A maintenance access system for a storage and retrieval system having a storage and retrieval space and automated transport vehicles disposed in the space. The system includes at least one maintenance access control unit associated with a portion of the space, at least one barrier in the space and defining a boundary of the portion of the space and configured to substantially prevent the passage of the vehicles past the at least one barrier, and a controller connected to the control unit, the controller being configured to receive a signal from the at least one control unit for isolating the portion of the space associated with the at least one control unit, where the controller in response to the signal closes the at least one barrier isolating the portion of the space and effects the removal from or shutting down of vehicles within the portion of the space.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for sensing RIG positioning and vehicle restraint movement. An example method includes determining a presence of a RIG and enabling a barrier to move to an operational position when the RIG is present.

Various embodiments are directed to a conveyor apparatus comprising: a conveyor frame embodying a structural support for a conveyor surface defining a conveyor length that extends in a length direction and comprises: a first sidewall comprising a first guide track extending along a first inner surface thereof in the length direction, and a second sidewall comprising a second guide track extending along a second inner surface thereof in the length direction; a plurality of bottom panels, each extending between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, wherein a first bottom panel of the plurality of bottom panels is engaged with the first guide track of the first sidewall and the second guide track of the second sidewall such that the first bottom panel is configured to be selectively moveable throughout a range of motion defined at least in part by the first guide track and the second guide track.

A system, comprising: a storage workspace including a first framework defined by a series of first uprights, the first uprights supporting a grid of two substantially perpendicular sets of rails; and a plurality of containers for storing objects, wherein the plurality of containers are arranged in stacks, each stack of containers is located underneath a grid space in the workspace; and a grid extension including a continuation of the two substantially perpendicular sets of rails, and wherein the plurality of containers can be moved by one or more load handling devices between the storage workspace and an area beneath the grid extension, wherein the area beneath the grid extension is configured for positioning a roll cage such that containers can be placed or removed from the roll cage.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include automated guided vehicles (AGVs) having a steerable camera for target-tracking. In one embodiment, the AGV includes a body having one or more motorized wheels, the body having a first end and a second end opposing the first end, a console coupled in an upright position to the first end of the body, and a first camera coupled to the console, the first camera providing one or more axes of rotation and is operable to follow an object.

The present invention relates to a stack manipulating system configured to move a stack of plates, in particular lead battery plates, from at least one arrival location to at least one target location at a machine where the plates are to be processed, and wherein the stack manipulating system comprises: — a first zone comprising the at least one arrival location and a non-static moving assembly having a range of motion, wherein the complete range of motion is located within the first zone, — a second zone comprising the at least one target location and the machine, wherein the second zone is configured to accommodate an operator, - a separation, separating the second zone from the first zone, the separation being configured for preventing the operator to move into the first zone, - at least one conveyor traversing the separation, the at least one conveyor comprising an entrance in at least one intermediate location located in the first zone and an exit located in the second zone, wherein the conveyor defines a trajectory between the entrance and the exit and comprises a guide structure which extends between the entrance and the exit along said trajectory and which guides the stack of plates along said trajectory, and wherein, at least in the second zone, the guide structure is a static structure, wherein the moving assembly comprises moving parts, and wherein the moving parts are configured to stay outside the second zone.

The present invention proposes a relief module comprising a tubular body (10) for the passage of bulk material, at least a lateral opening (12) in the tubular body (10), a window (20) to cover the respective lateral opening (12), the window (20) operating in a closed position preventing the bulk material from exiting through the lateral opening (12) or in an open position allowing the material to exit through the lateral opening (12), the window (20) having at least one portion made of filtering material allowing the air to pass through and retain solid particles, when the window (20) is in the closed position. The present invention also proposes a bulk material discharge device which receives the bulk material from a feeding system and discharges the bulk material to a destination, the discharge device comprising a relief module configured according to the invention.

A device for selecting and discarding pucks (2,3) for holding bottles (1) with a support and travel plane (110), a plurality of teeth (120) where the teeth (120) are arranged in the plane (110) to form a routing path towards a discarding path (OUT2) for discarding empty pucks (2) without a bottle (1) and a routing path towards an exit path (OUT3) for outputting full pucks (3) containing a bottle (1).

A conveyor for transporting and elevating articles and a method and system for conveying articles up inclines is provided. The conveyor has a conveyor belt and a plurality of support elements extending outward from the article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt advancing upward along the incline. The conveyor may be positioned at an inclined angle relative to the horizontal ground, i.e., between about 5° and 85° or the conveyor can be substantially vertical, i.e., about 90° relative to the horizontal ground. The support elements prevent conveyed articles from sliding down the conveyor belt on the inclined conveyor and carry and hold articles on substantially vertical conveyors. The article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt may provide a low-friction retention surface to articles leaning away from the conveyor belt on the incline.

A stacker crane includes a transporter, a slide fork, first to third sensors, a counter, and a main controller. The transporter moves from a shelf on which an article is supported to an empty shelf. The slide fork is mounted on the lift stage and transfers the article to and from the shelf. The first, second and third sensors recognize an abnormality of the article moved by the movement of the transporter. The counter counts the number of event occurrences. When an abnormality is recognized by the sensor, the main controller reduces a moving speed of the transporter, and when no abnormality is recognized by the sensor upon reduction in the moving speed, the movement of the transporter is continued. When the number of event occurrences reaches a first threshold, the stacker crane is brought into an abnormal-stop state.