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′).

A conveying unit (10) for the suspended transport of transport elements (40) in a conveyor system, in particular a rail-guided (86) conveyor system or a conveyor-chain system, includes a support hook (21) attached to a conveying element (20), in particular a carriage or a conveyor-chain link, a transport element (40), and a suspension hook (41) attached to the transport element, wherein the suspension hook is mounted in a suspended manner in the support hook. The support hook is configured such that the suspension hook can take up two stable positions (61, 62) in the support hook. The suspension hook (41) in a first stable position (61) has been turned through an angle with respect to the suspension hook in a second stable position (62).

A conveying unit (10) for the suspended transport of transport elements (40) in a conveyor system, in particular a rail-guided (86) conveyor system or a conveyor-chain system, includes a support hook (21) attached to a conveying element (20), in particular a carriage or a conveyor-chain link, a transport element (40), and a suspension hook (41) attached to the transport element, wherein the suspension hook is mounted in a suspended manner in the support hook. The support hook is configured such that the suspension hook can take up two stable positions (61, 62) in the support hook. The suspension hook (41) in a first stable position (61) has been turned through an angle with respect to the suspension hook in a second stable position (62).

A method and a device for opening a transport bag for loading and/or unloading, wherein the transport bag is conveyed along a conveying path by a conveyor system, in a suspended manner, to a device for opening the transport bag. The transport bag has a front and rear wall and a movable push element, which effects a relative movement of the front and rear wall with respect to one another between a closed bag state and an open bag state. An actively moved push device exerts a pushing force on a first end of the push element of the transport bag and the push element is converted from an idle conformation into a conformation subjected to a pushing force. The front and rear wall are thus moved relative to one another in the direction of an open bag state and the transport bag is opened for loading and/or unloading.

A method and a device for opening a transport bag for loading and/or unloading, wherein the transport bag is conveyed along a conveying path by a conveyor system, in a suspended manner, to a device for opening the transport bag. The transport bag has a front and rear wall and a movable push element, which effects a relative movement of the front and rear wall with respect to one another between a closed bag state and an open bag state. An actively moved push device exerts a pushing force on a first end of the push element of the transport bag and the push element is converted from an idle conformation into a conformation subjected to a pushing force. The front and rear wall are thus moved relative to one another in the direction of an open bag state and the transport bag is opened for loading and/or unloading.

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.

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 main mover and sub mover are made to run while changing a relative distance of the sub mover with respect to the main mover to change contact positions of cams and cam followers based on a holding position of a sheet member detected by a position detection device to thereby change a position in a horizontal plane of a holder and correct a holding position of the sheet member held at the holder to a preset reference position.

A main mover and sub mover are made to run while changing a relative distance of the sub mover with respect to the main mover to change contact positions of cams and cam followers based on a holding position of a sheet member detected by a position detection device to thereby change a position in a horizontal plane of a holder and correct a holding position of the sheet member held at the holder to a preset reference position.

The invention relates to an unloading station (4) for automated unloading of an article container (2), which comprises an overhead conveying device (1) for transporting the article container (2) into the unloading station and for transporting the article container out of the unloading station, an opening and closing device (40) for adjusting a bag body between the closed position and the opened position and an unloading device (39) for unloading the bag body. The unloading device comprises an actuation device (56), by means of which the article container with the bag body can be tilted about a tilting axis (57) extending essentially in parallel to the longitudinal extension of the overhead conveying device between a provisioning position (58) and an unloading position (59), wherein in the unloading position an article (28) can be discharged from the article container through the unloading opening (29). Moreover, the invention relates to a method for the automated unloading of an article container.