A self-locking assembly includes one or more shelves. Each of the shelves has dividers, which define storage bays that are adjacent to each other in a lateral direction and adjacent storage bays being spaced apart from each other by one of the dividers positioned therebetween, and a lock contained within each storage bay. The self-locking assembly also includes one or more storage units having a width that is a same as, or smaller than, a width of at least one of the storage bays. Each of the storage units has an upper surface, which transports item(s) supported thereon, and an interlocking feature that engages with the lock of one of the storage bays to resist removal of each storage unit from a corresponding one of the storage bays. Each storage unit can be inserted into and removed from a corresponding one of the storage bays in a longitudinal direction.

Systems and methods for automated pet food dispensing are described. One apparatus includes a receptacle configured to hold a sealed container containing wet pet food. The apparatus may include an electrically-operated plunger configured to interface with the receptacle. A processing system may be connected to the electrically-operated plunger. In one aspect, the processing system is configured to initiate a pet feeding event by actuating the plunger to interface with the receptacle, puncture the sealed container, and dispense the wet pet food into the food bowl. The processing system may maintain a time history to determine one or more future pet feeding events.

A wheeled base includes a housing, two driven wheeled mechanisms positioned on a bottom of the housing and on opposite sides of the housing, at least one passive wheel positioned on the bottom of the housing, actuated feet positioned on the bottom of the housing and configured to move up and down, sensors, and a battery pack arranged within the housing. The two driven wheeled mechanisms each includes a damping mechanism, and each damping mechanism includes at least two dampers configured to absorb impact caused by an upward movement of the housing, and absorb impact caused by a downward movement of the housing.

A product transport and storage apparatus is disclosed in the form of bots which aid human activity. The invention makes the human activity less strenuous, more efficient and more productive. A primary field of use is urban and suburban food distribution. The Product Transport and Storage system comprising a truck with a truck trailer, at least one Porch Bot placeable in the truck trailer to store and transport cases of groceries, a Railed Crane Bot apparatus connected to a roof of the truck trailer to lift and place the Porch Bot(s) at least within the truck trailer, an elevator bot enabling Porch Bots to be loaded and unloaded from a truck, and a Mother Bot having a platform which is moveable vertically and horizontally to transport the Porch Bot(s) to and from the truck trailer to a porch, patio, or landing.

A product transport and storage apparatus is disclosed in the form of bots which aid human activity. The invention makes the human activity less strenuous, more efficient and more productive. A primary field of use is urban and suburban food distribution. The Product Transport and Storage system comprising a truck with a truck trailer, at least one Porch Bot placeable in the truck trailer to store and transport cases of groceries, a Railed Crane Bot apparatus connected to a roof of the truck trailer to lift and place the Porch Bot(s) at least within the truck trailer, an elevator bot enabling Porch Bots to be loaded and unloaded from a truck, and a Mother Bot having a platform which is moveable vertically and horizontally to transport the Porch Bot(s) to and from the truck trailer to a porch, patio, or landing.

A partition wall arrangement of a storage according to the invention comprises a wall element with a framework and a liftable wall element. The framework comprises a horizontal upper element and side element. The liftable wall element is arranged between the side elements and fastened to the upper element. The partition wall arrangement further comprises a horizontal beam in connection with both side elements. The beams are parallel to each other and transverse to the wall element.

Systems are disclosed for dispensing, weighing, identifying, processing, and/or printing tag identifiers for items (e.g., bulk food items). In one embodiment, a storage system includes a scoop bin configured to store a product, wherein the scoop bin has a lid configured to be moved between a closed position and an open position, and wherein the product is configured to be scooped out of the scoop bin by a customer when the lid is in the open position. The system further includes a sensor configured to monitor a movement of the scoop bin, wherein the sensor is configured to transmit a notification to the computing device identifying the movement of the scoop bin. A printer is configured to receive an instruction from the computing device to automatically print a label identifying the product stored in the scoop bin following the computing device receiving the notification of the movement.

Systems are disclosed for dispensing, weighing, identifying, processing, and/or printing tag identifiers for items (e.g., bulk food items). In one embodiment, a storage system includes a scoop bin configured to store a product, wherein the scoop bin has a lid configured to be moved between a closed position and an open position, and wherein the product is configured to be scooped out of the scoop bin by a customer when the lid is in the open position. The system further includes a sensor configured to monitor a movement of the scoop bin, wherein the sensor is configured to transmit a notification to the computing device identifying the movement of the scoop bin. A printer is configured to receive an instruction from the computing device to automatically print a label identifying the product stored in the scoop bin following the computing device receiving the notification of the movement.

Provided herein is a methods, apparatus, and system for the configuration of customizable trays for the storage and dispensing of articles. Methods may include: receiving an indication of a plurality of articles to be stored in a tray; determining a plurality of bins corresponding to the plurality of articles; generating a layout of the bins on the tray; identifying locations of the plurality of articles within the bins on the tray; and causing the tray to be configured according to the layout of the plurality of bins on the tray. Methods may include: receiving an indication of an article to be loaded into a bin of the plurality of bins; receiving a unique identifier of the bin of the plurality of bins into which the article is loaded; and storing, in a memory, a correlation between the unique identifier of the bin and the article loaded into the bin.

A lift for automatic storage systems, comprising: a platform (2), predisposed to support one or more objects on a substantially horizontal rest plane (A); a guide structure (3), predisposed to guide the platform (2) in displacement along a vertical direction; a motor means, predisposed to activate the platform (2) in motion along the guide structure (3). The lift comprises a manipulator (4) associated with the platform (2) and configured to translate an object to be loaded/unloaded from the platform (2), along a horizontal exchange direction (X) in opposed directions.