A system and method for operating robotic pallet transportation carts and providing uniform spacing between pallets of goods, to improve the vertical alignment of the gaps between the pallets of a multilevel commercial warehouse rack. Indicators are positioned along a storage lane, such as on side walls of cart support rail structures, on the left and/or right sides with respect to the pallet transportation cart. The cart has one or more sensors (optical, magnetic and otherwise), such as on a side of the cart to detect the indicators on the side of the lane. The cart is programmed to count the indicators and lower the pallet of goods after sensing a selected indicator number. By spacing the indicators an appropriate distance apart, the pallets can be arranged to have vertically aligned gaps, even if there are minor variations in the length of pallets of goods.

The invention relates to an arrangement for checking contours of pallets (18) to be put into storage in a rack system, said arrangement comprising: a pallet transfer station (12) which is designed to receive pallets (18) to be put into storage in the rack system; at least one sensor device (16a-16d) which is designed to detect whether a pallet (18) standing on the pallet transfer station (12) and objects supported by the pallet (18) are completely within a predefined contour; and an output unit (24) which is operationally coupled to the sensor unit (16a-16d) and is designed to output the detection result. The invention also relates to a rack system comprising at least one rack row, at least one stacker crane and at least one arrangement for checking contours, the pallet transfer station of which is designed such that pallets can be placed thereon from outside the rack system, which pallets can then be picked up by the stacker crane so as to be put into storage.

An apparatus (600) for use in unpacking or packing shipping containers (700) includes at least one barrier part which provides a barrier to wheeled powered material handling equipment (1105). The barrier part can be positioned substantially transversely across an interior of a shipping container (700) at a desired position along the length of the interior of the shipping container, to provide a working area (1120) within the shipping container in which personnel may work on foot, and substantially impede or prevent entry of wheeled powered material handling equipment into the working area. The apparatus may be provided with an arrangement to substantially maintain its location in the desired position against forces resulting from impact by the powered material handling equipment operating within the shipping container.

A modular fork assembly for a pallet truck includes a discrete elongate body, a discrete load wheel module, and a discrete fork tip that may be detachably connected by the same or different types of interlocking mechanisms that are adapted to inhibit sheer forces. The load wheel module includes a frame and a load wheel assembly that includes a load wheel that is operatively connected to the frame.

In one embodiment, a system is provided. The system includes a set of pallets to hold a set of parcels. The system also includes a conveyor system to move the set of pallets to and from a transportation pod. The system further includes a lift system to lift the set of pallets to different heights within the transportation pod. The system further includes a storage system to store a set of parcels. The system further includes a mechanical arm to move the set of parcels from the storage system to the set of pallets.

A pallet centering device includes a frame upon which is mounted a plurality of conveyor rollers, the conveyor rollers mounted transverse to a direction of pallet travel. A first pallet pusher unit and a second pallet pusher unit are associated with respective sides of the support frame, both for reciprocal movement transverse to the direction of pallet travel. The first and second pallet pusher units each have pallet pusher members configured for engaging respective sides of a pallet. At least one transverse U-channel rail is mounted to the support frame beneath the conveyor rollers and defining a channel track. Each first and second pallet pusher unit has at least one depending bearing mount aligned with the channel track and provided with a bearing rotatably engaging the channel track. A drive assembly moves the first and second pallet pusher units reciprocally for centering the pallet located on the conveyor rollers.

An industrial materials handling system including a base member having a loading end with a first senor that detects when a first carriage or second carriage is positioned in a loading/unloading position at the loading end, and an operator end with a second sensor that detects when the first or second carriage is positioned in the loading/unloading position, a controller coupled to the first sensor and second sensor, the first carriage coupled to the base member and a first drive mechanism controlled by the controller to move the first carriage, the loading end, and the operator end, the second carriage coupled to the base member and to a second drive mechanism configured to move the second carriage between the loading end and the operator end under the control of the controller, and a bypass mechanism to move the second carriage between the loading end and the operator end.

The invention relates to a palletizing system, comprising: a frame extending in an upright direction, an input configured to feed products, a forming device configured to form a layer of products, a palletizing device configured to place the layer of products onto a pallet, and a lift, configured to transport the layer of products along the upright extending frame from a level of the forming device to a level of the palletizing device, wherein the forming device and the palletizing device are arranged one directly above the other. It further relates to a method of palletizing, comprising the steps of feeding products to a forming device arranged on a first level; forming a layer of products by the forming device; transporting the layer of products to a second level; placing the layer of products onto a pallet by a palletizing device that is arranged at said second level; wherein the forming device and the palletizing device are arranged one directly above the other.

An airdrop platform is provided that includes a pallet. Under the pallet are a first outrigger main body and a second outrigger main body. The first outrigger main body and second main body each include at least one outrigger finger. When airdropped, the outrigger main bodies and outrigger fingers are configured to move from under the pallet.

The present disclosure relates to systems, apparatuses, and methods for assembling cartridges for aerosol delivery devices. The cartridges may be assembled by transporting carriages between various substations at which parts are added to a base. In another assembly method, the base may be moved between a plurality of robots which direct the base downwardly into contact with components to couple the components therewith. An inspection system may inspect the cartridges at various stages of completion.