A vacuum cup damage detection system detects vacuum cup damage or absence in a robot singulator including a vacuum-based end effector with one or more vacuum cups. The system generally comprises a plate and a control subsystem. The plate provides a potential point of engagement for the one or more vacuum cups of the vacuum-based end effector when the robot singulator is moved to a predetermined position in which, if present, at least one of the one or more vacuum cups of the vacuum-based end effector is in contact with the plate. The control subsystem includes: one or more sensors configured to obtain readings indicative of the engagement of the one or more vacuum cups with the plate or lack thereof; and a controller configured to determine whether any one of the vacuum cups is damaged or missing based on the readings obtained by the one or more sensors.

Provided is an operation check device for a conveyer device, the operation check device being capable of reproducing and checking operation of the conveyer device. The operation check device includes: a log data creation unit that creates log data in which operation states of a drive motor and a load presence sensor of each of the conveyer units of a conveyer device are individually recorded; an operation reproduction unit that creates video data that schematically reproduces operation of the conveyer device and operation state data on the drive motor as well as the load presence sensor from moment to moment, based on the log data; and a display device that displays a video based on the video data created by the operation reproduction unit and an image based on the operation state data.

A method for picking objects is specified, in which at least one object is removed from a source loading aid and placed into a target loading aid using a robot. After the operation of removing the object, a first sensor system of the robot is used to check whether at least one object is held by the robot. A number and/or a type of the at least one removed object is ascertained using the second sensor system. The operation of placing the at least one object into the target loading aid is aborted or modified if no object is held by the robot or the number and/or the type of the at least one removed object does not contribute to completing the picking order, which defines a desired number and/or desired type of objects in the target loading aid. Furthermore, a device and a computer program product for performing the presented method is specified.

Various embodiments disclosed herein provide for an improved accumulation conveyor and systems and methods for controlling a high rate, high density tunable accumulation conveyor. In one embodiment, an accumulation conveyor system determines whether an item detection variable associated with a second zone of a plurality of zones is satisfied, wherein the second zone is downstream of a first zone. In an instance where the item detection variable and an operational characteristic variable are satisfied, the accumulation conveyor system is configured to set a zone operating state associated with the first zone to inactive and send a command signal comprising the zone operating state associated with the first zone to a control module associated with the first zone. In another embodiment, a method for adjusting aggressiveness is disclosed. In another embodiment, a tunable release rate accumulation conveyor is disclosed. In still another embodiment, a tunable crowding accumulation conveyor is disclosed.

An automatic storage and retrieval system includes: a delivery vehicle; a storage container carried by the delivery vehicle; and an unloading station for unloading an item from the storage container while it is being carried by the delivery vehicle. The unloading station includes: an unloading device; and a destination conveyor configured to convey the item to a target destination, wherein the unloading device is configured to move the item through a side opening of the storage container to the destination conveyor.

In a transport system that moves a moving portion, which moves in a transport direction along a fixed portion, while detecting a position of the moving portion by a scale and a sensor, a guide block is installed on a second surface of a first part of the moving portion, a guide rail is installed on a first surface of the fixed portion, the scale is installed at an end of the first part of the moving portion on an opposite side across the guide block, and a sensor that has a detecting unit at a position facing the scale is installed in the fixed portion.

The invention relates to a device and a method for controlling a steep conveyor, comprising a control unit (15), a conveyor drive system (5) for driving a conveyor belt (2), and a sensor unit for determining a weight G.sub.1-n of the material to be conveyed (4) assigned to a predetermined section T.sub.1-n of the conveyor belt (2), wherein the sensor unit is adapted to transmit information about the weight to the control unit (15), wherein the control unit (15) is adapted to determine from the information about the weight G.sub.1-n a length L.sub.1-n assigned to the predetermined section T.sub.1-n in a steep conveyor region S of the conveyor belt (2) and to adjust a strain of a drive belt (2) of the conveyor drive system (5) based on the determined lengths L.sub.1-n assigned to the predetermined sections T.sub.1-n.

A lift structure of a rack storage system including a pair of vertical post, a pair of guide rail portions stacked one on top of the other, a mounting brace, and a mounting platform attached to the pair of vertical post. The mounting brace includes an adjustment mechanism to adjust an alignment between the pair of guide rail portions fastened together by a clamping plate. A load handling station is secured to the mounting platform to support loads transported to and from the rack storage system, wherein the load handling station is located by locating a position of the mounting platform.

The invention relates to idler diagnosis systems on conveyors, comprising a rail system as a track for suitable running gears and the running gear, the rail system being formed from a closed profile or tube. The rail system comprises a multi-part track holder arranged on the belt frame, a fixing rod and a running rail, the track holder being suitable for accommodating the running rail at at least one end by insertion, thus creating a track without cross-section differences. The running gear has at least one two-roller system as a guide and drive system, and at least one chassis that accommodates and connects the two roller systems and has connection options for sensor-system carriers and/or energy control module. The guide system encloses the track so only one movement (forwards/backwards) along the track is provided. The drive system moves the chassis and all the connected systems with respect to the track.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes a grid-based rail structure and a plurality of remotely operated vehicles arranged to operate on the grid-based rail structure. The automated storage and retrieval system includes a locking device arranged in a zone of the grid-based rail structure where a human and/or a robotic operator is permitted to interact with the remotely operated vehicle or contents of a storage container that the remotely operated vehicle is carrying. The locking device is arranged to lock the remotely operated vehicle against accidental displacement prior to interaction with the human and/or robotic operator, and wherein the locking device being arranged to unlock the remotely operated vehicle once interaction with the human and/or robotic operator is no longer required.