An article metering system is generally provided. The system is primarily comprised of a conveyor section, for receipt of a bulk flow of articles and conveyance of spaced apart metered article groups downstream of an ingress portion thereof, and an article metering station characterized by an article metering apparatus characterized by a drive assembly and a driven member driven thereby. The driven member includes an end effector for select positioning between adjacent articles of articles of the bulk flow of articles received by the conveyor section in furtherance of delimiting a downstream spaced apart metered article group characterized by a select number of columns. The drive assembly includes cooperatively driven servo drives to effectuate travel of the end effector in either of a downstream article flow direction or an upstream article flow direction, and an up/down direction in relation to articles of the bulk flow of articles received by the conveyor section.

A conveyance apparatus including a variable jig and a driving method thereof. The conveyance apparatus includes a transport unit including a transfer belt extending from a loading position to an unloading position of works, the transport unit being a movement path for the works, a variable jig module disposed with respect to a position, where the works stop, in the movement path to support the works, the variable jig module being a variable jig that varies a supporting base, based on shapes of the works, a sensing unit disposed outside the transfer belt with respect to the variable jig module to measure a movement or position of the works, an image processing unit configured to perform image processing on the works transported through the transfer belt, and a controller electrically connected to the variable jig module to control an operation of the variable jig module.

A release device may include a lifting and pre-stopping element having an upper sliding surface, the part coupled to a drive such that the sliding surface is movable over the sliding plane into an enabled position and at the level of the sliding plane into a blocked position, the part having a stop which in the enabled position protrudes beyond the sliding plane. A blocking element, behind the part in the sliding direction, has an upper blocking element sliding surface, a blocking edge protruding beyond the sliding plane, and an extendable/retractable block coupled to the drive such that the block is movable below the blocking element sliding surface into an enabled position and above the blocking element sliding surface into a blocked position. The blocking edge may be in front of the block in the sliding direction, preventing contact between the piece good and the block in the blocked position.

An apparatus and method for separating piece goods to be stored in an automated storage facility are provided. At least two bearing surfaces for receiving piece goods are engaged with a conveying system for filling the bearing surfaces with piece goods, the conveying system having transfer surfaces dedicated to the bearing surfaces. The bearing surfaces may be filled with piece goods separately from one another. A control unit is coupled to the conveying system and a detection device is coupled to the control unit for detecting the position, orientation, and package data of the piece goods. A handling mechanism is also coupled to the control unit for gripping piece goods from the bearing surfaces and depositing the piece goods on a transfer device.

A release device may include a lifting and pre-stopping element having an upper sliding surface, the part coupled to a drive such that the sliding surface is movable over the sliding plane into an enabled position and at the level of the sliding plane into a blocked position, the part having a stop which in the enabled position protrudes beyond the sliding plane. A blocking element, behind the part in the sliding direction, has an upper blocking element sliding surface, a blocking edge protruding beyond the sliding plane, and an extendable/retractable block coupled to the drive such that the block is movable below the blocking element sliding surface into an enabled position and above the blocking element sliding surface into a blocked position. The blocking edge may be in front of the block in the sliding direction, preventing contact between the piece good and the block in the blocked position.

Elongate workpieces are transported in a transport direction and assembled to a string in the transport direction. A leading elongate workpiece is removed from the string and accelerated in a downstream discharge device such that a gap is formed between the leading elongate workpiece and a following elongate workpiece of the string. A stop is moved into the gap and prevents the following elongate workpiece of the string from being transported farther. The stop is removed when the leading elongate workpiece has left the discharge device and then the following elongate workpiece is removed from the string.

A stopper according to the present invention stops an object moving along a travel path, and includes: a stop member for stopping the object; and a retractable unit that moves the stop member in and out of the travel path by a cam mechanism.

A delivery shelf system includes a shelf extending from an exterior to an interior of a building, and a returnable box (RB) stored and slidably supported in the shelf. A first recessed part (FRP) is provided in an indoor-side end part of RB and a second recessed part (SRP) is provided in an outdoor-side end part thereof; a locking mechanism including a projecting part configured to be pressed and inserted into FRP or into SRP is provided at the indoor-side end part of the shelf; the projecting part is inserted into FRP while RB is stored in the shelf, so that RB is locked to the shelf; and when the projecting part is retracted from FRP by releasing the locking and RB is pulled out from the shelf into inside the building, the projecting part is inserted into SRP and the pulled-out RB is thereby stopped.

A stopper according to the present invention stops an object moving along a travel path, and includes: a stop member for stopping the object; and a retractable unit that moves the stop member in and out of the travel path by a cam mechanism.

A logistics arrangement for conveying objects between different locations is provided herein. The logistics arrangement comprises a loading structure having a first storage area, a mobile robot having a second storage area, and a guard module arranged at the loading structure. The guard module is configured to be operated in a closed mode and an open mode.