A logistics system for carrying out a logistics process. The logistics system having a plurality of automated overhead rack storage and retrieval apparatuses for transporting loads to be transported within the scope of the logistics process. A process zone that is essentially free of storage racks is provided on the floor, and a storage zone is situated above the process zone. A plurality of pick-up or drop-off points at which loads may be picked up or dropped off by the rack storage and retrieval apparatuses is defined along the process zone base area of the process zone. The logistics system may also have a transfer apparatus for transferring the rack storage and retrieval apparatuses.

Facilities for processing steel. One facility includes a line for producing packages; a plurality of stackable cassettes for receiving packages; a splitter subfacility; automated transfer apparatus; and an automated overhead crane. The line may be a slitting line with the packages being coils of steel, or a cut-to-length line with the packages being stacks of steel sheets. A premises of the facility comprises a loading area in which packages from the line are loaded into cassettes, a storage area in which cassettes are stored, and a transition zone including at least one transfer position. The automated transfer apparatus moves packages and/or cassettes between the transfer position and the splitter subfacility. The automated overhead crane moves cassettes between the storage area, the loading area, and the transition zone.

Facilities for processing steel. One facility includes a line for producing packages; a plurality of stackable cassettes for receiving packages; a splitter subfacility; automated transfer apparatus; and an automated overhead crane. The line may be a slitting line with the packages being coils of steel, or a cut-to-length line with the packages being stacks of steel sheets. A premises of the facility comprises a loading area in which packages from the line are loaded into cassettes, a storage area in which cassettes are stored, and a transition zone including at least one transfer position. The automated transfer apparatus moves packages and/or cassettes between the transfer position and the splitter subfacility. The automated overhead crane moves cassettes between the storage area, the loading area, and the transition zone.

Described herein is an apparatus and method for selecting a storage location for an item. The method includes obtaining order information for a plurality of previously fulfilled orders, wherein each order includes at least one item. Based on the obtained order information, one or a combination of an affinity value of the item and a popularity value of the item are computed. The method determines available storage locations in a plurality of storage racks, each rack including at least one shelf. Further, the method computes for each available storage location, one or a combination of an affinity score and a popularity score of the storage rack with respect to the item. The method selects the storage location from the available storage locations based on at least one of the calculated affinity score and the calculated popularity score, and instructs a vehicle to store the item at the selected storage location.

An inverted carrier lift and method is disclosed. The inverted carrier lift includes a trolley movable along an overhead conveyor and a carrier for supporting a workpiece to undergo an assembly or manufacturing process. The carrier is movable relative to the trolley from a raised position to a lowered position by a motor mounted engaged with a lifting mechanism onboard the trolley. On rotation of the motor, the carrier and supported workpiece is lowered or raised to position the workpiece in the workstation for processing. The workpiece may be disengaged by the carrier for support of the workpiece by one of many different fixtures depending on the processing. Following processing, the workpiece is re-engaged by the carrier, moved to a raised position and the trolley is transferred to a subsequent workstation.

An inverted carrier lift and method is disclosed. The inverted carrier lift includes a trolley movable along an overhead conveyor and a carrier for supporting a workpiece to undergo an assembly or manufacturing process. The carrier is movable relative to the trolley from a raised position to a lowered position by a motor mounted engaged with a lifting mechanism onboard the trolley. On rotation of the motor, the carrier and supported workpiece is lowered or raised to position the workpiece in the workstation for processing. The workpiece may be disengaged by the carrier for support of the workpiece by one of many different fixtures depending on the processing. Following processing, the workpiece is re-engaged by the carrier, moved to a raised position and the trolley is transferred to a subsequent workstation.

A device for storing items having a rack that is provided with storage compartments, and having a rack serving apparatus. In order to place items into storage and to remove them from storage, the rack serving apparatus and the rack can move horizontally and vertically relative to one another, with the rack having a variable adjustment of the storage compartments by way of storage compartment divisions that can be variably set both in the horizontal and also in the vertical direction and bear the item.

A system and method for automated palletization of totes and cuboid containers includes an end effector having fingers projecting outwardly. The fingers may engage recesses in the totes. Alternatively, actuators on fixed fingers can move gripping surfaces into engagement with the totes or containers. Or actuators on a body of the end effector can move the fingers, which include gripping surfaces.

A system and method for automated palletization of totes and cuboid containers includes an end effector having fingers projecting outwardly. The fingers may engage recesses in the totes. Alternatively, actuators on fixed fingers can move gripping surfaces into engagement with the totes or containers. Or actuators on a body of the end effector can move the fingers, which include gripping surfaces.

An automated warehouse includes a plurality of transfer destinations at which articles can be placed; and a transporter that moves between the plurality of transfer destinations and that transfers the article to the transfer destination, the automated warehouse including: moving-side image capturer provided on the transporter and image-captures the transfer destination and a part or all of an operation of transferring the article to the transfer destination performed by the transporter; and a fixed-side image capturer provided at a predetermined position in the automated warehouse, and image-captures, from a direction different from that of the moving-side image capturer, the transporter and a part or all of the operation of transferring the article to the transfer destination performed by the transporter.