An input module includes a carrier shelf for supporting a receptacle carrier, a retrieval dock configured to receive one receptacle from a carrier supported on the carrier shelf and present the receptacle for removal by a receptacle transport apparatus, and a pusher configured to push receptacles on the carrier to one end of the carrier and to push one receptacle at a time off the end of the carrier and onto the retrieval dock. A method for determining a number of receptacles on a carrier includes placing the carrier on a carrier shelf, pushing receptacles on the carrier to one end of the carrier with a packer, detecting a position of the packer the receptacles have been pushed to the end of the carrier, and determining the number of receptacles on the carrier from the position of the packer. A method for packing receptacles supported by a carrier comprises placing the carrier on a carrier shelf, contacting an end-most one of the receptacles on the carrier with a packer comprising a packer carriage and a contact portion projecting from the packer carriage, and pushing the receptacles to one end of the carrier with the packer.

A material handling vehicle comprises an upper loading surface for loading of objects thereon, a control unit, a power source, a drive motor, at least one vehicle drive wheel powered by the drive motor, at least one vehicle support wheel, a first chassis and a second chassis, each of which comprises at least one wheel of the vehicle. The first and second chassis are pivotally coupled to each other by means of at least one coupling means, wherein said coupling means is arranged intermediate the first chassis and the second chassis at a position where the first chassis is arranged above the second chassis, wherein the coupling means extend at least partly vertically between the first and second chassis at said position. Further there are two drive wheels that are independently controllable. Further, a material handling system comprising at least one such material handling vehicle.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for determining an efficient hydraulic pump speed of a hydraulic pump configured for use with a hydraulic system of a material handling vehicle having a fork assembly configured to perform a hydraulic function on a load on the fork assembly. In some configurations, the systems and methods may comprise measuring a height of the fork assembly using a height sensor. The systems and methods may further comprise measuring a temperature of hydraulic oil within the hydraulic system using a temperature sensor. The systems and methods may further comprise measuring a weight of the load using a weight sensor. The systems and methods may further comprise determining a hydraulic pump speed based on at least one of the height of the fork assembly, the temperature of the hydraulic oil, and the weight of the load.

A stacker crane that prevents an increase in facility cost while lightening a mast and transfers an article to a target position, includes a traveling carriage including a carriage driver and traveling on a track provided on a ceiling of a facility, a mast suspended from the traveling carriage, an elevating platform vertically movable and guided along the mast, a transfer conveyor to transfer an article, a stopper to fix the mast, a switch to switch a state of the mast between a fixed and released states by the stopper, in which the switch releases the fixing of the stopper to allow a lower portion of the mast to follow an upper portion of the mast in the traveling direction when the carriage driver drives the traveler, the stopper fixes the mast when the carriage driver stops the traveling carriage.

A delivery station for delivering goods, including a main track, one or more storage devices located along the main track, where the storage devices store the goods delivered by the delivery station, a push-pull device configured to move along the main track, where the push-pull device is configured to carry one of the storage devices along the main track, the push pull device including an actuator for moving the push-pull device, and a mechanism configured to lock on one of the storage devices and to move the one of the one or more storage devices in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the main track.

A scissors actuator is configured to translate a support platform in either of opposed lateral directions with respect to a base frame and includes a first arm, a second arm, wherein the first and second arms are rotatably connected at intermediate positions between their respective first and second ends, the first arm is pivotably attached at its first end to the base frame, and the second arm and is pivotably attached at its second end to the support platform. A first slide is disposed within a first linear track formed in the support platform and includes a bearing protruding from a side of the first slide for rolling contact with a side of the first linear track formed in the support platform. The first arm is pivotably and translatably attached at its second end to the support platform by the first slide. A second slide is disposed within a second linear track formed in the base frame and includes a bearing protruding from a side of the second slide for rolling contact with a side of the second linear track formed in the base frame. The second arm is pivotably and translatably attached at its first end to the base frame by the second slide.

A lifter system based traversal mechanism for a robot includes detection of the robot at a predetermined distance from a movable platform. The movable platform is part of the lifter system. Teeth orientation of cog wheels of the robot are changed to match teeth orientation of teeth of a fixed teeth structure of the movable platform. The movable platform is moved in to a predetermined proximity of the robot so that teeth are engaged. The movable platform takes the robot from a first position to a second position. On reaching the second position the robot is disengaged from the movable platform.

A storage and retrieval device is described having a mast (1) movable along a lower travel rail (3) and an upper guide rail (4), having a lift truck (15) movable along the mast (1) on a lift guide (16), having a mast support (2) arranged on the mast side opposite to the lift truck (15), and having a chassis bearing a running gear for support on the travel rail (3). To provide advantageous construction conditions, it is proposed that the mast (1) and the mast support (2) form the chassis, and the running gear has in each case a running gear group (6, 7) arranged on the mast (1) and on the mast support (2), wherein the two running gear groups (6, 7) are supported in a bearing frame (12) provided on the base of the mast (1) and the mast support (2).

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 suspension stacker crane includes an upper truck frame, a pair of mast units, a transferring device, and an upper base. The upper truck frame includes driving trucks arranged side by side in a travelling direction, and a bogie structure that couples the driving trucks. Each of the pair of mast units is suspended from the bogie structure, and includes a lifting drive motor and a lifting drive transmission. The pair of mast units is arranged side by side in the travelling direction. The transferring device is driven to be lifted or lowered by the lifting drive motor and the lifting drive transmission. The upper base links the pair of mast units.