An order picking system includes a paternoster conveyor having a carrier configured to carry products. The paternoster conveyor is on one side associated with at least one transporter; and on an opposite side associated with at least a plurality of further transporters that comprise a plurality of transport boxes. The plurality of transport boxes are configured to receive one or more than one product carried by the carrier. The paternoster conveyor is configured to at least one of: selectively place one or more than one product in a pre-selected transport box of the plurality of transport boxes; and selectively pick up and carry a pre-selected transport box comprising one or more than one product previously received therein. A method of handling products in such an order picking system.

A traverser includes a base unit including a rail member, a moving unit configured to reciprocally move on the rail member between a first position and a second position, and a conveyance unit mounted on the moving unit and configured to convey a conveyance target object. The moving unit include a first travel roller that is a drive roller, and a drive mechanism configured to give a rotation driving force to the first travel roller. The drive mechanism includes a travel motor configured to supply the rotation driving force, and a friction transmission mechanism configured to transmit the rotation driving force of the travel motor to the first travel roller by a friction force.

A method and system for picking up painted panels of different dimensions and finishes includes inserting the painted panels into a selective sorting system having two superimposed mobile conveyor sectors of a predefined length and with a driving motor for the alternate advancement in one of two directions. The two mobile conveyor sectors move vertically synchronously and are arranged alternately and in series with a fixed conveyor sector. After uploading in the selective sorting system, the painted panels are kept inside the selective sorting system for a time sufficient for drying, and are withdrawn through an upload and download system, which includes software memorizing the position of the uploaded panels, actuating the lifting and/or lowering motors of the mobile conveyor sectors, and advancing the mobile conveyor sectors and the fixed conveyor sector so as to move the panels due for a customer order, temporarily storing undesired panels in a buffer.

In a transporting system, a first conveyor includes a transport surface to transport different size tires in a first direction. A first positioner positions an end of a tire transported by the first conveyor, at a first predetermined position in the first direction. A second positioner positions an end of the tire at a second predetermined position in a second direction horizontally perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The first and second clamping portion portions are at or adjacent to a clamping position, and pass through between a tire first portion at or adjacent to an end of the tire positioned by the first positioner and a tire second portion at or adjacent to an end of the tire positioned by the second positioner to clamp side surfaces of the tire.

The specification discloses a nonferrous extrusion system and process providing improved transfer of extrusions from the runout table to the cooling table. The runout table includes interleaved runout rollers and transfer rollers that are vertically shiftable with respect to one another. The transfer rollers additionally are horizontally shiftable between the runout table and the cooling table. The runout table receives extrusions in a longitudinal direction. The vertical and horizontal shifting of the rollers is controlled to transfer the extrusions from the runout table to the cooling table.

A package sort cell includes a robot with an end of arm tool for transporting packages from an in-feed conveyor to a selected one of a plurality of out-feed conveyors or bins, the robot receiving instruction from the package reader as to which of the plurality of conveyors or bins to hand-off the package. An end of arm tool may be in the configuration of a conveyor which may be aligned with the out-feed conveyor on a bottom up movement. The end of arm tool may also be in the configuration of a hanging carriage frame suspending a conveyor in a top down movement. A worker platform may be provided which may be movable between in-use and out-of-use positions whereby upon robot downtime, the platform may move into the in-use position for a worker to temporarily takeover the transfer functions of the robot. A plurality of sort cells may be arranged in side by side relation adjacent a like plurality of package delivery points (e.g., truck bays) and include diverter conveyors to allow diversion of a selected quantity of packages from one cell to an adjacent cell when the adjacent cell has no associated package delivery occurring at that time.

A method and system for picking up painted panels of different dimensions and finishes includes inserting the painted panels into a selective sorting system having two superimposed mobile conveyor sectors of a predefined length and with a driving motor for the alternate advancement in one of two directions. The two mobile conveyor sectors move vertically synchronously and are arranged alternately and in series with a fixed conveyor sector. After uploading in the selective sorting system, the painted panels are kept inside the selective sorting system for a time sufficient for drying, and are withdrawn through an upload and download system, which includes software memorizing the position of the uploaded panels, actuating the lifting and/or lowering motors of the mobile conveyor sectors, and advancing the mobile conveyor sectors and the fixed conveyor sector so as to move the panels due for a customer order, temporarily storing undesired panels in a buffer.

It is disclosed storage and order-picking system, comprising: a control device configured for performing two-stage picking of articles, wherein the two-stage picking comprises a first article-orientated picking stage, and a second order-orientated picking stage; a warehouse, wherein the articles in the warehouse are stored in storage containers in an article-pure manner, and wherein the articles are retrieved in an article-orientated manner from the warehouse in the first picking stage; a sorter comprising: a loop-shaped main line operated continuously; at least one branch line, wherein each of the branch lines is coupled, preferably mesh-shaped, to the main line and is operable discontinuously; and a plurality of sorter trays, wherein each of the trays is configured to be moved along the lines and to be fed into and out from the main line; one or more separation stations, wherein each of the separation stations: is coupled to the main line via one of the branch lines; is coupled to the warehouse for being supplied with storage containers; and is configured for reloading the articles from the storage containers onto the trays for transferring the articles in the first picking stage in accordance with order lines and/or individually onto respectively one of the trays located on the one of the branch lines; and a plurality of automatically and/or manually operated target locations for the second picking stage, wherein each of the target locations is coupled: to one of the branch lines; and/or directly to the main line.

A conveyor for transporting a board along a path in a transport direction has an upstream section, a downstream section aligned with the upstream section and defining therewith a horizontal support plane, and a center section between the upstream and downstream sections. The center section is movable from a pass-through position aligned and level with the upstream and downstream sections to an offset position spaced therefrom horizontally or vertically. A platform underneath the center section is moveable vertically, and a lift moves the platform vertically between upper and lower positions. Hooks or grab can, when the center section is in the offset position and the platform is in the lower position, either pull a board off the platform and onto the downstream section or guide and deposit a board from the upstream section onto the platform.

An automation apparatus of an analysis laboratory, for handling support devices able to support containers of biological samples. The automation apparatus includes two main automatic belt conveyors arranged in positions spaced from one another on a floor, and at least one auxiliary automatic belt conveyor. The auxiliary belt conveyor is spaced at a different height with respect to the main conveyors, and is operatively connected to the main conveyors by means of lift devices.