Machining system for machining workpieces, having a transport module which includes a transporter for transporting workpiece carriers along a transport path and a plurality of coupling areas, and having at least one process module, which includes a processing system for processing workpieces, a transport system for transporting workpiece carriers between the transport path and a processing position assigned to the processing system, and a coupling system for coupling to the transport module, the transport module including at least one manipulator from the group: stop device for temporarily stopping a workpiece carrier, deflection device for deflecting the direction of a workpiece carrier, and wherein the process module provides a control signal to the at least one manipulator of the transport module.

In a transport system that moves a moving portion, which moves in a transport direction along a fixed portion, while detecting a position of the moving portion by a scale and a sensor, a guide block is installed on a second surface of a first part of the moving portion, a guide rail is installed on a first surface of the fixed portion, the scale is installed at an end of the first part of the moving portion on an opposite side across the guide block, and a sensor that has a detecting unit at a position facing the scale is installed in the fixed portion.

In a transport system that moves a moving portion, which moves in a transport direction along a fixed portion, while detecting a position of the moving portion by a scale and a sensor, a guide block is installed on a second surface of a first part of the moving portion, a guide rail is installed on a first surface of the fixed portion, the scale is installed at an end of the first part of the moving portion on an opposite side across the guide block, and a sensor that has a detecting unit at a position facing the scale is installed in the fixed portion.

A sorting system and a method for sorting piece goods provide for conveying the piece goods to be sorted on a delivery level to a delivery point and delivering them there into or onto a receiving device moving on a collection level receiving the piece goods. The collection level is disposed below the delivery level. The receiving device travels over an individually determined route on the collection level.

A sorting system and a method for sorting piece goods provide for conveying the piece goods to be sorted on a delivery level to a delivery point and delivering them there into or onto a receiving device moving on a collection level receiving the piece goods. The collection level is disposed below the delivery level. The receiving device travels over an individually determined route on the collection level.

A traveling vehicle controller includes a command assignment controller to detect a first-to-arrive traveling vehicle that is able to reach a destination point first among traveling vehicles, based on travel route candidates on which the traveling vehicles travel along a travel path from respective positions to reach the destination point, and assign the command to the first-to-arrive traveling vehicle. During detection of the first-to-arrive traveling vehicle, when a traveling vehicle traveling toward a branch point on the travel path is located within a range of a branch-switching impossible distance from the branch point and is scheduled to proceed toward a main way at the branch point, the command assignment controller performs pseudo-shift processing by which this traveling vehicle is determined to be located in a position downstream of the branch point and on a side of the main way.

A conveyor system includes a first conveyor line to convey an article in a first direction, a second conveyor line parallel or substantially parallel with the first conveyor line to convey the article in a second direction that is a direction opposite to the first direction, a backup line parallel or substantially parallel with the first conveyor line and the second conveyor line and able to change states between a state of conveying the article in the first direction and a state of conveying the article in the second direction, first connecting lines to convey the article between the first conveyor line and the backup line, and second connecting lines to convey the article between the second conveyor line and the backup line.

A conveyor system includes a first conveyor line to convey an article in a first direction, a second conveyor line parallel or substantially parallel with the first conveyor line to convey the article in a second direction that is a direction opposite to the first direction, a backup line parallel or substantially parallel with the first conveyor line and the second conveyor line and able to change states between a state of conveying the article in the first direction and a state of conveying the article in the second direction, first connecting lines to convey the article between the first conveyor line and the backup line, and second connecting lines to convey the article between the second conveyor line and the backup line.

A conveyor system for moving a plurality of targets is provided. The conveyor system includes at least one input group to input the target, at least one output group to output the target, and at least one bridge group to connect the input group with the output group. Each of the input group, the output group, and the bridge group includes a plurality of nodes having a size corresponding to a size of one target. The conveyor system further includes a control unit to align the target moving on the conveyor system.

Items are sorted into target points that are logically linked to their destination. The target points are arranged in a matrix array and in a first plane. One or more destinations can be logically assigned, at least temporarily, to the target points. First sorting conveyors run in a first direction and have discharge modules which can be actuated by a sorting controller. The conveyors are arranged in a second plane above the first plane and run between rows of target points. The discharge modules in the first sorting conveyors can serve target points on both sides of the sorting conveyors with sorting items intended for these target points. A pre-sorting conveyor with discharge modules is arranged laterally of the array of target points and is controlled to pass a sorting item to the sorting conveyor that serves the target point intended for this sorting item.