An article storage facility includes: storage compartments, each including a first storage spot configured to store a first article; and a second storage spot configured to store the first article; a first transportation mechanism including a first support configured to support and transport the first article, the first transportation mechanism being configured to transport the first article between: each one of the first and the second storage spots; and a first support spot where the first article is supported by the first support; a second transportation mechanism including a second support configured to support and transport the first article, the second transportation mechanism being configured to transport the first article between: each one of the first and the second storage spots; and a second support spot where the first article is supported by the second support; and a controller configured to control transportation of the first article.

A device for automatically handling storage units includes a support frame, at least one lifting unit, a gripper device configured to grip, convey, and discharge at least one storage unit, and at least one height adjustment device to which the gripper device is connected and is configured to be moved in the inner space of the support frame therewith. A storage arrangement which is configured to be charged from below for at least one storage unit is arranged above the gripper device so that the same support frame is configured by the lifting unit to convey and to store, by the storage arrangement, at least one storage unit. A method includes automatic handling of storage units via the device.

An overhead transport vehicle includes a traveling body that travels on a track on a ceiling of a facility, an upper mast attached to a lower side of the traveling body and including an upper guide, an elevation platform on which an article is placed, and which is guided by the upper guide to ascend or descend along the upper mast, and a lift driver that is provided on the traveling body or on the elevation platform and that drives the elevation platform to ascend or descend A lower mast is connected to the lower end of the upper mast via a connector in a freely detachable manner and includes a lower guide extending to the upper guide. The elevation platform is able to be lowered along the lower mast from the upper mast by the lift driver.

A robotic shuttle system includes a rack system and one or more shuttles. The rack system includes a rack and a shuttle frame. The rack has storage locations for containers containing items. The shuttle frame has rails disposed along the rack. The shuttle includes a powertrain, container transfer mechanism, and a robot arm. The power train is configured to move the shuttle along the rails of the rack and on a surface outside of the rack system. The container transfer mechanism is configured to transfer the containers between the rack and the shuttle. The robot arm extends from the shuttle to transfer the items between one of the containers on the shuttle and a container in a container holder of the shuttle.

A logistics system for carrying out a logistics process. The logistics system having a plurality of automated overhead rack storage and retrieval apparatuses for transporting loads to be transported within the scope of the logistics process. A process zone that is essentially free of storage racks is provided on the floor, and a storage zone is situated above the process zone. A plurality of pick-up or drop-off points at which loads may be picked up or dropped off by the rack storage and retrieval apparatuses is defined along the process zone base area of the process zone. The logistics system may also have a transfer apparatus for transferring the rack storage and retrieval apparatuses.

Utilities (e.g., systems, apparatuses, methods) that reduce robotic assembly contention in media element storage libraries by translating (e.g., displacing) a robot arm of a first robotic assembly mounted over a first storage array of a storage library away from a central reference plane as the robot arm is being pivoted into a first position adjacent the first storage array to allow a robot arm of a second robotic assembly to slide or otherwise move past the robot arm of the first robotic assembly, even when the robot arms of the first and second robot arms are disposed at the same height (e.g., along a z-axis) within the storage library. For instance, a pivot member of the robot arm may be mounted on a carriage that is configured to translate between the first and second storage arrays in response to the pivot member being pivoted about a pivot axis.

The present invention is to provide a solution of high density storage and goods-to-man picking by proposing a three dimensional warehouse system for accurate inbound and outbound operation and management and improved space utilization rate of the warehouse. The technical solution includes a rack, containers, carrier vehicles, and track-switching devices. The rack includes a track structure and defines at least one load-bearing platform. The track structure includes running tracks, and the at least one load-bearing platform located below the running track. Each container stores goods, and part of the containers are stacked and placed on the at least one load-bearing platform. The carrier vehicle moves back and forth on the running tracks to perform storage and retrieval operations in the container storage system. The track-switching device is configured to switch the carrier vehicle from a current running track where the carrier vehicle is located to a target running track.

The present invention relates to a support vehicle (20) for performing support operations in an automated storage and retrieval system (1). It comprises a vehicle body (21). It comprises a drive system (40) comprising wheels (42, 44) provided in a lower part of the vehicle body (21), where the drive system (40) being configured to drive the support vehicle (20) along a track system (108) of the automated storage and retrieval system (1). It comprises a connection system (30) provided on a first side (20a) of the support vehicle (20). The connection system (30) comprises a connector member (31) protruding through a aperture (22) of the vehicle body (21). The connection system (30) comprises an actuator (34) for moving the connector member (31) in the aperture (22) in relation to the vehicle body (21). The present invention also relates to an automated storage and retrieval system (1).

A guide device for guided vertical movement of the gripper is designed such that (a) the guide device has at least one guide element which protrudes upward from the gripper, for guiding cooperation with the shaft or a storage column and/or with an upper closure element of a transport vehicle and/or gripper, and projects upward at least in the uppermost position of the gripper beyond an upper end of the transport vehicle or the closure element, or terminates flush with the upper end or the closure element, and/or (b) the guide device has at least one guide element which can be moved downwards from a lower end of the shaft or from at least one support of the shaft, for guiding cooperation with the gripper and/or the container.

A rail mounted transport robot with a lifting device, which is disposed in a recess (27) of the transport robot (2) such that it can be raised and lowered vertically and is suitable for receiving a load (6, 7, 7, 7), wherein the lifting device is a powered loading platform (10) that can be raised and lowered, with at least one longitudinal conveyor (8, 9; 8a, 9a; 30) disposed thereon.