Apparatus and methods for automatically conforming a bottom support surface in a pick and place palletizer to the width of items such as cases that are supported on the surface are described. The invention defines an improved apparatus and method for automatically adjusting the width of a row support surface to conform to undersized items or items having a width when an item side is against the apron backstop that is less than the apron depth relative to the backstop.

A device and method for automatically stacking packages on a roll container in a predetermined spatial arrangement for forming a stack, comprising at least one feed conveyor which arranges the individual packages in a predetermined order; a lifting and lowering unit for lifting and lowering of the roll container in the Y-direction; at least one sliding plate and one pusher in order to transport the packages in the Z-direction to the predetermined position in the stack; moveable journals being provided in order to separate the lateral walls of the roll container. In a particular embodiment the journals are arranged on rotating disks.

A device and method for automatically stacking packages on a roll container in a predetermined spatial arrangement for forming a stack, comprising at least one feed conveyor which arranges the individual packages in a predetermined order; a lifting and lowering unit for lifting and lowering of the roll container in the Y-direction; at least one sliding plate and one pusher in order to transport the packages in the Z-direction to the predetermined position in the stack; moveable journals being provided in order to separate the lateral walls of the roll container. In a particular embodiment the journals are arranged on rotating disks.

A method of fulfilling an order comprising at least one product is provided. The method includes receiving an order comprising at least one product, determining a suitable case from a plurality of available cases for holding the at least one product, said determining being a function of one or more characteristics of each product of the at least one product and one or more characteristics of the plurality of available cases; forwarding information identifying the suitable case to a case former; providing a case blank corresponding to said suitable case to said case former; erecting a suitable case from said case blank corresponding to said suitable case with said case former; and prior to the loading said suitable case with said at least one product, labelling said suitable case with at least one label.

A method of fulfilling an order comprising at least one product is provided. The method includes receiving an order comprising at least one product, determining a suitable case from a plurality of available cases for holding the at least one product, said determining being a function of one or more characteristics of each product of the at least one product and one or more characteristics of the plurality of available cases; forwarding information identifying the suitable case to a case former; providing a case blank corresponding to said suitable case to said case former; erecting a suitable case from said case blank corresponding to said suitable case with said case former; and prior to the loading said suitable case with said at least one product, labelling said suitable case with at least one label.

A device for automatically stacking packages on a support comprising at least one feeding conveyor; a lifting and lowering unit for lifting and lowering a pallet; a position conveyor embodied as a travel container, which is arranged horizontally and longitudinally to one side of the storage place, in order to position the packages in the X-direction; at least one sliding plate and a pusher in order to transport the packages from the travel path in the Z-direction to the predetermined position in the stack. The at least one sliding plate may comprise a flat, strip-like plate that can move horizontally and longitudinally on the side of the storage place and transversally thereto, in order to remove packages from the positioning conveyor in the X direction when pushed by the pusher and arranging on the pallet in the Z-direction. The travel container contains pivotable stops and can be moved on rails.

A device for automatically stacking packages on a support comprising at least one feeding conveyor; a lifting and lowering unit for lifting and lowering a pallet; a position conveyor embodied as a travel container, which is arranged horizontally and longitudinally to one side of the storage place, in order to position the packages in the X-direction; at least one sliding plate and a pusher in order to transport the packages from the travel path in the Z-direction to the predetermined position in the stack. The at least one sliding plate may comprise a flat, strip-like plate that can move horizontally and longitudinally on the side of the storage place and transversally thereto, in order to remove packages from the positioning conveyor in the X direction when pushed by the pusher and arranging on the pallet in the Z-direction. The travel container contains pivotable stops and can be moved on rails.

A stowage device is equipped with a transport device that transports a plurality of types of objects in a random sequence, and a control device that sets a position of an object inside a containment area. The control device includes a complete pattern selection unit that selects a complete pattern in which an object transported by the transport device can be stowed on the basis of the type of the object and information on an object currently placed in the containment area. The control device includes a position determination unit that determines a position of an object inside the containment area on the basis of the complete pattern.

A stowage device is equipped with a transport device that transports a plurality of types of objects in a random sequence, and a control device that sets a position of an object inside a containment area. The control device includes a complete pattern selection unit that selects a complete pattern in which an object transported by the transport device can be stowed on the basis of the type of the object and information on an object currently placed in the containment area. The control device includes a position determination unit that determines a position of an object inside the containment area on the basis of the complete pattern.

Shuttle robots (107) are used that are suitable for moving trolleys (106, 106′) under the control of a monitoring and control unit (190) for handling objects so as to move them from a collection point (110) to a palletizing station (151) remote from the collection point, the shuttle robots being autonomously movable and being suitable for hitching to and unhitching from the trolleys, the monitoring and control unit controls the shuttle robots so that they move the objects on trolleys from the collection point to a buffer storage zone (141) where the articles on the trolleys are grouped together into batches of articles for palletizing, and the monitoring and control unit controls the shuttle robots so that they take the objects on trolleys grouped together in batches from the buffer storage zone and move them in sequence to the palletizing station.