A modular robot system which may be configured to accommodate packages of varying sizes is provided. The modular robot may include a base having omni-directional wheels and cameras and sensors, one or more modular containers, and a lid, which may be releasably linked together to form a small, medium or larger units. The base may include a lifting mechanism to vertically raise the robot to a desired height in alignment with a delivery vehicle. Moreover, retractable loading arms of the vehicle may be extended from the vehicle to engage with the robot to facilitate self-loading of the robot into the delivery vehicle.

A lifting rig includes a cradle and a load transfer device. The load transfer device is arranged to draw in a payload to the cradle or deliver a payload from the cradle. The lifting rig is arranged to be lifted to an elevated space and the load transfer device is arranged to draw in or deliver the payload within the elevated space.

Described is a fork-carrier (2) for a telehandler, comprising: a frame (20) for supporting a fork equipped with an upper structure (200) comprising a gripping rod (21), which, in use, is positioned horizontally and designed to be removably attached to a coupling device (101), which is fitted to an operating arm (102) of a telehandler (10); and a lower contact element (25) designed to make contact with the rear of prongs (3) of fork; wherein the upper structure (200) is connected to the contact element (25) exclusively by means of one or more joining members (26) which are positioned inside the lateral dimensions of the supporting frame (20).

Described is a fork-carrier (2) for a telehandler, comprising: a frame (20) for supporting a fork equipped with an upper structure (200) comprising a gripping rod (21), which, in use, is positioned horizontally and designed to be removably attached to a coupling device (101), which is fitted to an operating arm (102) of a telehandler (10); and a lower contact element (25) designed to make contact with the rear of prongs (3) of fork; wherein the upper structure (200) is connected to the contact element (25) exclusively by means of one or more joining members (26) which are positioned inside the lateral dimensions of the supporting frame (20).

Provided is a stacker including a stacking shelf on which printed paper from a printer is received and stacked, a lifting and lowering mechanism that lifts and lowers the stacking shelf, and a stacker control unit that controls the lifting and lowering mechanism. The stacker control unit controls the lifting and lowering mechanism to lift and lower the stacking shelf to a first predetermined height corresponding to the printer at a receiving position for receiving the paper from the printer, and to lift and lower the stacking shelf to a second predetermined height corresponding to a sheet processing machine at a paper supply position for supplying paper to the sheet processing machine, the paper supply position being different from the receiving position.

Provided is a stacker including a stacking shelf on which printed paper from a printer is received and stacked, a lifting and lowering mechanism that lifts and lowers the stacking shelf, and a stacker control unit that controls the lifting and lowering mechanism. The stacker control unit controls the lifting and lowering mechanism to lift and lower the stacking shelf to a first predetermined height corresponding to the printer at a receiving position for receiving the paper from the printer, and to lift and lower the stacking shelf to a second predetermined height corresponding to a sheet processing machine at a paper supply position for supplying paper to the sheet processing machine, the paper supply position being different from the receiving position.

An Automated Guided Robot (AGV) system designed for carrying, storing and retrieving inventory items to and from storage shelves. The AGV (100) can move between warehouse shelves and reach to the inside of a shelf without turning. The AGV (100) is equipped with a material handling device (130). The material handling device (130) comprises a lateral device that is configured to move in a lateral direction either to the right side or to the left side. The movement of the lateral device can be either rotational or translational. The material handling device (130) further comprises a retractable device that retracts or extends in a direction perpendicular to the lateral direction. The retractable device allows the material handling device (130) to extend into the storage shelf to fetch or place an inventory item.

Methods, systems, and apparatus for transporting workcells. In one aspect, a system includes a first fleet of AGVs that each include electro-mechanical interface that is adapted to (i) connect to or lift multiple different types of workcells and (ii) provide charging power to or receive charging power from multiple different types of workcells. A second fleet of multiple different types of workcells are each adapted to perform one or more particular tasks. A control system is configured to identify a set of tasks to be performed by the second fleet of workcells and, for each task, select a workcell to perform the task, select an AGV to transport the selected workcell to a location at which the task is to be performed, and provide, to the selected AGV, instructions that cause the selected AGV to transport the selected workcell to the location at which the task is to be performed.

A horizontal conveying carriage includes: a carriage body including: a base part; a drive wheel; and a steering wheel; a forklift attached to the carriage body, and configured to pick up a conveyed object and unload the conveyed object; an extending and shrinking mechanism configured to extend and shrink the forklift in a front-and-rear direction; a lifting and lowering mechanism configured to lift and lower the forklift in a vertical direction; a supporting mechanism configured to support the forklift from a lower side; an own position estimation unit configured to estimate an own position of the carriage body; a positional relation recognition unit configured to recognize a positional relation between the own position and the conveyed object; and a control unit configured to control movement of the carriage body and to control an operation of the forklift based on the own position and the positional relation.

A horizontal conveying carriage includes: a carriage body including: a base part; a drive wheel; and a steering wheel; a forklift attached to the carriage body, and configured to pick up a conveyed object and unload the conveyed object; an extending and shrinking mechanism configured to extend and shrink the forklift in a front-and-rear direction; a lifting and lowering mechanism configured to lift and lower the forklift in a vertical direction; a supporting mechanism configured to support the forklift from a lower side; an own position estimation unit configured to estimate an own position of the carriage body; a positional relation recognition unit configured to recognize a positional relation between the own position and the conveyed object; and a control unit configured to control movement of the carriage body and to control an operation of the forklift based on the own position and the positional relation.