Disclosed is a propulsion system for propelling autonomous robots on vertical and horizontal rails that support shelves on which items are stored in a warehouse. The propulsion system changes the principle of travelling on the rails from being dependent on friction between the front wheels and the rail to a system that is dependent on a rack and pinion gear assembly. Also described is a locking assembly that allows the robot to cling to the rails and travel up and along them to reach required destinations on the shelves.

Disclosed is a propulsion system for propelling autonomous robots on vertical and horizontal rails that support shelves on which items are stored in a warehouse. The propulsion system changes the principle of travelling on the rails from being dependent on friction between the front wheels and the rail to a system that is dependent on a rack and pinion gear assembly. Also described is a locking assembly that allows the robot to cling to the rails and travel up and along them to reach required destinations on the shelves.

An order preparation system including at least one automatically guided carriage which is intended to collect items of an order from shelves and is equipped with toothed wheels, which are mounted on retractable supports and are able to cooperate with racks or chains rigidly connected to the uprights of the shelves, so as to allow the carriage to ascend between two shelves, and with counter-wheels. A runner is fixed substantially at a distal end of each of the supports and is position with respect to a counter-wheel mounted on the same support such that when the carriage climbs, the counter-wheel is in contact with a face of an upright and the runner is spaced apart from the upright, and, if the movable support weakens due to failure, the runner comes to bear on the upright, so as to block the downward advance of the movable support.

An order preparation system including at least one automatically guided carriage which is intended to collect items of an order from shelves and is equipped with toothed wheels, which are mounted on retractable supports and are able to cooperate with racks or chains rigidly connected to the uprights of the shelves, so as to allow the carriage to ascend between two shelves, and with counter-wheels. A runner is fixed substantially at a distal end of each of the supports and is position with respect to a counter-wheel mounted on the same support such that when the carriage climbs, the counter-wheel is in contact with a face of an upright and the runner is spaced apart from the upright, and, if the movable support weakens due to failure, the runner comes to bear on the upright, so as to block the downward advance of the movable support.

A travel unit travels in a curved section in an orientation in which a target wheel comes into contact with a target rail, a guide wheel comes into contact with a guide rail, and a non-target wheel does not come into contact with a non-target rail. The control unit changes the rotational speed of a first wheel and a second wheel in the curved section relative to the rotational speed of the first wheel and the second wheel in a straight section in accordance with the ratio of a second length, which is the length of the target rail along a travel path, to a first length, which is the length of the curved section along the travel path at a center portion in a widthwise direction of the travel path.

A travel unit travels in a curved section in an orientation in which a target wheel comes into contact with a target rail, a guide wheel comes into contact with a guide rail, and a non-target wheel does not come into contact with a non-target rail. The control unit changes the rotational speed of a first wheel and a second wheel in the curved section relative to the rotational speed of the first wheel and the second wheel in a straight section in accordance with the ratio of a second length, which is the length of the target rail along a travel path, to a first length, which is the length of the curved section along the travel path at a center portion in a widthwise direction of the travel path.

A method and apparatus are provided for sorting or retrieving items to/from a plurality of destinations areas. The items are loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles follow a track that guides the delivery vehicles to/from the destination areas, which are positioned along the track. Once at the appropriate destination area, an item is transferred between the delivery vehicle and the destination area.

A method and apparatus are provided for sorting or retrieving items to/from a plurality of destinations areas. The items are loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles follow a track that guides the delivery vehicles to/from the destination areas, which are positioned along the track. Once at the appropriate destination area, an item is transferred between the delivery vehicle and the destination area.

A track system may include a track, a support assembly, and a flexible member. The support assembly may include a support member removably and adjustably connected to the track. The flexible member may be connected to the support member. The support member may include a pinion. The flexible member may be adjustable to a first flexible member position in which the pinion and the track are not engaged with one another. The flexible member may be adjustable to a second flexible member position in which the pinion and the track are engaged with one another.

A track system may include a track, a support assembly, and a flexible member. The support assembly may include a support member removably and adjustably connected to the track. The flexible member may be connected to the support member. The support member may include a pinion. The flexible member may be adjustable to a first flexible member position in which the pinion and the track are not engaged with one another. The flexible member may be adjustable to a second flexible member position in which the pinion and the track are engaged with one another.