelves (8, 9; 19, 20) situated alongside the transport aisle (10) with storage spaces (L) for products (P) and a level transport device (EBG) movable in the transport aisle (10) for approaching the storage spaces (L), with a conveyor system (2; 24) for supplying products (P) to the shelving level (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) and removing therefrom, with at least one intermediate buffer (Z), in which the products (P) supplied by means of the conveyor system (2; 24) are temporarily stored until their storage in a storage space (L) and in which products (P) that are removed from the storage places (L) are temporarily stored until their transfer to the conveyor system (2; 24), there is provided that substantially each storage space (L) has a movable compartment floor (F) and that the level transport device (EBG) has compartment floor-moving means, by means of which a compartment floor (F) may be transfe

Abstract: A magazine apparatus including a plurality of receiving elements that are constructed and arranged to separately receive individual blow molds each having a plurality of parts and each configured to shape plastic-material preforms into plastic-material containers. The magazine apparatus being constructed and arranged to store a plurality of blow molds outside the working operational area of a blow molding machine.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes a control unit configured to be disposed on-board at least one of a first vehicle or a second vehicle. The control unit also is configured to receive an updated time of an event involving the first vehicle and the second vehicle traveling in a transportation network. The control unit also is configured to change a speed of said at least one of the first vehicle or the second vehicle in response to the updated time to arrive at the event. A method is provided that includes, at one of a first vehicle or a second vehicle, receiving an updated time of an event involving the first vehicle and the second vehicle in a transportation network. The method also includes changing a speed of said one of the first vehicle or the second vehicle in response to the updated tune to arrive at the event.

Abstract: An automatic system for replenishing display shelves in retail businesses. The display shelves each including a shelf board having a conveyor belt circulating around the respective shelf board. Each of the display shelves further including a stop bar and a removable fall-off guard at respective front and rear sides of the display shelves to prevent goods from falling off the display shelves and, wherein, the display shelf is designed to cooperate with a shelf-stocking vehicle such that the fall-off guard is automatically opened when the display shelves are refilled by the shelf-stocking vehicle.

Abstract: An automatic system for replenishing display shelves in retail businesses. The display shelves each including a shelf board having a conveyor belt circulating around the respective shelf board. Each of the display shelves further including a stop bar and a removable fall-off guard at respective front and rear sides of the display shelves to prevent goods from falling off the display shelves and, wherein, the display shelf is designed to cooperate with a shelf-stocking vehicle such that the fall-off guard is automatically opened when the display shelves are refilled by the shelf-stocking vehicle.

Abstract: An autonomous mobile robot includes a housing mounted on a track and controllable to move along the track and to stop at each selected location, two side covers pivotally mounted on the left and right sides of the housing and movable by a respective driving motor to close/open the left or right side of the housing, and a mechanism controllable to move a material carrier horizontally leftwards or rightwards to the outside of the housing after opening of the left-sided or right-sided side cover.

Abstract: A pass-through accessor comprising a fixturing apparatus that can store a plurality of portable data storage cassettes. The pass-through accessor comprises a moveable gripper assembly comprising a plurality of gripping members. The gripper assembly releaseably attaches to a portable data storage cassette disposed in a storage slot, pulls that portable data storage cassette outwardly from the storage slot, and releaseably attaches that portable data storage cassette to one of a plurality of fixturing assemblies disposed on the fixturing apparatus.

Abstract: A method and equipment to stack palletless and as to their size variable packages (1) on warehouse rack (15) and to retrieve them from the rack and to control the logistics of packages, in which the warehouse rack is furnished with an automatic packages stacking and retrieving robot, and in which the control of warehouse data and logistics takes place by a data system. Equipment (5) receives package (1), for instance, onto conveyor belt (2), equipment (5) carries out weighing of package (1), determination for the necessary space requirement, reading of remote code connected to package (1), as RFID code (20) in order to choose the rack space determined for it on basis of previous functions, and package (1) is retrieved from the rack steered either by the order of the user or of the data system, and the data from above mentioned stacking and retrieving functions are transmitted to the data system.

