A system is disclosed for dispensing a product sample to a consumer that includes a storage compartment for holding a plurality of spherical pods each containing a product sample in a closely-packed assemblage, a dispensing area communicating with the storage compartment and including an access port accessible by a consumer to obtain a single spherical pod, a dispensing wheel mounted for rotation adjacent the dispensing area for transferring a single spherical pod from the storage compartment to the access port, and an agitator wheel mounted for movement within the storage compartment to agitate the spherical pods within the storage compartment so as to reduce friction between adjacent spherical pods in the closely-packed assemblage and promote movement of pods from the storage compartment towards the dispensing wheel.

A system is disclosed for dispensing a product sample to a consumer that includes a storage compartment for holding a plurality of spherical pods each containing a product sample in a closely-packed assemblage, a dispensing area communicating with the storage compartment and including an access port accessible by a consumer to obtain a single spherical pod, a dispensing wheel mounted for rotation adjacent the dispensing area for transferring a single spherical pod from the storage compartment to the access port, and an agitator wheel mounted for movement within the storage compartment to agitate the spherical pods within the storage compartment so as to reduce friction between adjacent spherical pods in the closely-packed assemblage and promote movement of pods from the storage compartment towards the dispensing wheel.

A rescue system for retrieving a malfunctioning vehicle from a rail system of an automated storage and retrieval system includes a first rescue vehicle and a second rescue vehicle. The rail system includes a plurality of rails with tracks extending in an X-direction and a plurality of rails with tracks extending in a Y-direction perpendicular to the X-direction, and a plurality of remotely operated vehicles configured to move in the X and Y-directions on the tracks of the rail system. The first rescue vehicle is configured to run on the tracks of the rail system. The first rescue vehicle is provided with a lifting device on one side of the vehicle, which faces for engagement in a first X-direction. The second rescue vehicle is configured to run on the tracks of the rail system. The second rescue vehicle is provided with a lifting device on an opposite side of the vehicle, which faces for engagement in a second X-direction opposite to the first X-direction. The first and second rescue vehicles are configured to work in tandem so that when one of the plurality of remotely operated vehicles malfunctions, the first and second rescue vehicles can position themselves on the rail system on opposite sides of the malfunctioning vehicle to engage their respective lifting devices with the opposite sides of the malfunctioning vehicle. The first and second rescue vehicles operate their lifting devices simultaneously so as to lift the malfunctioning vehicle off the rail system and transport the malfunctioning vehicle.

The present disclosure relates to a distribution station for serving an unmanned logistics distribution vehicle and distribution method. The distribution station includes: a building having a vehicle parking space for parking an unmanned logistics distribution vehicle at least including an unmanned logistics distribution aircraft and an unmanned logistics distribution ground vehicle; a cargo conveying and loading device disposed within the building, for automatically conveying and loading a cargo to be distributed to an allocated unmanned logistics distribution vehicle parked in the vehicle parking space; and a cargo dispatching device for allocating a corresponding unmanned logistics distribution vehicle to the cargo to be distributed, and providing the unmanned logistics distribution vehicle with guidance information to guide distribution of the unmanned logistics distribution vehicle, so that the unmanned logistics distribution vehicle automatically distributes the cargo to be distributed according to the guidance information.

A transfer machine raises and lowers a support portion in a transfer operation between a lower set position that is set below a placement portion of a transfer location subject to the transfer operation, and an upper set position that is set above the placement portion, and a control device changes setting of at least one of the lower set position and the upper set position to set a different raising/lowering range of the support portion that covers a range from the lower set position to the upper set position, between a case where an article is transferred to the transfer location provided in a storage/retrieval section, and a case where the article is transferred to the transfer location provided in accommodation sections.

A transfer machine raises and lowers a support portion in a transfer operation between a lower set position that is set below a placement portion of a transfer location subject to the transfer operation, and an upper set position that is set above the placement portion, and a control device changes setting of at least one of the lower set position and the upper set position to set a different raising/lowering range of the support portion that covers a range from the lower set position to the upper set position, between a case where an article is transferred to the transfer location provided in a storage/retrieval section, and a case where the article is transferred to the transfer location provided in accommodation sections.

An automatic warehouse (1), comprising: a frame (2), defining a prismatic-shaped containment volume (V), with a vertical axis (X); an elevator (3), arranged inside the containment volume (V), comprising a flat bed (4), movable along a vertical direction; a locking device (101), interposed between the frame (2) and the elevator (3), which is operable between a locking configuration, in which the elevator (3) is constrained to the frame (2) with respect to the vertical movements and cannot move vertically, and a release configuration, in which the elevator (3) can move vertically. The locking device (101) can be activated on command from a predetermined zone of the frame (2), which can be positioned with great flexibility, based on any access needs.

An automatic warehouse (1), comprising: a frame (2), defining a prismatic-shaped containment volume (V), with a vertical axis (X); an elevator (3), arranged inside the containment volume (V), comprising a flat bed (4), movable along a vertical direction; a locking device (101), interposed between the frame (2) and the elevator (3), which is operable between a locking configuration, in which the elevator (3) is constrained to the frame (2) with respect to the vertical movements and cannot move vertically, and a release configuration, in which the elevator (3) can move vertically. The locking device (101) can be activated on command from a predetermined zone of the frame (2), which can be positioned with great flexibility, based on any access needs.

A system for picking items from a containerised storage system is described. The items are stored in storage bins in stacks within a framework comprising a grid system disposed above the stacks of bins. Robotic devices are disposed on the grid, the devices acting so as to pick containers from the stacks of bins. The storage system is provided with at least one picking device for picking items from bins and depositing them directly in delivery containers DT.

Provided herein is a methods, apparatus, and system for the configuration of customizable trays for the storage and dispensing of articles. Methods may include: receiving an indication of a plurality of articles to be stored in a tray; determining a plurality of bins corresponding to the plurality of articles; generating a layout of the bins on the tray; identifying locations of the plurality of articles within the bins on the tray; and causing the tray to be configured according to the layout of the plurality of bins on the tray. Methods may include: receiving an indication of an article to be loaded into a bin of the plurality of bins; receiving a unique identifier of the bin of the plurality of bins into which the article is loaded; and storing, in a memory, a correlation between the unique identifier of the bin and the article loaded into the bin.