A method for optimising the picking of items from containers at a port of an automated storage and retrieval system comprising a framework structure (100) forming a three-dimensional storage grid structure (104) for storing storage containers (106) for storing items, where the grid structure (104) forms vertical storage columns (105) each having a horizontal area defined by the size of an access opening (112) of the vertical storage columns (105) and where the framework structure comprises a rail system (108) arranged above the storage columns (105), the rail system comprising a plurality of rails extending in an X-direction and a Y-direction to form a grid, the rails defining a perimeter of each access opening (112) on top of each storage column (105), the rail system (108) providing available routes in the X-direction or the Y-direction for container handling vehicles (201, 301) handling and transferring the storage containers (106) to and from the storage columns (105), wherein the method comprises the following steps; presenting the central computer system with a queue of tasks, reconfiguring the queue of tasks that can share sorting container with another orders, setting the container queue at the port based on the inventory inside a container/container compartment in such a way that when one container is presented it gets the maximum amount of pick to destination containers.

A method and an order picking warehouse is for picking and packaging articles. The order picking warehouse comprises an order management system, transport loading aids, an automatic unloading station, a provisioning device for providing a shipping package or a collective loading aid at the unloading station and a packaging station. Picking orders are acquired and the articles are provided in transport loading aids and transported to the unloading station. At the unloading station, optionally a shipping package or a collective loading aid, into which the articles are reloaded from the transport loading aids, is provided on the basis of the picking order. The filled shipping package can be transported away and shipped to an article recipient. The filled collective loading aid, however, is provided at the packaging station, where the articles are reloaded from the collective loading aid into a secondary package.

A warehousing system includes a plurality of movable carriers, at least one workstation, at least one automatic transport device and a control device. The control device is configured to: acquire a future order; determine a first hit container and a first hit carrier according to the future order; and determine a first hit container to be placed in a temporary storage section as a temporary storage container, and determine a workstation of the warehouse system to receive the temporary storage container as a temporary storage workstation. The automatic transport device is configured to transport at least one first hit carrier storing the temporary storage container to the temporary storage workstation. The temporary storage workstation includes a container handling device, and the container handling device is at least configured to transfer the temporary storage container on the at least one first hit carrier to the temporary storage section.

A method and plant to handle ceramic articles; the plant comprises a gathering area comprising a plurality of first storage units, each having a group of ceramic articles placed on a first support structure according to a first given arrangement; a handling machine to re-arrange at least part of such ceramic articles on second support structures in such a way that they are placed according to a second given arrangement so that they can be picked up by a holding device, so as to create a plurality of second storage units; at least one first intermediate store to receive at least part of the second storage units; and a forming machine to form an order to be shipped, which is configured to transfer at least one first ceramic article from the second storage unit onto a third support structure so as to obtain a shipment unit.

A method for fulfilling a group order using a bundled tote is disclosed. The order fulfillment method using the bundled tote includes generating, by a first processor, order information in which a first type of a first bundled tote and the group order link each other; transmitting, by the first processor, the order information to the robot; when the second bundled tote is already loaded on the robot, determining, by a second processor, whether a type of the second bundled tote corresponds to the type of the first bundled tote of the order information; and fulfilling, by the second processor, the group order without replacing the second bundled tote, if it corresponds.

A method for picking articles according to the goods-to-man principle at a picking station, in which articles are picked from product load carriers into order load carriers, the order load carriers are conveyed in a first row through the picking station, articles are presented in product load carriers and picking is carried out therefrom. The product load carriers are also conveyed in a second row through the picking station, the second row being arranged at an angle to the first row and picking taking place from a flow of product and order containers which are simultaneously conveyed through the picking station, to achieve a high throughput.

A system includes an article supply location, wherein the article supply location includes a plurality of articles to be sorted, first and second transport vehicles, each having a first position in which an article is stowed about the vehicle and a second position in which the article is deposited into a proximal container. And a control system. The control system is configured to receive an order for a plurality of disparate articles, determine one destination container of a plurality of destination containers to direct the transport vehicle to deposit a selected article, direct the first transport vehicle to transport a selected article to the destination container and deposit the article by manipulation of the first transport vehicle from the first position to the second position for deposit of the selected article in the destination container.