A warehouse storage and retrieval system for fishing rod blanks includes a framework structure comprising a plurality of front horizontal supports, and a plurality of rear horizontal supports. The system also includes a plurality of individual storage receptacles supported between the plurality of front horizontal supports and the rear horizontal supports in a horizontal orientation, where each receptacle has an open end proximate the plurality of front horizontal supports and an opposing closed end proximate the plurality of rear horizontal supports. The system includes a plurality of fishing rod blanks within the plurality of individual storage receptacles, and each fishing rod blank having an identifying tag storing data. In addition, the system includes a database storing a spatial location of each of the fishing rod blanks corresponding to a respective individual storage receptacle within the framework structure.

Methods and systems are provided for verifying a pick/put operation within an order fulfilment workstation or a storage rack. An optical device observes an operator performing a pick/put operation at the workstation. An indicia is located on the operator such that it is visible to the optical device. Image data of the indicia captured by the optical device is transmitted to a control system of the workstation. The control system determines a relative location of the indicia and then determines the location at which an item was picked from or put to relative to the workstation within a high degree of positional accuracy. The method verifies that the operator has completed the assigned pick/put operation at the required location. The methods and systems may be adapted to track or monitor relative positions of mobile and stationary equipment in an automated warehouse.

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 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.

Systems and methods of associating data to an item being transported by a conveying system are disclosed. The item and data associated with the item are received at a first zone of the conveying system. The data is stored in a first computer-readable storage medium associated with the first zone. The item is transported to a second zone of the conveying system, and the data stored in the first computer-readable storage medium is transferred to a second computer-readable storage medium associated with the second zone.

A system for transferring parcels made in accordance with the present invention includes: a first conveyor for conveying a bulk flow of parcels; a second conveyor positioned adjacent to the first conveyor; a robot positioned adjacent to the first conveyor and the second conveyor; and a rejection member. The robot engages and transfers select parcels in the bulk flow of parcels on the first conveyor to the second conveyor. The rejection member is positioned as to receive parcels offloaded from the first conveyor and/or the second conveyor and directs such parcels out of the system. Parcels within the bulk flow of parcels with characteristics which make it difficult for one or more of the components of the system or downstream systems to handle or process can be directed to the rejection member by operation of the first conveyor and/or the second conveyor to reduce system processing delays and stoppages.

A method and system for stocking and assembling SKUs includes stocking SKUs out of a lane, from the back of a downward slanting shelf, unit by unit, in long, narrow, single files separated by dividers, and with supplementary storage space available nearby. In addition it includes picking SKUs for multiple orders simultaneously off of shelves and onto a conveyor, registering all SKUs riding on the conveyor, and sorting and packing SKUs upon receiving notifications to do so as they ride on the conveyor. All coordinated such that after being brought to the stocking lane or supplementary storage space, SKUs are stocked into the shelves, picked off of the shelves and onto the conveyor, and then registered as riding on the conveyor, at which point timed notifications lead SKUs riding on the conveyor to be sorted and packed into orders which are then confirmed as being complete.

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.

The disclosure relates to a method for controlling a warehouse robot to store and fetch inventory materials. The method includes: instructing a material handling device to fetch a second inventory material located in the front row, and placing the second inventory material on a first tray; instructing the material handling device to fetch a first inventory material located in the back row, and placing the first inventory material on a second tray; and instructing the material handling device to return the second inventory material to the front row. By instructing the material handling device to fetch the inventory materials and storing the inventory materials in the trays, the inventory materials can be extracted from a designated shelf and stored in a warehouse, navigation is realized in a crowded warehouse filled with obstacles, and the inventory materials whose positions have been transferred can be processed.

A device for sorting an item into containers on the side or sides of the device that includes several interconnected bogie assemblies movable in a direction, each bogie assembly includes a base, a right arm rotatable mounted on the base, a left arm rotatable mounted on the base, a right release that holds the right arm in a transport position, and a left release that holds the left arm in a transport position such that when both the right and left arms are in the transport position, the bogie assemblies move the item in the direction along the path and actuating the right release dumps the item into a right side container located on a right side of the device and actuating the left release dumps the item into a left side container located on a left side of the device.