A lift system for an automated storage system of the type where storage containers are stacked in storage columns arranged in a grid, and where automated container handling vehicles retrieve and replace containers from a top level of the grid. The lift system has a platform vertically movable adjacent to a face of the grid, arranged for receiving and transporting one or more containers. A dedicated mechanical device is arranged for grabbing, lifting and moving the storage containers from a staging area at the top of the grid and placing containers on the platform and vice versa.

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.

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.

A conveyor system (1) comprising at least one endless chain conveyor (2) and at least one pallet (8) that comprises a magnetic material, where the conveyor system comprises a first loading station (3) and an unloading station (5), where the first loading station (3) comprises a magnet conveyor (6) comprising a linear motor for driving the pallet (8), where the pallet (8) comprises a product holder (9) having at least two holding positions (11, 12, 13, 14), and the magnet conveyor (6) is adapted to stop the pallet (8) at a plurality of positions, in which each holding position (11, 12, 13, 14) is aligned with a delivery position (15) of the first loading station (3). The advantage is that a pallet can be positioned in a plurality of positions at a loading station in a quick and precise manner, allowing for a flexible and quick handling of pallets.

A conveyor system (1) comprising at least one endless chain conveyor (2) and at least one pallet (8) that comprises a magnetic material, where the conveyor system comprises a first loading station (3) and an unloading station (5), where the first loading station (3) comprises a magnet conveyor (6) comprising a linear motor for driving the pallet (8), where the pallet (8) comprises a product holder (9) having at least two holding positions (11, 12, 13, 14), and the magnet conveyor (6) is adapted to stop the pallet (8) at a plurality of positions, in which each holding position (11, 12, 13, 14) is aligned with a delivery position (15) of the first loading station (3). The advantage is that a pallet can be positioned in a plurality of positions at a loading station in a quick and precise manner, allowing for a flexible and quick handling of pallets.

An automated storage and retrieval system comprising an automated storage and retrieval grid and a delivery system. The automated storage and retrieval grid includes a container handling vehicle rail system for guiding a plurality of container handling vehicles and a delivery column adapted for transport of a storage container arranged in a stack of storage containers beneath the container handling vehicle rail system between a container handling vehicle and a delivery port situated at a lower end of the delivery column. The container handling vehicle rail system includes a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction, and a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, which first and second sets of rails form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane including a plurality of adjacent container handling vehicle grid cells. Each container handling vehicle grid cell includes a container handling vehicle grid opening defined by a pair of neighboring rails of the first set of rails and a pair of neighboring rails of the second set of rails. The delivery system includes a remotely operated delivery vehicle including a container carrier adapted to support the storage container. The delivery vehicle is further adapted to transport the storage container between the delivery port and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator.

An automated storage and retrieval system comprising an automated storage and retrieval grid and a delivery system. The automated storage and retrieval grid includes a container handling vehicle rail system for guiding a plurality of container handling vehicles and a delivery column adapted for transport of a storage container arranged in a stack of storage containers beneath the container handling vehicle rail system between a container handling vehicle and a delivery port situated at a lower end of the delivery column. The container handling vehicle rail system includes a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction, and a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, which first and second sets of rails form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane including a plurality of adjacent container handling vehicle grid cells. Each container handling vehicle grid cell includes a container handling vehicle grid opening defined by a pair of neighboring rails of the first set of rails and a pair of neighboring rails of the second set of rails. The delivery system includes a remotely operated delivery vehicle including a container carrier adapted to support the storage container. The delivery vehicle is further adapted to transport the storage container between the delivery port and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator.

A container feeding device, in particular a cup feeding device, for feeding containers, in particular cups, to a metering and/or filling device, includes at least one magazine unit for receiving a plurality of containers, in particular a plurality of container stacks, and includes at least one lift unit for a transport of the containers, in particular the container stacks, along a lifting direction of the lift unit, in particular to a plane that is situated higher than a transport surface of a transport element of the magazine unit. The container feeding device further includes at least one movement unit which supports the lift unit such that it is movable, in particular drivably movable, relative to the magazine unit, in particular relative to a frame of the magazine unit, along a movement axis of the lift unit that runs transversal, in particular at least substantially perpendicular, to the lifting direction.

The present invention is directed to a system and method for transferring specimen containers between detection instruments. The method may include transporting a specimen container in a locator well to a container transfer station in a first automated detection apparatus; sensing the specimen container at the container transfer station using a first sensor; transferring the specimen container from the container transfer station of the first automated microbial detection apparatus to an automated loading mechanism of a second automated microbial detection apparatus; detecting that the specimen container is positioned over the automated loading mechanism of the second automated microbial detection apparatus using a second sensor; and releasing the specimen container onto the automated loading mechanism of the second automated microbial detection apparatus.

The present invention is directed to a system and method for transferring specimen containers between detection instruments. The method may include transporting a specimen container in a locator well to a container transfer station in a first automated detection apparatus; sensing the specimen container at the container transfer station using a first sensor; transferring the specimen container from the container transfer station of the first automated microbial detection apparatus to an automated loading mechanism of a second automated microbial detection apparatus; detecting that the specimen container is positioned over the automated loading mechanism of the second automated microbial detection apparatus using a second sensor; and releasing the specimen container onto the automated loading mechanism of the second automated microbial detection apparatus.