A mobile lift device includes a body supported on a driven wheel and a lift supported by the body and configured for vertical movement relative to the body. The lift is configured to support a load. An electric drive motor is configured to cause rotation of the driven wheel and a drive motor brake is coupled to the motor. An electromechanical linear actuator is configured to raise and lower the lift and includes an electric actuator motor. A controller is configured to determine the weight of the load. In one embodiment, the controller determines the weight by determining a level of current required by the electric actuator motor. The controller controls at least one of the electric drive motor and the drive motor brake responsive to the weight of the load.

A storage and retrieval device, in particular for parallel operation of a high-bay warehouse, contains a device frame, which has frame compartments arranged to form a three-dimensional compartment matrix, and has at least one cab used to hold storage goods. The electromotively driven cab can be moved within the compartment matrix in a vertical direction and/or in a second horizontal direction from each frame compartment. The storage and retrieval device advantageously realizes fast access because of the movability of the cab within a device frame of the storage and retrieval device in a vertical direction and/or in a second horizontal direction and realizes a high handling rate of storage goods in the operation of a high-bay warehouse because of the parallel operation of a plurality of cabs.

An article transport apparatus includes a mast provided upright on the traveling body, an upper frame (6) coupled to an upper end portion of the mast and an upper rail (R2) that guides movement of the upper frame (6). Separately from guide rollers disposed on lateral opposite sides of the upper rail (R2), a first roller (18A) and a second roller (18B) that are rotatable about vertical axes (P1, P2) are disposed on opposite sides of the upper rail (R2). A first supporting member (19) supporting the first roller (18A) is attached so as to be biased by a first biasing body (22) in a direction to push the first roller (18A) against the upper rail (R2), and a second supporting member (20) supporting the second roller (18B) is attached so as to be biased by a second biasing body (22) in a direction to push the second roller (18B) against the upper rail (R2).

A system and method provides a supply of consumables to a processing instrument that uses one or more of the consumables for each of a plurality of processes performed by the instrument. The system includes a loading drawer holding a carrier for receiving a plurality of consumables and an input module for holding a carrier supporting a plurality of consumables thereon and presenting the consumables for access by the instrument. A transporter includes a vertical elevator and a lateral actuator for moving a lift platform vertically and laterally and for transporting carriers on the lift platform with or without consumables supported thereon between the loading drawer and the input module, between the loading drawer and one or more holding shelves, or between the input module and one or more holding shelves. A carrier includes parallel support rails for holding multiple receptacle units and retainer tabs for retaining the units on the support rails.

Storage and retrieval unit that includes a rail arrangement having a track and a flange arrangement. In a direction of gravity, the track is located below the flange arrangement. The storage and retrieval unit further includes a moving gear comprising a track roller arrangement and an array of underfriction wheels. The track roller arrangement is configured to support the moving gear on the track, and the array of underfriction wheels is arranged to engage under the flange arrangement.

The present invention relates to a stacker crane (2) for transporting, inserting and picking containers of biological material test tubes in/from locations (3) of a plurality of shelves (4) of a warehouse (1) for storing containers of biological material test tubes. The stacker crane (2) is able to move the containers of biological material test tubes in the three Cartesian directions x, y and z, so as to reach the locations (3), wherein the stacker (2) comprises a first carriage (21) and a second carriage (22) able to slide independently of, and to be released from, the first carriage (21) in direction y.

An elevating device includes an upper connecting seat, a lower connecting seat, at least one scissors unit, and a hoist. The lower connecting seat is vertically movable relative to the upper connecting seat between an upper position and a lower position. The at least one scissors unit interconnects the upper connecting seat and the lower connecting seat. The hoist is operable to release a rope to thereby move the lower connecting seat to the lower position and convert the at least one scissors unit to the expanded state, and is further operable to retract the rope to thereby move the lower connecting seat to the upper position and convert the at least one scissors unit to the contracted state.

A transportation apparatus includes a delivering device, an elevating unit and a loading device. The delivering device is horizontally movable. The elevating unit is disposed under and mounted to the delivering device, and is vertically extendable and contractible relative to the delivering device. The loading device is adapted for loading and unloading an object, and includes a moving unit and a fork unit. The moving unit includes a moving base horizontally movable along a lower first axis parallel to a first direction relative to the elevating unit. The fork unit includes two fork prongs being horizontally spaced apart from each other along a second direction which is transverse to the first direction.

A lifting and lowering control system, which drives a carrier device of a stacker to perform lifting and lowering operations, includes a driving module, a position sensor, and a processor. The driving module is connected with the carrier device for driving the carrier device to move from the initial position to the lifting position, which is defined as a first travel, and to move from the lifting position to the placing position, which is defined as a second travel. The position sensor detects a first or a second displacement amount respectively generated by the first or the second travel. The processor receives and stores the first and the second displacement amounts. The processer is allowed to read the stored first or second displacement amount and accordingly control the driving module to trigger the carrier device to carry out the first or the second travel at non-constant speeds.

A carrier support moveable between a first position and a second position is configured to hold a carrier for holding a plurality of receptacles. The carrier support includes a carrier locking mechanism to lock the carrier with respect to the carrier support when the carrier support is in the second position and to release the carrier when the carrier support is in the first position to permit the carrier to be removed from the carrier support when the carrier support is in the first position. The carrier locking mechanism includes a pivoting latch configured to pivot between a first position not engaged with a portion of the carrier and a second position engaged with a portion of the carrier and a slide latch configured to translate linearly between a first position not engaged with a portion of the carrier and a second position engaged with a portion of the carrier.