Abstract: A vehicle includes a body, a removable cab, a cargo movement subsystem, and a computing device. The removable cab is attachable to the body. The computing device includes a processor and a memory. The computing device is programmed to actuate at least one vehicle subsystem to move the vehicle to deliver cargo stored in the cab and the cargo movement subsystem move the cargo. The cargo movement subsystem is arranged to move the cargo from the cab to a position accessible from an exterior of the vehicle.

Abstract: Energy absorbing means on an autonomous ground robot, which is intended for delivering packages in an uncontrolled and unprotected environment, include elastically deformable padding, crushable material, and spring-loaded or like mechanical devices.

Abstract: A method for automatic loading of trays into a cart, where the cart is adapted to receive trays at different vertical tray levels, comprises detecting the tray levels with a tray level sensor and lifting the cart with a lifting device from a floor to different vertical positions such that the tray levels in the cart will be at the same vertical level as a loading surface of a conveyer arrangement, which transports the trays to the cart on the loading surface. The method also comprises activating tray stoppers to stop the movement of the trays on the loading surface until the cart is at a correct vertical position, and deactivating the tray stoppers to allow the trays to be loaded into the cart when the cart is at a correct vertical position. The cart is lifted and loaded until all tray levels have been filled, and then the cart is again lowered to the floor. An apparatus for automatic loading of trays into a cart according to the method is also provided.

Abstract: A pick up and delivery system for use with mobile robots which have a body with a horizontal upper surface and at least one vertical side. The robot has at least one shelf, each of which contains a stop bar containing a retaining device. The system further uses multiple stations, each of which contain at least one pallet retaining surface to contain at least two pallets. The pallet retaining surfaces are provided with a holding device at the pick up area and a holding device at the delivery area. Pallets are used to retain the items being transferred with each of the pallets having a securing device that interacts with the holding device and retaining device. The strength of the holding device at the pick up area is less than the holding device at the delivery area, with the robot's retaining device having a strength between the strength of the holding devices. The mobile robot picks up a pallet from a first station, and delivers the pallet to a second station.

Abstract: Load storage equipment according to the present invention includes rotary racks 21, each of which is supported independently on a story 1 or 2, and which may not extend vertically through the slab 4 between the stories 1 and 2. The storage equipment also includes a transferrer 51 common to the rotary racks 21. Each of the rotary racks 21 can turn on a vertical axis 22 and includes load supports 32 arranged circumferentially around the vertical axis 22 and vertically. The transferrer 51 extends vertically near the sides of the rotary racks 21 and through the slab 4. The transferrer 51 includes a carrier 81, which can vertically move to carry loads to and from the load supports 32.

Abstract: A buffer apparatus includes a vertically moving mechanism containing a plurality of horizontally moving mechanisms to store carriers and transfer carriers to and from a load port, and one or more buffer load ports adjacent to the buffer apparatus to charge and uncharge the buffer apparatus by means of a guided vehicle, an overhead vehicle, or a human. A buffer system includes a buffer apparatus and a processing system load port to transfer carriers from the buffer apparatus to a processing system load port. An arrayed buffer system includes a plurality of buffer systems where each buffer system interacts with an individual set of load ports or a pair of buffer systems interacts with a shared set of load ports. A combination of arrayed buffer systems includes a plurality of adjacent arrayed buffer systems capable of sharing a single, environmental front-end mechanism maintenance space and capable of being serviced from the front.

Abstract: A chain store comprising a plurality of intermittently movable gondolas which serve for receiving products to be stored and are suspended and fastened on at least one articulated chain running vertically over a plurality of deflection rollers, and a plurality of shelves which serve for receiving the products, and at least one unloading station which is arranged on an upward- or downward-moving outer side of the chain store and has transfer means for ejecting the products onto a horizontal discharge belt leading away from the unloading side, wherein the transfer means has two ejectors for simultaneously ejecting products from in each case two shelves one on top of the other, wherein a storage plate which is fastened with its end facing away from the gondola train to a retaining apparatus and is pivotable from a horizontal into a skew position inclined toward the discharge belt and is displaceable away from the gondola train is provided above the discharge belt, wherein the storage plate has rake-like or comb-l

Abstract: A pick up and delivery system for use with mobile robots which have a body with a horizontal upper surface and at least one vertical side. The robot has at least one shelf, each of which contains a stop bar containing a retaining device. The system further uses multiple stations, each of which contain at least one pallet retaining surface to contain at least two pallets. The pallet retaining surfaces are provided with a holding device at the pick up area and a holding device at the delivery area. Pallets are used to retain the items being transferred with each of the pallets having a securing device that interacts with the holding device and retaining device. The strength of the holding device at the pick up area is less than the holding device at the delivery area, with the robot's retaining device having a strength between the strength of the holding devices. The mobile robot picks up a pallet from a first station, and delivers the pallet to a second station.

Abstract: A pick up and delivery system for use with mobile robots which have a body with a horizontal upper surface and at least one vertical side. The robot has at least one shelf, each of which contains a stop bar containing a retaining device. The system further uses multiple stations, each of which contain at least one pallet retaining surface to contain at least two pallets. The pallet retaining surfaces are provided with a holding device at the pick up area and a holding device at the delivery area. Pallets are used to retain the items being transferred with each of the pallets having a securing device that interacts with the holding device and retaining device. The strength of the holding device at the pick up area is less than the holding device at the delivery area, with the robot's retaining device having a strength between the strength of the holding devices. The mobile robot picks up a pallet from a first station, and delivers the pallet to a second station.

Abstract: Case handling magazines and robot end effector for an automated storage and retrieval system in a warehouse include comb shelves for holding individual cases of goods. The case handling magazines are transported by conventional automated pallet handling stacker cranes and transfer cars. The magazine comb shelves and robot end effector have load carrying teeth spaced apart along the length of the shelves. The magazines include storage magazines for holding cases in conventional storage bays and transfer magazines for transferring cases to and from the storage magazines. The comb shelves of the storage magazines and transfer magazines are complementary with one another and enable the teeth of the comb shelves to intermesh with each other for transferring cases from a loaded comb shelf to an empty comb shelf. The robot end effector and some magazines include movable comb shelf segments that enable the selective transfer of all or less than all the cases on the loaded comb shelf to the unloaded comb shelf.

Abstract: An apparatus for unloading one or more reams of sheets, in particular of sheets of securities, from an exit of a machine which is part of an installation for the production of securities.