A method for automatically handling a plurality of product containers includes the steps of: providing a container exchange apparatus having at least one platform for temporarily hosting containers to be transferred; moving the at least one platform along a conveyor device and a shelving unit; and driving shifting means for exchanging containers from the conveyor device to the shelving unit, and vice-versa, via the at least one platform.

An automated transportation system includes a facility layer including at least one first transportation facility, and a system layer, in which an integrated control system controlling the at least one first transportation facility, a material control system (MCS) controlling a transport command with respect to the integrated control system, an application server managing a Real-Time Dispatcher (RTD), and a database storing information corresponding to an operation of the material control system and the real-time dispatcher are established. The facility layer and the system layer are spatially separated. Therefore, in the automated transportation system, the integrated server may be efficiently and stably operated, to quickly respond to a problem when a problem occurs in the system.

Proposed are an OHT vehicle and a method of controlling the operation of the same. More particularly, proposed is a technology in which when a steering change is not performed properly as a steering wheel is adhered to a damper during the operation of a steering unit of an OHT vehicle, a dithering motion function is applied to the steering wheel to enable an efficient steering change of the OHT vehicle.

--A method for repairing a picking device, wherein the picking device comprises a rack to store goods; a storage retrieval system (AS/RS) configured for storing goods in specific locations of the rack and/or configured for retrieving goods located in a specific location of the warehouse; and a control unit designed to control movements of the storage retrieval system (AS/RS) and/or movements of components of the storage retrieval system (AS/RS), wherein the picking device includes a place of maintenance, wherein the controller is operative to move the storage retrieval system (AS/RS) to the maintenance station and/or the controller is operative to move the storage retrieval system (AS/RS) away from the maintenance station, the method comprising: moving a first storage retrieval system (AS/RS) to the maintenance station, removing the first storage retrieval system (AS/RS) from the picking device at the maintenance station, inserting a second storage retrieval system (AS/RS) into the picking device at the maintenance station, and moving the storage retrieval system (AS/RS) away from the maintenance station.

A safety system is disclosed for failsafe servicing of areas within an order fulfillment facility. During normal operation, a number of battery-powered robots receive wireless instructions from a management control system (MCS) to transfer items to/from workstations or storage shelves in a multi-level storage structure. The order fulfillment facility may be divided into dynamically configurable service zones. When service is required in a service zone, different safety protocols may be employed based on a determination as to the priority level of service required and/or the estimated length of time service will take. One safety protocol involves physically blocking all access points to a service area with mechanical guards, so that order fulfillment operations may be proceed around the service zone while service is performed.

Goods storage and retrieval systems and materials handling vehicles are provided. The goods storage and retrieval system includes a multilevel warehouse racking system; a materials handling vehicle comprising a mast assembly, a picking attachment, and vehicle-based cart engagement hardware; a mobile storage cart; and a transporter comprising transporter-based engagement hardware. The transporter-based engagement hardware enables the transporter to engage, transport, and disengage the mobile storage cart. The vehicle-based cart engagement hardware is coupled to the mast assembly to (i) engage and disengage the mobile storage cart and (ii) transport the mobile storage cart to multiple levels of the multilevel warehouse racking system. The mast assembly and the picking attachment are configured to access multiple levels of the multilevel warehouse racking system. The picking attachment is configured to transfer totes between the multilevel warehouse racking system and the mobile storage cart.

The application relates to a carrying robot including a fork. The fork includes a telescopic arm and a temporary storage tray. The telescopic arm includes a fixed arm and a movable arm connected to the fixed arm. The movable arm is telescopically movable relative to the fixed arm. The temporary storage tray is mounted to the fixed arm and is configured to temporarily store goods. The temporary storage tray is able to extend relative to the fixed arm. An extending direction of the temporary storage tray is consistent with an extending direction of the movable arm. When the fork pulls in or pushes out the goods, containers can be stably transferred between a stationary rack and the temporary storage tray.

A conveyance system includes storage racks that are provided near or adjacent to semiconductor manufacturing devices and store therein objects to be conveyed, a stacker crane that carries the objects into and out of the storage racks, vehicles that convey the objects, an ID tag reader that is provided to the stacker crane and reads ID tags of the objects; and a controller that is configured or programmed to, when identification information acquired by the ID tag reader R coincides with identification information contained in a conveyance command of an object, control the stacker crane to convey the object to a destination specified in the conveyance command. At least one section of each storage rack allows a gripper of each vehicle to take in and out the objects.

Easy learning of the position of a placement part of an automated warehouse is made possible. An automated warehouse system includes a plurality of placement parts in which to place an object to be transported and which are fixed to an automated warehouse, each placement part having marked thereon an identification code representing identification information for identifying that placement part. A crane is equipped with an image taking section configured to take an image. A control device is configured to: detect, from an image taken by the image taking section and including the identification code of the placement part, the identification information represented by the identification code; and store the identification information having been detected and crane position information concerning a position where the crane is located when the image is taken, with the identification information having been detected and the crane position information being associated with each other.

An article storage device is provided for holding a plurality of standardized containers. The standardized containers extend between a bottom surface extending generally horizontally and a top surface spaced from and generally parallel to the bottom surface. The standardized containers further include an opening side perpendicular to the top and bottom surfaces and a door flange extending along the opening side and beyond the top surface. The standardized containers further include a lifting flange attached to the top surface for receiving a lifting tool. The standardized containers are disposed in the storage rack with their respective opening sides facing away from an access space for allowing a retrieval transport apparatus to move in a substantially horizontal plane between the access space to engage the lifting flange without being obstructed by the door flange.