The invention relates to the field of technologically advanced, automated, fully integrated equipment for producing and packaging convenience food products. The system has a first transport device for food bases, above which a primary food processing subsystem is mounted, consisting of a cooler with equipment making it possible to extract and feed food bases onto the first transport device, and of a group of food distribution units, each of which is configured in the form of a container for food ingredients with a device for processing same, an oven equipped with a second transport device for the food bases, in the area of the input of which a means for transferring the partially ready product is provided, and in the area of the output of which there is a working section equipped with an element for transferring the baked product produced to a packaging subsystem

A storage and retrieval system including a vertical array of storage levels, each storage level having storage locations, a multilevel vertical conveyor system configured to transport the uncontained case units to and from the vertical array of storage levels, each storage level being configured to receive uncontained case units from the multilevel vertical conveyor system, at least one autonomous transport confined to each storage level, the at least one autonomous transport being configured to transport the uncontained case units between respective storage locations and the multilevel vertical conveyor system, and a controller configured to effect operation of the multilevel vertical conveyor system and at least one autonomous transport for assembling orders of uncontained case units of different types without moving bundles of the same uncontained case unit type throughout the storage and retrieval system.

A cargo handling apparatus includes a first conveyor portion, a first detection portion, a second conveyor portion, a gripping portion, a second detection portion, and a controller. The first conveyor portion is configured to convey an article to be handled in a first direction. The first detection portion is configured to detect article information. The second conveyor portion is configured to convey the article in a second direction. The gripping portion is configured to arrange the article in an accumulating portion. The second detection portion is configured to detect stacking information. The controller is configured to control operation of the gripping portion based on the article information and the stacking information.

A method of preparing meals in a computerized kitchen workspace is set forth. The computerized kitchen workspace includes one or more robots for preparing and cooking food in the kitchen workspace. Kitchen appliances may be automatically controlled according to a recipe. The one or more robots may access kitchen items necessary for meal preparation by rotating automated shelves. The meal may then be automatically prepared by the one or more robots. Automated storage shelves may be provided with electrical power for powering kitchen appliances found on the shelves.

A method of preparing meals in a computerized kitchen workspace is set forth. The computerized kitchen workspace includes one or more robots for preparing and cooking food in the kitchen workspace. Kitchen appliances may be automatically controlled according to a recipe. The one or more robots may access kitchen items necessary for meal preparation by rotating automated shelves. The meal may then be automatically prepared by the one or more robots. Automated storage shelves may be provided with electrical power for powering kitchen appliances found on the shelves.

An autonomous storage and retrieval tower with dynamic resizing of available space is discussed.

An autonomous storage and retrieval tower with dynamic resizing of available space is discussed.

A manual drive for a motor with an external rotational member coupled to a main shaft of the motor features a transmission rotational member which is movable axially along a shaft about which it rotates, such that the transmission rotational member of the manual drive is movable between a driving position at one location along the shaft where the transmission rotational member is rotatable so as to drive the motor and a braking position at a different location along the shaft where the transmission rotational member is in engagement with a braking member for braking the motor. The shaft features a threaded portion which is arranged to draw the transmission rotational member rotating in the first rotational direction along the shaft towards a first portion of the braking member by threadable engagement with the transmission rotational member for braking the transmission rotational member rotating in the first rotational direction.

A cart-type transporting device includes left and right auxiliary rotating bodies moving in conjunction with left and right turning-section toothed wheels that guide a first endless chain; and a turning pathway section that protrudes at a position between the auxiliary rotating bodies, and that is provided with a lower protruding cam over which a transporting cart can pass. Left and right front-side projection shafts of the transporting cart engage with an engagement section of the respective auxiliary rotating bodies. Left and right rear-side projection shafts engage with an engagement section of the first endless chain. When the projection shafts are picked up by the rotation of the turning-section toothed wheels and the auxiliary rotating bodies, the lower protruding cam supports and guides a cam-following roller at a bottom section of the transporting cart in accordance with the same rotating pathway as the engagement section.

A multi-temperature, intelligent storage and retrieval system and methods to facilitate un-attended pick-up of orders by customers, which is particularly applicable to grocery purchases.