Abstract: The invention provides a trolley for use in a storage system comprising at least one row of side-by-side storage positions for containers, which trolley is reciprocally movable along a path of movement that extends parallel to the row for transferring a container between the trolley and a storage position located opposite the trolley. The trolley comprises a frame, at least one supporting arm and moving means for moving the at least one supporting arm forward and backward, transversely to the path of movement, relative to the frame between a passive position and at least one active position, in which at least one active position, in contrast to the passive position, the at least one supporting arm extends at least partially into a storage position.

Abstract: A magazine apparatus including a plurality of receiving elements that are constructed and arranged to separately receive individual blow molds each having a plurality of parts and each configured to shape plastic-material pre-forms into plastic-material containers. The magazine apparatus being constructed and arranged to store a plurality of blow molds outside the working operational area of a blow molding machine.

Abstract: An order-picking system and method includes a pallet warehouse (12), preferably in terms of a high-bay warehouse, being used as a supply warehouse dedicated to a plurality of, preferably different, packing units (40) which are stored, preferably by one sort only, on pallets (14) in the pallet warehouse (12); a tray warehouse (24) which is used as a picking buffer for supplying connected order-picking stations with packing units (40), wherein trays (38) are stored in the tray warehouse which have been loaded with a pallet layer of packing units (40) before; a conveyor (22) which transports from the pallet warehouse to the tray warehouse trays (38) which are respectively loaded with a pallet layer of packing units, particularly across longer distances; and at least a rack-transport unit (36) for trays (38), the rack-transport unit allowing receipt of a plurality of trays being respectively loaded with a pallet layer.

Abstract: A rack-serving unit for storing boxes having an open box bottom, including a load pick-up device and at least one substantially horizontally telescopic article transport gripper including at least one rest for the articles for gripping under an article, is provided with a single telescopic gripper pin serving as article transport gripper and having a rest for the articles for gripping under the article in a just unstable position and at least one telescopic flank and/or a telescopic hold-down device for setting a stable transport position of the gripped article. In an order-picking warehouse equipped with said rack-serving unit having storing boxes with bottoms which are open in the center thereof, the telescopic gripper pin includes a rest for the articles of a width which is transverse to the telescoping direction for supporting the article in a just unstable position on the rest for the articles and the box bottom opening being just slightly broader than the width.

Abstract: Storing and retrieving articles in and from rack warehouses which are filled and emptied, wherein articles are stored on load supports at storage locations of at least one rack of rack warehouse comprises moving a storage and retrieval device, which is movable in a longitudinal direction of the rack and has a lifting table movable in height, to a receiving point of the rack; receiving a load support, which is loaded with an article, from the rack on a load suspension device of the storage and retrieval device; separating article from the received load support on the lifting table by means of a separation station; moving storage and retrieval device to hand-over point, where storage and retrieval device is coupled in a transverse direction of the rack to article conveyor extending in longitudinal direction of rack; and delivering separated article from lifting table to the article conveyor.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with exemplary embodiments for assisting cargo onto and from elevators. The system may include deck subsystems comprising rollers, a motor, and a gearbox. The motor may drive the gearbox which may drive the rollers to assist in loading cargo onto an elevator and/or assist in unloading cargo from an elevator. Deck subsystems may be located on multiple deck levels. The system may include an elevator subsystem having rollers. The deck subsystem may include a telescopic driveshaft which may extend and drive the rollers on the elevator subsystem to assist in loading and/or unloading cargo onto and from the elevator subsystem.

Abstract: A container storage and retrieval system (1) has first, second and third storage zones (2, 3, 4) for storing containers. The first storage zone (2) stores containers of product in frames (6), each frame (6) including a plurality of stacks (7) of containers. The second storage zone (3) stores containers of product in stacks (7). An automated retrieval system retrieves selected stacks of containers from the second storage zone (3) and replenishes the second zone (3) with containers by receiving frames (6). The third storage zone (4) includes a second automated retrieval system for retrieving selected partial stacks or stacks of containers, and replenishing the third storage zone with containers by receiving stacks from the second storage zone. Orders are collated by transferring a required number of complete frames (6) from the first storage zone (2), a required number of complete stacks (7) from the second storage zone (3) and a required number of stacks (7) or partial stacks from the third zone (4).

