In one embodiment, a wireless tag reading device includes a plurality of antennas for wireless tag communication, a number-of-times acquisition unit, a strength acquisition unit, and a direction specifying unit.

Each antenna is arranged along a passage through which a wireless tag passes. The number-of-times acquisition unit acquires a number of times of reading of data of the wireless tag read by each of the antennas for each unit time for each of the antennas. The strength acquisition unit acquires a received signal strength indicator when the data of the wireless tag is read by each of the antennas for each unit time for each of the antennas. The direction specifying unit specifies a moving direction of the wireless tag passing through the passage based on the number of times of reading and the received signal strength indicator for each of the antennas that are acquired for each unit time.

The invention relates to a palletizing apparatus for setting down article layers on a transport aid, the palletizing apparatus including a lifting apparatus which is configured in the form of a column and has at least three sides and at least three separate guide devices, wherein one of the at least three guide devices is arranged on each side, and wherein at least one carriage is guided on each of the three guide devices so as to be movable in a vertical direction (Z). Here, the at least three sides are oriented parallel to the vertical direction (Z) and in an inclined manner with respect to one another, wherein at least two of the angles (A1, A2, A3) between the three sides are angles other than 90°. The invention also relates to a method for operating a palletizing apparatus for setting down an article layer on a transport aid.

The invention relates to a palletizing apparatus for setting down article layers on a transport aid, the palletizing apparatus including a lifting apparatus which is configured in the form of a column and has at least three sides and at least three separate guide devices, wherein one of the at least three guide devices is arranged on each side, and wherein at least one carriage is guided on each of the three guide devices so as to be movable in a vertical direction (Z). Here, the at least three sides are oriented parallel to the vertical direction (Z) and in an inclined manner with respect to one another, wherein at least two of the angles (A1, A2, A3) between the three sides are angles other than 90°. The invention also relates to a method for operating a palletizing apparatus for setting down an article layer on a transport aid.

A material handling system having object handling and transportation devices and method of receiving objects into a warehouse having a material handling system includes scanning a machine readable code of an incoming load forming at least a portion of an order and comparing the machine readable code with an order file listing objects on the incoming load. For each object on the load, object data including a 3D image and product code of the object removed from the incoming load is received with an image capture station and reconciled with the order file. Each object is identified by comparing the 3D image of the object captured with the image capture station with the 3D images in the database. The material handling system is controlled as a function of the identity of the objects being handled and transported by the material handling system.

A method and system for automatically forming and handling compound pallet units including a pallet and a plurality of products stacked on the pallet. The method includes the steps of providing a conveyor device, at least one loading area provided for automatically receiving empty pallets and temporarily hosting compound pallet units to be transferred to a main conveyor, and at least one manipulator robot configured for picking selected products and placing the products on a pallet stationing at said loading station.

A method and system for automatically forming and handling compound pallet units including a pallet and a plurality of products stacked on the pallet. The method includes the steps of providing a conveyor device, at least one loading area provided for automatically receiving empty pallets and temporarily hosting compound pallet units to be transferred to a main conveyor, and at least one manipulator robot configured for picking selected products and placing the products on a pallet stationing at said loading station.

A delivery management device includes a hardware processor functioning as a delivery planning unit, a charging planning unit, and a delivery management unit. The delivery planning unit serves to create a delivery plan on the basis of delivery information. The charging planning unit serves to determine whether or not en-route charging is necessary. The en-route charging is performed to charge a battery mounted on a moving body midway through a delivery route defined in the delivery plan. The delivery management unit serves to determine whether or not to re-plan the delivery plan including the en-route charging. The determination is made on the basis of a deterioration state of the battery. Also, the determination is made in a case where the en-route charging is determined as being necessary and where a battery deterioration amount is set as a priority item.

A transport vehicle (2) that travels along a container shelf (1) provided with a plurality of levels of shelf portions (11) arranged in a vertical direction (Z) and configured to support containers (W), thereby transporting the containers (W). The transport vehicle (2) is provided with a support region where a container (W) is supported, a first transfer apparatus (23) that inserts/takes the container (W) into/out of the container shelf (1), and a second transfer apparatus (24) that loads/unloads the container (W) on/from the support region. The second transfer apparatus (24) is configured such that a container (W) can be moved to the support region so as to allow a plurality of the containers (W) to be supported in a stacked state in the support region.

A transport vehicle (2) that travels along a container shelf (1) provided with a plurality of levels of shelf portions (11) arranged in a vertical direction (Z) and configured to support containers (W), thereby transporting the containers (W). The transport vehicle (2) is provided with a support region where a container (W) is supported, a first transfer apparatus (23) that inserts/takes the container (W) into/out of the container shelf (1), and a second transfer apparatus (24) that loads/unloads the container (W) on/from the support region. The second transfer apparatus (24) is configured such that a container (W) can be moved to the support region so as to allow a plurality of the containers (W) to be supported in a stacked state in the support region.

An automated palletizer includes an automated package pick device capable of moving packages from a package deposit section to a pallet to form a pallet load from packages, a controller that is operably connected to the automated pick device, the controller having a pallet load generator configured to determine a pallet load structure of mixed packages, the pallet load generator being programmed so that it determines the load structure from mixed package layers overlaid over each other at least one of the mixed package layers being formed of stacks of mixed packages, top and bottom surfaces of the stacks corresponding to the at least one mixed package layer respectively forming top and bottom surfaces of the at least one mixed package layer that are substantially flat. The controller generates commands for the pick device to build the pallet load from the load structure determined by the pallet load generator.