A container transferring system autonomously transfers a container between a product processing machine and a container storage position. The system includes an automated guided vehicle (AGV) container transferring subsystem, and a machine side container conveying subsystem. The machine side conveying subsystem is arranged adjacent the product processing machine and receives empty containers from the AGV container transferring subsystem and transmits a full container to the AGV container transferring subsystem. The AGV container transferring subsystem docks with the machine side container conveying subsystem at a first docking position and moves autonomously between the first docking position and the container storage position to transport the empty container from the container storage position to the machine side container conveying subsystem, and transport the full container from the machine side container conveying subsystem to the container storage position.

A distribution site and a distribution method are provided. The distribution site includes: a building having a storage space configured to store goods and a distribution interface area configured to park an unmanned ground distribution vehicle that is capable of performing goods distribution; and a goods sorting device arranged in the building and configured to load the goods in the storage space onto the unmanned ground distribution vehicle.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for container transporters and related item manipulation devices. In one embodiment, an example item manipulation device may include a support platform, and a conveyance surface attached to the support platform and configured to convey a container at least a portion of a distance from a first side of the support platform to a second side of the support platform, where the conveyance surface defines at least a portion of a container passage through which a container can be conveyed. The item manipulation device may include a manipulator comprising a first arm disposed along a longitudinal axis of the item manipulation device and a second arm disposed along the longitudinal axis of the item manipulation device, where the manipulator is engageable with the container to move the container at least partially onto the conveyance surface.

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 storage and retrieval system including at least one autonomous transport vehicle, a transfer deck that defines a transport surface for the vehicle, at least one reciprocating lift, a first and second pickface interface station connected to the deck and spaced apart from each other, each station forming a pickface transfer interfacing between the vehicle on the deck and the lift at each station so that a pickface is transferred between the lift and the vehicle at each station, wherein the vehicle is configured to pick a first pickface at the first station, traverse the deck and buffer the first pickface, or at least a portion thereof, at the second station so that the second station has multiple pickfaces buffered on a common support in an order sequence of pickfaces according to a predetermined case out order sequence of mixed case pickfaces.

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 device (100) comprises: a base member (81); a holding member (83) that moves along the base member (81); a motor (M) for advancing and retracting the holding member (83); a target (T) provided on the holding member (83); an optical distance sensor (86) positioned so as to face the target (T) when the holding member (83) is in the advanced position; and a control device (70). A processor (71) is configured such that: a basic rotation speed is applied to the motor (M) to advance the holding member (83); the actual distance from the optical distance sensor (86) to the advanced target (T) is measured by the optical distance sensor (86); a corrected distance for moving the holding member (83) to the advanced position is calculated on the basis of the measured actual distance; and the motor (M) moves the holding member (83) on the basis of the calculated corrected distance.

A goods picking apparatus includes a goods picking assembly, a sensor, and a depth determining module; the sensor is provided on the goods picking assembly and configured to collect a measurement signal when the goods picking assembly extends; the depth determining module is configured to determine a depth of a goods container according to the measurement signal; and the goods picking assembly is configured to pick or place the goods container according to the depth of the goods container, where the depth is a length of the goods container in an extension direction of the goods picking assembly during goods picking.

A conveyance robot system according to the present disclosure includes a conveyance robot, and a robot control unit configured to control an operation of picking up an object performed by the conveyance robot, wherein the robot control unit determines that a movable range area, which is an area outside a safety cover where a robot arm is operated, satisfies a safety ensuring condition that can regard safety of the movable range area as equivalent to the safety inside the safety cover and allow the robot arm to perform a work while projecting toward the shelf.

A high-density storage system for goods is described in which totes carrying the goods are stored in a storage structure and stored and retrieved via stationary or mobile conveyers running along opposite ends of each layer of the storage structure. The totes may be moved to or from the conveyers as the rows move at a constant velocity toward or away from the conveyers. Totes at the ends of rows are quickly moved and stored in another row until the desired tote appears at the end of the row, at which point the desired tote is carried to an exit point of the storage structure by one of the conveyers.