A pallet lifting rack includes a pair of lifting devices. Each of the lifting devices has a frame, a movable bracket mounted on the frame and movable in a vertical direction relative to the frame, a support member connected to the movable bracket, and a driving device driving the movable bracket and the support member to move along the vertical direction. The support members of the pair of lifting devices support a bottom surface of a pallet from a pair of sides of the pallet, so that the pallet is supported on the support members and movable to different height positions in the vertical direction by the support members.

A system for handling and installing forklift forks is provided. The system may include two fork pockets, which may be elongated rectangular tubes. The fork pockets may be substantially parallel to one another and connected by one or more crossmembers. At a proximal end, the fork pockets may include tube openings for receiving forks coupled to a forklift. In addition to the tube openings, a hook and a chain may couple the system for handling and installing forklift forks to the forklift. At a distal end, the system for handling and installing forklift forks may include means for handling forks. In one embodiment, an opening is configured to receive and retain blades of forks. In another embodiment, a front plate is configured to engage a hook portion of forks. In yet another embodiment, a shaft mounting apparatus is provided to engage with shaft-mounted forks.

An automated guided vehicle includes a chassis and a load supporting apparatus positioned on the chassis, the load supporting apparatus including a platform to support a load, one or more weight sensors located in contact with the platform, the one or more weight sensors configured to provide a signal indicative of a weight of the load on the platform, and an electronic processor arranged in electronic communication with the one or more weight sensors. The electronic processor is configured to receive the signal from each of the one or more weight sensors, and the electronic processor is configured to process the signal and determine stability of the load on the platform.

A method for retrieving an inventory item based on a handling robot, where the handling robot includes: a storage frame; and a material handling device installed on the storage frame, and including a telescopic arm and a manipulator installed to the telescopic arm; and the method for retrieving an inventory item includes: driving, by the telescopic arm, the manipulator to extend to a preset position of warehouse shelf along a preset horizontal reference line; loading, by the manipulator that is remained on the reference line, the inventory item located in the preset position; driving, by the telescopic arm, the manipulator loaded with the inventory item to move to the storage frame along the reference line; and unloading, by the manipulator that is remained on the reference line, the inventory item to the storage frame.

An augmentation module is described for an automated guided vehicle (AGV) deployed in a facility and including a control module for controlling a drive mechanism based on navigational data received from a navigation sensor. The module includes a inter-module communications interface connected to the control module; a memory; and a processor connected to the communications interface and the memory. The processor is configured to: obtain an operational command; generate control data to execute the operational command; convert the control data to simulated sensor data; and send the simulated sensor data to the control module.

An unloading arrangement, an unloading station, and a method of unloading an item (5) from a storage container (6), comprising: a delivery vehicle (30); a storage container (6) carried by the delivery vehicle (30); and an unloading station (10) for unloading an item (5) from the storage container (6) while it is being carried by the delivery vehicle (30) in an automatic storage and retrieval system (1), the unloading station (10) comprising: an unloading device (40); and a destination conveyor (60) configured to convey the item (5) to a target destination (TD), wherein the unloading device (40) is configured to move the item (5) through a side opening of the storage container (6) to the destination conveyor (60).

Typically, unit loads with wooden pallets in warehouses are moved by pallet lifters or AMRs which are bulkier in size and require more power with high operating costs. This disclosure relates generally to a unit load lifter designed with counterbalance arm mounted on an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) to load and unload unit load from one position to another position autonomously. The unit load lifter includes a horizontal slide unit and a vertical axis fork assembly. The horizontal slide unit include base plate of the unit load lifter is mounted on the AMR. A plurality of fixed guides is integrated with the base plate to house the vertical axis fork assembly by a plurality of rollers on a roller mounting plate. The vertical axis fork assembly include an actuating end of a linear actuator is connected to the sliding plate to drive the at least one fork up and down.

The present disclosure discloses an apparatus that can be retracted for efficient storage and can be used for transporting materials from one location to another. The apparatus includes a retractable assembly coupled to track members that are expanded and retracted using the retractable assembly. The retractable assembly uses a plurality of arms connected to a slide member that have slide attachment members that move along the slide to retract and expand the present invention. The apparatus can be configured to cooperate with a forklift assembly, a storage box member or platforms to transport materials and loads. The apparatus can be two or four wheel drive and can be configured with more wheel members depending on the desired use.

The present disclosure discloses an apparatus that can be retracted for efficient storage and can be used for transporting materials from one location to another. The apparatus includes a retractable assembly coupled to track members that are expanded and retracted using the retractable assembly. The retractable assembly uses a plurality of arms connected to a slide member that have slide attachment members that move along the slide to retract and expand the present invention. The apparatus can be configured to cooperate with a forklift assembly, a storage box member or platforms to transport materials and loads. The apparatus can be two or four wheel drive and can be configured with more wheel members depending on the desired use.

A vehicle inspection device includes a storing part and a diagnosing part. The storing part is configured to store operation information in response to operations of vehicles to transport and load/unload an article along a transfer path. The diagnosing part is configured to compare the operation information stored in the storing part with a reference operation information of a vehicle to diagnose symptom of abnormality in the vehicles.