Abstract: An elevation conveyor 5 includes a turntable 17 and a roller conveyor 18. The roller conveyor 18 is supported onto the turntable 17. A turntable controller 7 turns the turntable 17 so that the roller conveyor 18 matches with a carrying direction of a conveyor rail for receiving or delivering a load and then drives the conveyor rail and the roller conveyor 18 to receive or deliver an FOUP 8. An elevation conveyor 5 is held in a cable 20a installed in an elevation space 9 through a coupling member 20b of a cableveyor 20, and can freely elevate and stop at a port 21 installed on each floor while being interlocked with motion of the cableveyor 20 caused by reciprocating circulation of the cableveyor 20 in a vertical direction by an elevation conveyor controller 4.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing capable of reducing footprint and a working time for loading substrates as short as possible, and a method using the same are disclosed. The apparatus includes a cassette to accommodate a plurality of substrates, a stocker in which the cassette is loaded, a process progressing unit to receive the respective substrates in the cassette and to perform a process, a loader having at least two hands and disposed between the stocker and the process progressing unit to receive and supply the respective substrates accommodated in the cassette on the stocker to the process progressing unit, and at least one withdrawing unit to withdraw and supply the respective substrates from the cassette to at least one of the hands in the loader.

Abstract: In a storage lift comprising a plurality of shelf columns (3a, 3b) which lie next to one another and opposite one another on both sides of a conveying shaft (15), a horizontally displaceable support frame (18) for a conveyor (26) which is movable upwards and downwards is guided in the conveying shaft (15) on two guide rails (16, 17), of which one is connected fixedly to the base (23) of the conveying shaft (15) and one is arranged in the upper region thereof.

Abstract: A system for controlling stocked items to be picked in a warehouse. The system has a first support assembly upon which a plurality of items can be stored in a predetermined array, including a plurality of rows, and from which stored items can be picked from a first location. The first support assembly has at least (a) a first state with no item upon the first support assembly, (b) a second state with at least one item in at least one of the rows and no items in another of the rows and (c) a third state with at least one item in each of the plurality of rows. The system includes a repositioning assembly that is operable to cause an item upon the first support assembly to be shifted from a first position in a first row to a second position in a second row. An item upon the first support assembly is situated to be more accessible to an operator for picking from the first location with the item in the second position than with the item in the first position.

Abstract: A rack and conveyor shuttle system for placing and retrieving articles of various sizes including a rack system having a shelving framework of at least two tubes spaced apart from one another at a distance, wherein the distance between the tubes is sufficient to support the article in a single stack and a motorized, conveyor shuttle system having at least two finger-like conveyors spaced apart from one another at a distance, wherein the distance between the finger-like conveyors is sufficient to move in between the two tubes so as to engage the article wherein the conveyor shuttle system is adapted to interlace in between the rack system for both placing and retrieving the article.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for moving loaded pallets from one location to another, such as from a region of an assembly line to a vertically lower region of the same assembly line. A first conveyor track is angled downwardly from a source of loaded pallets toward a diverter, which is driven to pivot about one end. The diverter receives the pallet when the diverter is parallel to the first conveyor track and then pivots to a horizontal orientation at which it is unloaded. Upon the last object on the pallet being removed, the diverter pivots downwardly to become parallel to a second conveyor track that is angled downwardly from the diverter, and is released to slide down the second conveyor track. The pallet is preferably precisely located and clamped in the diverter.

