A storage system comprises one or more automated guided vehicles, one or more centralized supervisory systems, one or more parts container storage spaces disposed within a defined two dimensional space comprising one or more addressable parts container spaces and parts bins which comprise a part identifier and which are configured to fit at least partially within the parts container storage space. The automated guided vehicles comprise a controllable autonomous parts container base and one or more position sensors operatively in communication with a controller and operative to determine a coordinate location of the automated guided vehicle within a defined two dimensional space in real time without relying on a map stored in the controller.

The turntable turnable about the table turning axis and the turning hooks mounted on the turntable turnably about the hook turning axes separated from the table turning axis are provided. By transmitting the turning of the turntable to the turning hooks, the pallet is conveyed by the engaging rollers provided on the turning hooks. Particularly, the turning hooks displace the engaging rollers in the pull-out direction by turning about the hook turning axes with respect to the turntable in the direction opposite to the turning direction of the turntable while turning about the table turning axis together with the turntable. Thus, the engaging rollers move along paths relatively close to straight lines. In this way, the pallet can be conveyed while the engaging rollers engaged with the pallet are moved along the paths close to the straight lines.

A configurable belt conveyor for manufacturing comprising first belt and an adaptable border adjacent to the belt. The adaptable border having a first configuration in which a first width of the belt is available for supporting a pallet on the conveyor belt, and a second configuration in which a portion of the belt is covered by the adaptable border, such that the second width of the belt is sized for supporting a printed circuit board (PCB). In one embodiment, the configurable belt conveyor may be configured to form a dual stream conveyor.

The pallet stacking machine comprises a pallet housing, a pallet lifter, a control unit, and operator controls. The pallet stacking machine may be operable to lift a pallet stack so that an individual pallet may be added to the bottom of the pallet stack. The pallet stacking machine may be operable to lift a subset of the pallet stack that excludes a bottom pallet so that the bottom pallet may be removed from the pallet stack. The individual pallets comprising the pallet stack may be of one or more sizes, shapes, forms, and materials. As non-limiting examples, the individual pallets comprising the pallet stack may comprise mixed dimensions such as 48 inch×48 inch pallets and 40 inch by 48 inch pallets, may comprise a mix of two-way entry pallets and four-way entry pallets, and may comprise a mix of pallet materials.

A gripper mechanism for a palletizer apparatus is configured to receive articles from an associated infeed conveyor in any one of a plurality of orientations of the gripper mechanism relative to the infeed conveyor. In a preferred embodiment, the gripper mechanism is configured to receive articles through any one of four sides of the mechanism.

The present disclosure relates to a new method, system, and process for the repair and management of repair of a rack system. More specifically the present disclosure relates to using braces of standard sizes, pre-Certified or not, as part of a new method, and process for the onsite repair of slightly damaged elements of wholesale or storage rack systems and associated process of qualification and certification thereof. Shaped repair braces, designed to be mechanically superior to damaged pieces they replace, allow for the off-site pre-certification, off-site selection, and installation of these braces with a possibility of automatic or semi-automatic recertification of the repaired rack system when the brace is added. The process also allows for the use of one or a set of pre-certified braces and under a controlled process of determination of which brace can be used (using a software or not) and resulting in pre-certification of the system once the brace is successfully put in place.

One or more specific embodiments disclosed herein may include a method of moving materials using an end-of-arm tool comprising aligning the end-of-arm tool over a payload, wherein the end-of-arm tool comprises an undercarriage in a retracted position, a plurality of clamp plates in an extended position, and one or more vacuum cups; lowering the end-of-arm tool towards the payload; engaging the payload with the one or more vacuum cups; engaging the payload with the plurality of clamp plates; and raising the payload into the interior of the end-of-arm tool.

The turntable turnable about the table turning axis and the turning hooks mounted on the turntable turnably about the hook turning axes separated from the table turning axis are provided. By transmitting the turning of the turntable to the turning hooks, the pallet is conveyed by the engaging rollers provided on the turning hooks. Particularly, the turning hooks displace the engaging rollers in the pull-out direction by turning about the hook turning axes with respect to the turntable in the direction opposite to the turning direction of the turntable while turning about the table turning axis together with the turntable. Thus, the engaging rollers move along paths relatively close to straight lines. In this way, the pallet can be conveyed while the engaging rollers engaged with the pallet are moved along the paths close to the straight lines.

A method, a computer program product, and a device determine a transport instruction for an automated vehicle which transports a pallet with goods in a pallet rack channel by determining a pallet depth; determining a first pallet position; determining a firebreak zone; calculating a second pallet position from the determined pallet depth, the determined first pallet position, and the determined firebreak zone, such that the second pallet position lies between the load end and the first pallet position and such that the pallet with the pallet depth does not extend into the firebreak zone when it is stored at the second pallet position; and forming a transport instruction based on the second pallet position such that the automated vehicle can transport the pallet to the second pallet position.

Shuttle robots (107) are used that are suitable for moving trolleys (106, 106′) under the control of a monitoring and control unit (190) for handling objects so as to move them from a collection point (110) to a palletizing station (151) remote from the collection point, the shuttle robots being autonomously movable and being suitable for hitching to and unhitching from the trolleys, the monitoring and control unit controls the shuttle robots so that they move the objects on trolleys from the collection point to a buffer storage zone (141) where the articles on the trolleys are grouped together into batches of articles for palletizing, and the monitoring and control unit controls the shuttle robots so that they take the objects on trolleys grouped together in batches from the buffer storage zone and move them in sequence to the palletizing station.