An automated storage and retrieval system comprising an automated storage and retrieval grid and a delivery system. The automated storage and retrieval grid includes a container handling vehicle rail system for guiding a plurality of container handling vehicles and a delivery column adapted for transport of a storage container arranged in a stack of storage containers beneath the container handling vehicle rail system between a container handling vehicle and a delivery port situated at a lower end of the delivery column. The container handling vehicle rail system includes a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction, and a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, which first and second sets of rails form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane including a plurality of adjacent container handling vehicle grid cells. Each container handling vehicle grid cell includes a container handling vehicle grid opening defined by a pair of neighboring rails of the first set of rails and a pair of neighboring rails of the second set of rails. The delivery system includes a remotely operated delivery vehicle including a container carrier adapted to support the storage container. The delivery vehicle is further adapted to transport the storage container between the delivery port and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator.

An automated storage and retrieval system comprising an automated storage and retrieval grid and a delivery system. The automated storage and retrieval grid includes a container handling vehicle rail system for guiding a plurality of container handling vehicles and a delivery column adapted for transport of a storage container arranged in a stack of storage containers beneath the container handling vehicle rail system between a container handling vehicle and a delivery port situated at a lower end of the delivery column. The container handling vehicle rail system includes a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction, and a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, which first and second sets of rails form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane including a plurality of adjacent container handling vehicle grid cells. Each container handling vehicle grid cell includes a container handling vehicle grid opening defined by a pair of neighboring rails of the first set of rails and a pair of neighboring rails of the second set of rails. The delivery system includes a remotely operated delivery vehicle including a container carrier adapted to support the storage container. The delivery vehicle is further adapted to transport the storage container between the delivery port and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator.

Provided is a fruit quality inspecting and sorting appliance. The fruit quality inspecting and sorting appliance includes: a conveying module; a weighing module, which cooperates with the conveying module to convey weighed fruits through the conveying module; an internal quality inspection module, which cooperates with the conveying module and performs an internal quality inspection to the weighed fruits; an external quality inspection module, which cooperates with the conveying module and performs an external quality inspection to the fruits after the internal quality inspection; a sorting module, which cooperates with the conveying module, and sorts the fruits passing through the weighing module, the internal quality inspection module and the external quality inspection module; and a control module electrically connected with the conveying module, the weighing module, the internal quality inspection module, the external quality inspection module and the sorting module.

Provided is a fruit quality inspecting and sorting appliance. The fruit quality inspecting and sorting appliance includes: a conveying module; a weighing module, which cooperates with the conveying module to convey weighed fruits through the conveying module; an internal quality inspection module, which cooperates with the conveying module and performs an internal quality inspection to the weighed fruits; an external quality inspection module, which cooperates with the conveying module and performs an external quality inspection to the fruits after the internal quality inspection; a sorting module, which cooperates with the conveying module, and sorts the fruits passing through the weighing module, the internal quality inspection module and the external quality inspection module; and a control module electrically connected with the conveying module, the weighing module, the internal quality inspection module, the external quality inspection module and the sorting module.

An object processing system is disclosed that includes a plurality of track sections, and a plurality of remotely actuatable carriers for controlled movement along at least portions of the plurality of track sections, wherein each of the remotely controllable carriers is adapted to support and transport an object processing bin.

A vehicle tilting device for tilting a delivery vehicle for increasing access to items from a storage container transported on the delivery vehicle. The vehicle tilting device comprises a base structure and a tiltable platform connected to the base structure, wherein the tiltable platform comprises guiding features adapted to guide the delivery vehicle onto the tiltable platform. The tiltable platform is arranged to be connected to a delivery grid cell of a delivery rail system such that that there is a path to and/or from the tiltable platform for the delivery vehicle via the delivery grid cell. The invention is also related to an access station, a delivery system and a method of accessing a storage container.

A vehicle tilting device for tilting a delivery vehicle for increasing access to items from a storage container transported on the delivery vehicle. The vehicle tilting device comprises a base structure and a tiltable platform connected to the base structure, wherein the tiltable platform comprises guiding features adapted to guide the delivery vehicle onto the tiltable platform. The tiltable platform is arranged to be connected to a delivery grid cell of a delivery rail system such that that there is a path to and/or from the tiltable platform for the delivery vehicle via the delivery grid cell. The invention is also related to an access station, a delivery system and a method of accessing a storage container.

The disclosure provides a bulk material unloading system and method. The system includes a bulk material container containing a bulk material and an unloading device. The unloading device is configured to engage the bulk material container and at least partially invert the bulk material container. The method includes engaging a bulk material container containing a bulk material with an unloading device and emptying the bulk material container. Emptying the bulk material into the hopper includes lifting the bulk material container using the unloading device and rotating the bulk material container using the unloading device.

The disclosure provides a bulk material unloading system and method. The system includes a bulk material container containing a bulk material and an unloading device. The unloading device is configured to engage the bulk material container and at least partially invert the bulk material container. The method includes engaging a bulk material container containing a bulk material with an unloading device and emptying the bulk material container. Emptying the bulk material into the hopper includes lifting the bulk material container using the unloading device and rotating the bulk material container using the unloading device.

A method unloads bulk goods from a laterally open large container using an unloading device with a tilting unit and a platform. The tilting unit and the platform have a common rotational axis. Both the bulk goods and the unloading device are prevented from being damaged. The laterally open large container which is filled with a bulk good is positioned on the tilting unit. The platform is flipped up such that the platform closes the opening side of the large container. The tilting unit is tilted together with the large container located thereon and the platform closing the opening side of the large container about the common rotational axis such that the large container is positioned on the container opening side, and the bulk good is deposited on the platform. The tilting unit is then tilted back together with the large container, the bulk good remaining on the platform.