Abstract: A method for sorting mail to a case having a plurality of slots is described, wherein each slot corresponds to a destination. The method includes steps of loading a mail piece to be sorted into a delivery robot, determining for the mail piece a destination slot the mail piece is to be delivered to, moving the delivery robot along a rail disposed at the front of the case near the slots into proximity with an open end of the destination slot, inserting the mail piece from the delivery robot into the associated slot, and returning the delivery robot to a loading station whereby the cycle may be repeated. Such a method, when using a large number of robots moving along a common rail system, can sort a large volume of mail in carrier delivery order.

Abstract: The method for the automatic feeding of metal section bars provides for seizing a group of metal section bars (2) from a store (3) by means of gripping tools (11) and for transferring the said group of metal section bars (2) in a lifted position. The metal section bars (2) are arranged on a transfer device (20) suited to transfer the metal section bars (2) on receiving means (30). In a suitable phase relationship, the counting of the metal section bars (2) transferred on the said receiving means (30) is carried out. Such operating cycle is repeated until a prefixed number of metal section bars (2) is reached. The whole of the metal section bars (2) is disentangled through the progressive sliding of the receiving means (30) along the longitudinal axis of the metal section bars (2).

Abstract: A storage and retrieval unit (1) is provided for operating a product storage shelving (2), which has at least one shelf, on which essentially cubic products (4, 5, 6) are arranged and held. The products can be removed and fed to a driven, essentially horizontal continuous belt (8) of a height-adjustable storage and retrieval unit that is movable along the product storage shelving. The products removed are centered by a centering device with a lateral product centering element (9), which is arranged on a transverse side of the continuous belt (8) in the area of at least one longitudinal end of the continuous belt. The lateral product centering element centers a product removed from the product storage shelving (2) against a lateral longitudinal stop (10) of the continuous belt (8). Differently configured cubic products may be handled by the storage and retrieval unit in an easy, fast and reliable manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rack serving device (1) with a load-bearing means (4) displaceable in the height direction of a mast (2), the mast (2) being guided by means of bogie assemblies (7, 8) on bottom and top guide tracks and mounted so as to be displaceable along the guide tracks by means of a bottom and top friction-locking displacement drive (13, 14). The bottom and the top adjusting mechanisms are guided by means of height and lateral guide elements on the guide track and are designed to be displaceable relative to the guide tracks by means of a drive system (33).

Abstract: A sorting apparatus has at least two sorter cells arranged substantially one above the other. Sorter cells are fitted to a driving unit for moving the sorter cells from a horizontal loading plane to a horizontal discharge plane, both of which are assigned to the sorter cells. A vertical distance between the sorter cells is equal to the vertical distance between two loading planes arranged one above the other and to the vertical distance between the upper and lower plane of at least a first and a second pair of discharge planes arranged one above the other.

Abstract: An automated material handling system that includes an extractor/buffer apparatus capable of simultaneously accessing multiple Work-In-Process (WIP) parts, thereby providing a highly efficient interface between WIP storage locations and transport equipment. The extractor/buffer apparatus includes multiple extractor/buffer modules, each module being configured to interface with a location for holding WIP parts that is a number of WIP parts deep. Each module includes a platform for holding multiple WIP parts. Further, multiple modules may be disposed side-by-side to form an extractor/buffer apparatus capable of handling multiple rows of WIP parts.

Abstract: A container (10) includes a body that has a bottom wall (12), a top wall (20), a back wall (14), and first and second end walls (16), (18) wherein the walls (12), (14), (16), (18), and (20) of the body define an open front (22) portion of the container body. The container (10) further includes a first (24), top (98), bottom (100), side (110), and diagonal (112) conveyors supported on the back wall (14) within the container (10) for supporting parts (28) between the conveyors (24), (98), (100), and (112) for sequentially loading and unloading the parts (28) on and off the conveyors (24), (98), (100), and (112). The container (10) may provide for an effective way for loading and unloading the container with variety of parts comprising different shapes and dimensions.

