A load handling device is disclosed for lifting and moving storage containers stacked in a grid framework structure having first and second sets of parallel rails or tracks. The load handling device includes: a body mounted on first and second sets of wheels arranged to engage with the tracks. A direction-change assembly is arranged to raise or lower the first set of wheels and or lower or raise the second set of wheels with respect to the body to engage and disengage the wheels with the tracks. The direction-change assembly includes a linkage-set having a series of members arranged between a traveller and a fixed brace, wherein the traveller is arranged to move under an applied force to cause the wheels to raise or lower.

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 drive belt assembly for a load handling device includes a drive belt; a drive wheel; and one or more driven wheels. A first tensioning arm, having a fixed end above an elbow and a rotatable distal end pivotally attached at the elbow, is horizontally displaceable relative to the drive wheel and driven wheels. A second tensioning arm is provided wherein the drive belt is routed around the first and second tensioning arms, and the first and second tensioning arms are arranged to put pressure on the drive belt to tension the drive belt.

A stack containment fixture is disclosed. The stack containment fixture includes an insertion zone structure including an insertion zone structure and a kitting area structure. The insertion zone structure includes a pair of substantially vertically oriented deflecting arms. each having one or more funnels configured to guide a stack into a position between the deflecting arms as the stack is lowered into the insertion zone structure from above. The kitting area structure is configured to support the vehicle or the stack during kitting operations for items being placed in the vehicle or stack or for items being picked from the vehicle or stack.

A tray handler for transporting a tray into or out from a selectable position within a tray stack stowed in the tray handler has an unload station to stow a tray during a sort procedure, a tray elevator configured to vertically transport the tray stack to the selectable position such that the tray is positioned to be horizontally received from or by the unload station, and a separator above the tray elevator and coupled to the unload station, the separator configured to vertically split the tray stack for opening the selectable position and horizontally transporting the tray into or out from the unload station.

Processing a list of customer orders with a control system and a preparing station, which includes a picking position, an insertion position and local recirculation. The control system: selects a reference in the greatest number of order lines of the list; determines a set E of all the N.sub.E orders each containing an order line containing the selected reference; creates a group G of N orders that are the N.sub.E orders, if N.sub.E≤N.sub.max with N.sub.max being a predetermined threshold, or the N.sub.max first orders of the N.sub.E orders sorted according to decreasing order of priority, if N.sub.E>N.sub.max; builds a list LC of the K order lines in the N orders of the group G; and controls the system to bring source loads to the picking position and ship loads to the insertion position and to make the shipping loads recirculate to the insertion position, according to the list LC.

An automated storage and retrieval system stores multi-stock bins each holding different stock-keeping units (SKUs). Records dynamically track which SKUs are in each bin. A controller tracks a stock waitlist indicating quantities of SKUs still required to be delivered to a workstation in order to fulfil current orders assigned to the workstation. When a robot is available, the controller selects a multi-stock bin that has a highest number of unique ones of the required SKUs indicated on the stock waitlist and commands the robot to fetch and deliver the selected bin to the workstation. For new orders, the controller may determine if direct assignment can be done to a workstation without additional bins being scheduled. For other pending orders, the controller may assume each pending order is assigned to the workstation and then pick the order that would require a lowest number of bins to be delivered to the workstation.

The invention relates to a picking device (1) for arranging between at least one automatic placement point (95) and at least one picking workstation (91), comprising at least one container holder (3) movable along a travel path (V) from the picking workstation (91) to the placement point (95), and comprising a rotation unit (5) for moving the at least one container holder (3) along the travel path (V). The invention further relates to a storage system (89), which enables a fast picking of goods and simultaneously increases safety and ergonomics for an operator (93), the picking device (1) has a tilt device (13) for the at least one container holder (3) by means of which the at least one container holder (3) can be tilted toward the at least one picking workstation (91) during a movement along the travel path (V).

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.

Disclosed is a method for inspecting bundles, wherein receiving containers equipped with containers are transported by a first transport device and wherein the containers each have a marking in their bottom regions which unambiguously identifies the containers, wherein an image recording device records at least one image of the bottom regions of the containers located in the receiving container and at least one information is output which is characteristic of the markings arranged on the containers and/or of at least one property of the containers.