Disclosed are various embodiments for robotic item sortation and optimization along the vertical axis in a conveyor-based system. A robotic system may be mounted above or adjacent to a conveyor system that moves items along a conveyor belt or similar device. Once an item is laterally diverted from the conveyor system, the robotic system may collect the item at a respective holding station and move the item along a vertical axis for placement in one of a plurality of vertically-configured item handling devices.

A buffer device for temporary storage and flow control in a product conveying system includes a plurality of vertically movable product holders at an inlet end and outlet end, and an elevator system for placing product holders in a conveying plane of the conveying system and vertically moving the product holders. The elevator system preferably includes a chain loop at the inlet end and a chain loop at the outlet end, both of which are equipped all around with product holders, and the chain loops can move in opposite directions.

An automated accumulator incorporates independently operated infeed and outfeed ramps. These ramps on an internal end provide access to a plurality of storage flights that define a stacked conveyor, allowing both the upstream and downstream portions of the production line to operate relatively independently of the other. On the external end, the ramps couple to prior art conveyor systems. The automated accumulator incorporates an electronic control system combining a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) or equivalent and a plurality of sensors in combination with various motors to provide suitable automated operation, including First In First Out (FIFO) operation to preserve production sequence. In addition, various techniques may be used to selectively control operation of the automated accumulator, providing such functions as stopping infeed on a particular product, or providing linear bypass through the accumulator.

A product order fulfillment system including a multi-level transport system and a lifting transport system. Each level of the multi-level transport system having a corresponding independent asynchronous level transport system separate and distinct from the asynchronous level transport system corresponding to each other level of the multi-level transport system. Each independent lift axis of the lifting transport system being configured to independently hold at least one case and being communicably coupled to each asynchronous level transport system so as to provide for exchange of the at least one case between each asynchronous level transport system and each independent lift axis. Each independent lift axis is communicably coupled to each other independent lift axis of the more than one lift axis and forms a common output of mixed cases so as to create an ordered sequence of mixed cases in accordance to a predetermined case out ordered sequence.

The embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a system and a method for loading and unloading a cassette. The system comprises: a lifting device vertically moving between a first height and a second height; a first conveying device in the lifting device to move the cassette horizontally; a second conveying device to move the cassette in horizontally; a third conveying device to move the cassette horizontally, a plurality of first position sensors to detect a position of the lifting device; and a control device to control vertical movements of the lifting device, and adjust further movements of the first conveying device in the lifting device based on an initial stop position of the lifting device such that the first conveying device is aligned with the second conveying device at the first height, or is aligned with the third conveying device at the second height.

According to one embodiment, a transporter includes a conveyor, a restrainer, and a restrainer moving unit. The conveyor conveys an object in a first direction. The conveyor is movable in a second direction. The restrainer is disposed corresponding to a downstream end of the conveyor in the first direction. The restrainer moving unit keeps, in a case where a position of the conveyor relative to an object-transporting destination is out of a preset range, the restrainer at a restraining position at which the restrainer restrains a movement of the object. The restrainer moving unit starts to move, in a case where the position of the conveyor relative to the object-transporting destination is in the preset range, the restrainer toward a releasing position at which the restrainer allows the movement of the object.

According to one embodiment, a transporter includes a first conveyor and a second conveyor. The first conveyor receives an object that is carried by an arm device and conveys the object in a first direction. The second conveyor is configured to receive and convey the object from the first conveyor and is movable in a second direction that crosses the first direction.

The objective is to develop a conveying device and a conveyer device having high conveying efficiency and high reliability when an article is transferred to a conveyer line with different height. Branching units (8) of a lower-level side conveyer line (5) and an upper-level side conveyer line (6) are connected to an inclined connection conveyer line (10). The branching unit (8) has a sub conveying passage (53) for conveying an article (60) in the same direction as a conveying direction of the connection conveyer line (10). The sub conveying passage (53) has a lifting and lowering motor-incorporating roller (43) and cams (46a, 46b). When the lifting and lowering motor-incorporating roller (43) is driven, the cams (46a, 46b) rotate, and the sub conveying passage (53) is connected to the connection conveyer line (10) in an inclined attitude. As a result, the article (60) can move between the lower-level side conveyer line (5) and the upper-level side conveyer line (6) via the connection conveyer line (10).

A combination and separation apparatus for combining and separating a delivery container and a storage container, the delivery container being containable within the storage container, the apparatus including a clamping device configured for clamping the delivery container through at a least one cut-out extending through the storage container; a lifting device configured for combining and separating the storage container and the delivery container; and an alignment mechanism configured for aligning the delivery container and the clamping device relative to each other so as to enable the clamping device to clamp the delivery container when the delivery container is nested within the storage container.

A combination and separation apparatus for combining and separating a delivery container and a storage container. The apparatus incudes a storage container station, a delivery container station, a combined station, and a merge/separation station. The merge/separation station is configured to combine the storage container and the delivery container, and or the merge/separation station is configured for separating the storage container and the delivery container.