Abstract: An apparatus for assisting an operator of an electric-component supply device including component feeders mounted on feeder support and each accommodating electric components, the apparatus including (a) a position indicator operable to indicate the feeder-mounting position at which the component feeder is to be mounted on the feeder support, and/or the feeder-mounting position at which the component feeder has been removed from the feeder support, and/or (b) a feeder indicator operable to indicate at least one of (i) the component feeder which has been mounted on the feeder support, (ii) the component feeder which is to be removed from the feeder support and (iii) the component feeder on which an intermediate operation is required to be performed between moments of the operations to mount and remove the component feeder on and from the feeder support.

Abstract: A storage and dispensing system (10) for storing and dispensing pre-packaged pharmaceutical products (12) and other products. The system includes a cabinet (14); a plurality of product conveyors (16) mounted within the cabinet and each configured for holding at least one product; an infeed conveyor (18) for receiving products that are to be stored in the cabinet; an outfeed conveyor (20) for receiving products that are to be dispensed from the cabinet; and a transporter (22) moveable within the cabinet for transporting products between the product conveyors and the infeed and outfeed conveyors for storing products in or dispensing products from the cabinet.

Abstract: At least one supply roll is conveyed by use of a roll support surface. The supply roll can be placed on the roll support surface with its longitudinal axis essentially horizontal. The supply roll can be rolled in at least one conveying direction with its lateral surface on the roll support surface. At least one transport element, with at least one rotating drive device can be brought into contact with the lateral surface of the supply roll from below. The drive device can be driven in at least one conveying direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a load-bearing frame (18) for a conveyor device, in particular a shelf-stacking device (1), with a support frame (19) which can be secured on a lift (17) of the conveyor device and, disposed on it, mutually parallel support mechanisms with displaceable telescopic support arms for receiving a storage unit such as a pallet (6), box, etc., and a conveyor system forming a conveying direction extends parallel with a displacement direction of the support mechanisms (21). The conveyor system consists of conveyor mechanisms (27) with two linear conveyors (26) arranged in pairs, disposed symmetrically by reference to a mid-plane (31) and extending between the support mechanisms (21) perpendicular to the standing surface (8) of the shelf-stacking device (1), forming a conveyor direction parallel with a displacement direction of the support mechanisms (21).

Abstract: At least one vertical structure is constituted by plurality of planes, set one upon another, each of which can house at least one container. A lift truck is able to transport at least one of the containers and can move in a vertical direction in a vertical work space parallel to the vertical surface on which the planes are aligned. The lift truck on command can be positioned facing one of the planes, and can interact with the planes in order to remove or insert a single container. The invention comprises a plurality of the vertical structures which are arranged parallel and afford a plurality of the work spaces for movement of the lift truck and are conformed to enable transfer of the lift truck at least from one of the work spaces to another of the work spaces. Means are provided to operate a transfer of the lift truck from one of the work spaces to another as well as to displace of the lift truck at least in a vertical direction along a single work space.

Abstract: A load pick-up device for use in an order-picking system with at least one prong is created, which is characterised in that parallel with the longitudinal axis of the prong a pair of conveyor chains connected to a drive and comprising two endlessly revolving conveyor chains is provided, and that the pair of conveyor chains or the prong is connected to a lifting gear for raising or lowering the pair of conveyor chains with respect to the prong, and respectively. In addition, a method for the storing of articles in a rack order-picking system is provided.

Abstract: The lifter 3 is moved upward until the storage shelf 2 on which the packaging box 9 that contains the transfusion bottles 13 corresponding to the prescription is stored. Then, the first conveyor mechanism 8 of the storage shelf 2 and the second conveyor mechanism 14 of the lifter 3 are driven to convey the packaging box 9 of the transfusion bottle 13 from the storage shelf 2 to the lifter 3. When the lifter 3 is moved downward to the lowermost position, the second conveyor mechanism 14 of the lifter 3 and the third conveyor mechanism 16 of the receiving table 4 are driven to convey the packaging box 9 of the transfusion bottle 13 from the lifter 3 to the receiving table 4. Subsequently, the grip mechanism 5 is driven to grip the transfusion bottle 13 in the packaging box 9 on the receiving table 4 and convey it to the collection container 20. Then, the transfusion bottle 13 is released above the collection container 20 and contained therein.