The present invention relates to a conveying apparatus for tampon applicators 100, having a first conveyor track 2, which comprises two transport belts 3.1, 3.2 which are arranged spaced apart from each other. The transport belts each have a bearing axis L1, L2. The conveying apparatus according to the invention furthermore has a first conveyor drive 4 for driving at least one of the two spaced-apart transport belts 3.1, 3.2, and transport belts which are arranged spaced apart from each other in such a manner that a tampon applicator 100 which is to be conveyed rests on the two transport belts in an intermediate space D between the transport belts. The bearing axes L1, L2 of the transport belts 3.1, 3.2 are arranged parallel; in particular in the case of transport belts having the same conveying direction F. The present invention furthermore relates to a method of conveying tampon applicators.

A system is provided comprising a carton conveyor and a bypass carton accumulator adjacent to, and interfaced with, the carton conveyor. The bypass carton accumulator may comprise: a carton pick apparatus comprising a carton pick head; at least one stop device comprising a stopper movable between a first and a second position; and a storage apparatus. When in the first position, the stopper does not interfere with the flow of cartons along the conveyor and when in the second position, the stopper engages with a carton to stop a flow of cartons along the conveyor. The carton pick apparatus may be configured to pick up via the carton pick head a set of cartons from a pick-up zone of the carton conveyor after the stopper has moved to its second position and place the set of cartons in the storage apparatus.

The invention relates to a method for transferring an item to be transported from an end portion of a flow storage system to a removal device, comprising the steps of: using an end stop arranged in a shut-off position for retaining at least one first item to be transported on the end portion of the flow storage system and/or using a separator arranged in the shut-off position to retain at least one second item to be transported on a retaining section of the flow storage system; arranging the removal device adjacent to the end portion of the flow storage system in a removal position; using at least one sensor of the removal device for checking whether the end stop and/or the separator is arranged in a shut-off position and transferring the first item to be transported from the end portion to the removal device.

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.

A robotic system is disclosed. The system includes a communication interface, and one or more processors coupled to the communication interface and configured to: receive, via the communication interface, data associated with a plurality of items within a workspace, determine to control a flow of items on a chute based at least in part on the data associated with the plurality of items within the workspace, and in response to determining to control the flow of items, implement to control the flow of items at least by controlling a flow disrupter move in a manner that causes the flow of items to change, wherein the flow disrupter is flush with the chute when the flow disrupter is not deployed to impede the flow of items.

Provided are a sorting vehicle, a goods sorting system and a goods sorting method. The sorting vehicle includes a vehicle body, a belt-type conveying mechanism, an enclosing mechanism and a processor. The belt-type conveying mechanism includes a roller-type drive mechanism disposed on the vehicle body and an endless conveyor belt disposed on a roller of the roller-type drive mechanism. The moving direction of the endless conveyor belt is perpendicular to the traveling direction of the vehicle body. The enclosing mechanism is partially or entirely disposed on the endless conveyor belt, and is configured to form at least one enclosing region above the vehicle body. The processor is configured to control the roller-type drive mechanism to drive the endless conveyor belt to move a preset distance to complete unloading of the goods within the enclosing region; and control the roller-type drive mechanism to complete resetting of the enclosing region.

Provided are a sorting vehicle, a goods sorting system and a goods sorting method. The sorting vehicle includes a vehicle body, a belt-type conveying mechanism, an enclosing mechanism and a processor. The belt-type conveying mechanism includes a roller-type drive mechanism disposed on the vehicle body and an endless conveyor belt disposed on a roller of the roller-type drive mechanism. The moving direction of the endless conveyor belt is perpendicular to the traveling direction of the vehicle body. The enclosing mechanism is partially or entirely disposed on the endless conveyor belt, and is configured to form at least one enclosing region above the vehicle body. The processor is configured to control the roller-type drive mechanism to drive the endless conveyor belt to move a preset distance to complete unloading of the goods within the enclosing region; and control the roller-type drive mechanism to complete resetting of the enclosing region.

A conveyor system for translating objects is disclosed, each object with vertical protrusions extending upward and/or downward from one or more sides of the object. The conveyor system can accommodate structural members such as roof truss members, on which connector plates are affixed and from which the connector plates protrude vertically up, down, or both. The conveyor system may have a slide or some other support for the objects. The slide or other support may be narrow. The slide or other support can be tall, relative to an object. The conveyor system may have an engagement tool driven by an overhead carriage to translate the objects along the slide or other support. The engagement tool may be narrow. The engagement tool can be tall, relative to an object.

A separating device for the provision of one or more conveyed materials, in particular lids, in a predetermined positional state comprises a conveyor device for receiving and transporting lids in one transport direction, with a conveyor belt and several receiving areas formed on the conveyor belt for receiving at least one lid each, the conveyor device being inclined with respect to the horizontal at least in a pre-separation section in such a way that the transport direction is designed for the upward transport of the lids, and wherein the receiving areas are each limited at least downwards by a stud, and a detection device with a detection area for detecting a predetermined positional state and/or for detecting a number of the lids arranged on the conveyor in a respective receiving area.

A separating device for the provision of one or more conveyed materials, in particular lids, in a predetermined positional state comprises a conveyor device for receiving and transporting lids in one transport direction, with a conveyor belt and several receiving areas formed on the conveyor belt for receiving at least one lid each, the conveyor device being inclined with respect to the horizontal at least in a pre-separation section in such a way that the transport direction is designed for the upward transport of the lids, and wherein the receiving areas are each limited at least downwards by a stud, and a detection device with a detection area for detecting a predetermined positional state and/or for detecting a number of the lids arranged on the conveyor in a respective receiving area.