A loading apparatus for use with tubular food articles. The loading apparatus comprises an input conveyor configured to convey the tubular food articles, an indexing conveyor positioned beneath the input conveyor and configured to operate in an intermittent motion, and a curved end member positioned in spaced arrangement to the input conveyor to permit the tubular food articles to pass between the input conveyor and the curved end member such that the curved end member retains the tubular food articles on the input conveyor. The input conveyor is configured to transfer the tubular food articles from the input conveyor directly to the indexing conveyor using gravity from a space between the input conveyor and the curved end member.

A method to sort objects in a sorting installation. The objects are conveyed on a sorter of the sorting installation. In a first distribution pass a few of the objects conveyed on the sorter are brought by the sorter into retrieval end stations of the sorting installation and others of the objects conveyed on the sorter are brought by the sorter into a collection end station of the sorting installation and, with a transport facility of the sorting installation, objects are automatically transported away from the collection end station and automatically brought back to the sorter. The objects brought back from the collection end station to the sorter by the transport facility are brought by the sorter into one of the end stations in a second distribution pass.

A method to sort objects in a sorting installation. The objects are conveyed on a sorter of the sorting installation. In a first distribution pass a few of the objects conveyed on the sorter are brought by the sorter into retrieval end stations of the sorting installation and others of the objects conveyed on the sorter are brought by the sorter into a collection end station of the sorting installation and, with a transport facility of the sorting installation, objects are automatically transported away from the collection end station and automatically brought back to the sorter. The objects brought back from the collection end station to the sorter by the transport facility are brought by the sorter into one of the end stations in a second distribution pass.

A lifting and lowering transportation device is capable of transporting articles between different delivery positions using transportation units, each including a lifting and lowering platform, a linear motor, and a chain. The lifting and lowering platform can pass through the delivery positions by moving along the circumferential track that is common to the transportation units. The linear motor generates the driving force to move the lifting and lowering platform along the circumferential track. The chain is loop-shaped and can circulate along the circulation track corresponding to the circumference path, and the linear motor moves the lifting and lowering platform by circulating the chain by the driving force generated by the linear motor. The circulation of the chain in each transportation unit is controlled independently of the other transportation units.

A warehouse storage and retrieval system including an array of multilevel storage racks having at least one transfer deck, picking isles and storage areas disposed along picking isles, the storage areas being configured to hold differing loads, and a controller including a management module configured to variably size the storage areas of the array of multilevel storage rack modules and assign each of the variably sized storage areas to a corresponding one of the differing loads, wherein the storage and retrieval system is arranged to transport the differing loads for placement in the variably sized storage areas assigned by the controller.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide adaptive autonomous guided vehicles capable of performing a myriad of specialized task operations. Some embodiments include a base vehicle, a vertical carousel including at least one carousel conveyor shelf, where the vertical carousel is affixable to a top of the based vehicle, and a rotatable top conveyor affixable to a top of the vertical carousel. Some embodiments include processing circuitry communicatively coupled to with each of the base vehicle, the vertical carousel, and the rotatable top conveyor, where the processing circuitry executes computer-coded instructions that at least partially cause the processing circuitry to control each of the base vehicle, the vertical carousel, and/or the rotatable top conveyor. The processing circuitry controls such components to perform any of a number of specific task operations. Some embodiments align multiple adaptive autonomous guided vehicles that interact to perform specific task operation(s).

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide adaptive autonomous guided vehicles capable of performing a myriad of specialized task operations. Some embodiments include a base vehicle, a vertical carousel including at least one carousel conveyor shelf, where the vertical carousel is affixable to a top of the based vehicle, and a rotatable top conveyor affixable to a top of the vertical carousel. Some embodiments include processing circuitry communicatively coupled to with each of the base vehicle, the vertical carousel, and the rotatable top conveyor, where the processing circuitry executes computer-coded instructions that at least partially cause the processing circuitry to control each of the base vehicle, the vertical carousel, and/or the rotatable top conveyor. The processing circuitry controls such components to perform any of a number of specific task operations. Some embodiments align multiple adaptive autonomous guided vehicles that interact to perform specific task operation(s).

The present disclosure relates to a goods to operator workstation for presenting a container of articles to an operator for picking. The goods to operator workstation includes a container presenting mechanism having laterally movable arms positioned at a first predetermined distance from each other to create a first space to receive and present the container to the operator for picking. A lifting unit moves vertically upwards into the first space to receive the picked container, the laterally movable arms move outwardly away from each other to be positioned at a second predetermined distance from each other, and the lifting unit moves vertically downwards through the at least two laterally movable arms to transfer the picked container onto the discharge conveyor.

The present disclosure relates to a goods to operator workstation for presenting a container of articles to an operator for picking. The goods to operator workstation includes a container presenting mechanism having laterally movable arms positioned at a first predetermined distance from each other to create a first space to receive and present the container to the operator for picking. A lifting unit moves vertically upwards into the first space to receive the picked container, the laterally movable arms move outwardly away from each other to be positioned at a second predetermined distance from each other, and the lifting unit moves vertically downwards through the at least two laterally movable arms to transfer the picked container onto the discharge conveyor.

A transfer device for transferring items to be conveyed, such as flat goods, from a feed conveyor to conveyor spaces of an onward conveyor. The transfer device forms a stationary receiving space for at least one item to be conveyed, the receiving space being delimited at the bottom by a movable support element. The support element is movable via a displacing device between a support position, in which the at least one item to be conveyed lies flat on the support element, and a delivery position, in which the item to be conveyed falls, under the influence of gravity through a released transfer opening downwards, and onto a conveyor space of the onward conveyor that is displaced past below the receiving space.