To store sensor devices in a sensor storage system, the sensor devices are hanged on hangers in the sensor storage system. The sensor devices are transported through stations of the sensor storage system.

A compact and high capacity sorting system includes a transportation vehicle travelling along a travelling route where the transportation vehicle may diverge and merge, and raising and lowering a transfer device; racks provided along the travelling route and having a height corresponding to multiple floors; an arrival area, a shipment area, and a sorting area, each provided along an outer periphery of the travelling route; and a controller controlling the transportation vehicle to transport commodities from the arrival area to the sorting area via the racks, and transport commodities from the sorting area to the shipment area.

A conveyor device for the automated conveyance of individual products in a direction of conveyance, the conveyor device being configured as a hanging conveyor device, comprises several adapters each provided with an adapter identification means for accommodating the individual products, wherein each individual product comprises an individual product transponder, a transponder reading unit for reading individual product data of the individual product transponder, an adapter data reading unit for reading adapter data of the adapter identification means, a control unit which is in signal communication with the transponder reading unit and the adapter data reading unit for linking the individual product data read by means of the transponder reading unit with the adapter data read by means of the adapter data reading unit.

An inverted carrier lift and method is disclosed. The inverted carrier lift includes a trolley movable along an overhead conveyor and a carrier for supporting a workpiece to undergo an assembly or manufacturing process. The carrier is movable relative to the trolley from a raised position to a lowered position by a motor mounted engaged with a lifting mechanism onboard the trolley. On rotation of the motor, the carrier and supported workpiece is lowered or raised to position the workpiece in the workstation for processing. The workpiece may be disengaged by the carrier for support of the workpiece by one of many different fixtures depending on the processing. Following processing, the workpiece is re-engaged by the carrier, moved to a raised position and the trolley is transferred to a subsequent workstation.

An illustrative embodiment of a storage and retrieval system may include a storage assembly supported by a plurality of frame members. The storage assembly may include a plurality of storage members that may be engaged with one another such that each storage member may selectively move along a predetermined path. The exterior of the storage and retrieval system may include a front exterior panel that may be configured with an access port therein for interacting with items positioned on the storage members. The exterior may also include a first and/or second display, scanner, and one or more door flaps to allow/prevent access to the interior of the storage and retrieval system through the access port.

A storage device (1′) for storing transport units (3′) includes a number of transport units (3′), a number of storage lines (12a′-12g′) which are configured to store transport units (3′), a feeding line (11′) which is connected by a respective first switch point (111′) to the storage lines (12a′-12g′), a measuring device (15′) which is arranged on the feeding line (11′) and which is configured to determine a respective extent of a transport unit (3′), and a controller (16′) which is connected to the measuring device (15′) and to the first switch pointes (111′) and which is configured to select a storage line (12a′-12g′) for storing the transport unit (3′) on the basis of the extent of the transport unit (3′) determined by the measuring device (15′).

An overhead transport vehicle travels along a rail on a ceiling of a building to transport a FOUP. The overhead transport vehicle includes a holding base and an upper shelf transfer device. The holding base holds at least one of a side surface and a bottom surface of the FOUP. The upper shelf transfer device moves the holding base at least upwardly while holding the FOUP. The upper shelf transfer device moves the holding base from the holding position in which the holding base holds and transfers the FOUP to the upper transfer position to transfer the FOUP, which is a different position from the holding position in a plan view and higher than the holding position.

A method for operating a conveying system is provided. An overhead hoist transport (OHT) vehicle is provided, wherein the OHT vehicle includes a gripping member configured to grip and hold a carrier, and a receiver configured to receive a signal. The signal is transmitted to the receiver of the OHT vehicle. The OHT vehicle is moved toward the carrier, and the carrier is gripped by the gripping member of the OHT vehicle. A lifting force is determined based on a weight of a carrier, a number of workpieces in the carrier, or a vertical distance between the OHT vehicle and the carrier, and the lifting force is applied to the carrier.

Disclosed are an unmanned distribution system and method. By means of the system, a temporary storage facility can be arranged at a preset location of a closed distribution area, for example, a corresponding temporary storage facility is arranged near a closed housing estate, community or unit; an external item to be distributed that needs to be distributed is received and temporarily stored by the arranged temporary storage facility; and a robot arranged inside the closed distribution area can obtain the item to be distributed from the temporary storage facility and distribute the item to be distributed within the closed distribution area.

A container accessing station for accessing a storage container of an automated storage and retrieval grid. The container accessing station comprising: an access opening through which a human and/or robot may access contents of the storage container; a base opening; and a lifting device arranged to retrieve the storage container from a first level beneath the base opening and lift it up through the base opening to a second level so that the storage container may be accessed through the access opening.

The invention is also directed to a container accessing system and a method thereof.