A method for retrieving an inventory item based on a handling robot, where the handling robot includes: a storage frame; and a material handling device installed on the storage frame, and including a telescopic arm and a manipulator installed to the telescopic arm; and the method for retrieving an inventory item includes: driving, by the telescopic arm, the manipulator to extend to a preset position of warehouse shelf along a preset horizontal reference line; loading, by the manipulator that is remained on the reference line, the inventory item located in the preset position; driving, by the telescopic arm, the manipulator loaded with the inventory item to move to the storage frame along the reference line; and unloading, by the manipulator that is remained on the reference line, the inventory item to the storage frame.

A metallic beverage container body inspection apparatus processes a plurality of metallic beverage container bodies along an index path. An indexer sequentially transfers metallic beverage container bodies from the manufacturing queue through the apparatus while maintaining an orientation of the container bodies. A dwell position is located on the index path wherein the indexer delivers metallic beverage container bodies to the dwell position. An inspection position is vertically aligned with and horizontally offset from the dwell position. An image recorder is aimed the inspection position and captures a plurality of images about a circumference of each metallic beverage containers.

A system for transferring loads from a mobile robot device. The system includes a transportable conveyor platform. The mobile robot device transports the transportable conveyor platform to/from a lift mechanism. The lift mechanism lifts the transportable conveyor platform and any load thereon from the mobile robot device and to a desired height for unloading the load.

Shipment receiving systems and methods are disclosed. Invoice and store inventory management data is provided to an invoice processor for assigning expected destinations to lanes of a material transporter having and a plurality of outlet lanes that each have an indicator. A scanner determines a case identifier for each case which is routed accordingly. One or more notifications is provided to the indicator of one or more of the plurality of outlet lanes. Received shipment data enables reconciliation of upstream supply change management systems and downstream store inventory systems.

An adaptive method and system for monitoring a shipping container for an environmental anomaly uses sensor-based ID nodes within the container and a command node. Sensors on each ID node generate sensor data about an environmental condition proximate the ID node as disposed within the container. Each ID node periodically broadcasts the sensor data. The command node monitors a first group of sensor data from the ID nodes over a first time period to detect an initial environmental threshold condition related to the container, then monitors a subsequent group of sensor data over a second time period under a modified monitoring parameter to detect a secondary environmental threshold condition related to the container as the anomaly. In response to detecting the secondary condition, the command node generates an alert notification and transmits the alert notification to an external transceiver to initiate a mediation response related to the anomaly.

The vending machine control system S performs authentication processing for authenticating a user on the basis of information on the user who is about to open a door 13 of a vending machine 1, and when the user is authenticated, performs control to unlock the door 13 of the vending machine 1. Then, the vending machine control system S identifies a product picked up from a storing chamber 12 after the door 13 is unlocked, and when a reserved product is included in the identified product, outputs different information depending on whether or not the authenticated user is a reservation person of the reserved product.

Embodiments herein provide automated bin packing of heterogeneous objects to fill maximum number of objects in an available bin space in an efficient manner. Conventional methods are less efficient in packing heterogeneous objects in a space and time efficient manner. The apparatus receives a plurality of 3D objects through a primary conveyor and diverts each of the plurality of 3D objects to an identified cuboidal bin through a corresponding secondary conveyor. Each of the plurality of 3D objects are diverted based on a tracking code associated with each of the plurality of 3D objects and a computed available bin space of the identified cuboidal bin corresponding to each of the plurality of 3D objects. Here the available bin space is computed based on a bin space information received from a corresponding bin vision sensor and a corresponding state space of the identified cuboidal bin.

Apparatus for identifying, measuring and positioning piece goods with an increased throughput of piece goods are provided. An apparatus includes an optically transparent turntable having a support surface for piece goods which support surface extends in an X and Y direction of the apparatus, a first conveying device for arranging a piece good on the support surface of the turntable, a first optical reading device arranged below the turntable for detecting the dimensions of a piece good and an identifier, a second optical reading device for detecting the height of a piece good resting on the support surface and an identifier, a storage area for a plurality of piece goods which storage area is arranged downstream of the turntable, a second conveying device with a gripping device for piece goods, wherein the gripping device is movable over the storage area, at least in an X and Y direction, in such a way that piece goods can be arranged side by side in the storage area in the X and/or Y direction. Methods for identifying, measuring and positioning piece goods are also provided.

According to one embodiment, a server includes a product position storage unit configured to store a storage position of a product in association with each product, a cart position storage unit configured to store a position of a cart, a cart determining unit configured to determine a cart positioned closest to a product-to-pick ordered from an ordering party, based on the storage position of the product and the position of the cart, and a product information transmitting unit configured to transmit information on the product-to-pick to a cart terminal attached to the determined cart for display thereof.

A system, method, and apparatus for the routing of totes and bottles within a pharmacy fulfillment center are disclosed. The system, method, and apparatus are configured to transmit routing tables from an application server to station controllers (e.g., PLCs) to enable each station to locally make a routing decision. Since the routing logic is locally stored at each station, the controllers do not need to transmit request messages to the server every time a tote or bottle is scanned. The system, method, and apparatus increase conveyor throughput by enabling each station to make a routing decision without having to wait for a response from a server.