An article transport facility includes a transport conveyor (34) and a weighing device (24), which includes a support portion (28) for supporting a container (C1) and a measuring portion (30) configured to measure a weight of the container (C1) supported by the support portion (28). The article transport facility is configured to perform a state change between a withdrawn state in which the support portion (28) is withdrawn downward relative to a transport surface (34A) and a protruding state in which the support portion (28) protrudes upward relative to the transport surface (34A) by moving the support portion (28) and the transport conveyor (34) relative to each other in a vertical direction (Z). A support surface (28A) of the support portion (28) is inclined such that one corner portion (8A) of multiple corner portions (8) located at corners of the container (C1) is lower than the other corner portions (8).

A system and related method for retrospectively a transporting asset wherein the system comprises a transporting asset for receiving material; a loading asset arranged at a loading site and configured to load the transporting asset with material; wherein the transporting asset is configured to be transported to a second site, the system further comprising: a weight measurement device arranged at the second site, the weight measurement device is configured to measure the weight of the transporting asset prior to the transporting asset offloading the material, the weight measurement device is configured to transmit weight data associated with the measured weight of the transporting asset; a controller configured to receive the weight data and instruct the loading asset to adapt its operation based on the weight data during subsequent loading.

A maintenance system is disclosed for assisting in maintaining an automated carrier system for moving objects to be processed. The maintenance system includes a plurality of automated carriers that are adapted to move on an array of discontinuous standard track sections, each said automated carrier including a carrier body that is no larger in either a length or width direction that a standard track section, and an automated maintenance carrier that is adapted to move on the array of discontinuous track sections, said automated maintenance system including a maintenance body that is larger in at least one of a length or width direction than the standard track section.

A distribution device can be used to distribute items in a container. The items can fall off of a chute into the interior of the container. Some of the items may contact the distribution device. The items that contact the distribution can have their trajectories changed prior to falling into the container. The distribution device can more evenly distribute the items in the container than in the absence of the distribution device.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for controlling objects being loaded or unloaded from a storage structure or vehicle, such as a trailer. In example embodiments, a plurality of parcels may be stored in or on a trailer that is attached to a cab of a delivery vehicle. Upon arrival at a deposit location, the trailer loaded with the one or more parcels may be removably secured to a an adjustable platform designed to be raised to a predetermined angle for unloading of the one or more parcels. Once the adjustable platform is raised to the predetermined angle, a plurality of adjustable dividing mechanisms may be configured to pivot, allowing for the movement of a controlled volume of the one or more parcels onto the receiving platform.

A control system and method for loading and unloading by a multi-axis robot are provided. The control system includes: a loading module configured to control the multi-axis robot to reach a loading position, adjust the multi-axis robot to a loading posture, and control a pick-and-place mechanism of the multi-axis robot to pick up a target material in a target loading trough and place the target material in a pick-and-place part of the multi-axis robot; an operation module configured to control the multi-axis robot to transfer the target material in the pick-and-place part to a target station for processing; and an unloading module configured to control the multi-axis robot to reach the target station, adjust the pick-and-place part to an unloading posture, and control the pick-and-place mechanism to pick up the product material and place the product material into a target unloading trough.

A material placement method is disclosed, comprising: determining a target placement area, the target placement area being correspondingly provided with a target material storage apparatus; determining a movement track based on a current placement area and the target placement area; when each placement area which the movement track passes through is not reserved for occupancy, selecting a material placement means based on a positional relationship between the movement track and the target material storage apparatus; placing a material in the target material storage apparatus based on the selected material placement means.

A storage, retrieval and processing system for processing objects is disclosed. The storage, retrieval and processing system includes a plurality of storage bins providing storage of a plurality of objects, where the plurality of storage bins is in communication with a bin conveyance system for moving selected storage bins to a storage bin processing location, a programmable motion device in communication with the bin processing location for receiving a selected storage bin from the plurality of bins, where the programmable motion device includes an end effector for grasping and moving a selected object out of a selected storage bin, and a plurality of destination bins in communication with the bin conveyance system for moving a selected destination bin from a destination bin processing location that is proximate the programmable motion device to the plurality of destination bins.

A storage, retrieval and processing system for processing objects is disclosed. The storage, retrieval and processing system includes a plurality of storage bins providing storage of a plurality of objects, where the plurality of storage bins is in communication with a retrieval conveyance system, a programmable motion device in communication with the retrieval conveyance system for receiving the storage bins from the plurality of bins, where the programmable motion device includes an end effector for grasping and moving a selected object out of a selected storage bin, and a movable carriage for receiving the selected object from the end effector of the programmable motion device, and for carrying the selected object to one of a plurality of destination bins.

A reaction vessel pickup mechanism, an automatic loading device, a sample analyzer, and a loading method are disclosed. Driven by a driving structure, each of the pickup blocks moves in a first preset time or a preset distance and then stops or shakes, so that a reaction vessel is dropped from the pickup blocks more easily.