A pallet exchanger and load splitter apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus has a pallet-receiving assembly with a pallet-receiving zone configured to receive, at least in part, a pallet supporting a pallet load; a clamp assembly connected to the pallet-receiving assembly having a clamping zone configured to secure a first side, a second side, and a rear of the pallet load once the clamp assembly is activated by a pneumatic circuit so that the pallet load is supported by the clamp assembly; and the pneumatic circuit is for controlling a clamping pressure of the clamp assembly.

An apparatus that denests a stack of containers and methods of separating a stack of containers and making the apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus includes a denester and a counting device. The denester is configured to separate a first stack of at least 2 containers into a plurality of second stacks of containers. Each of the second stacks includes an exact number of containers, the exact number being a positive integer less than m. The counting device is configured to count the exact number of containers in the first stack. The method of separating containers includes counting an exact number of containers in a first stack of m containers using the counting device, and separating the exact number of containers from the first stack using the denester.

A dispensing device that comprises vertical guidings for receiving a stack of a plurality of trays, a separating device for dispensing individual trays in a downward direction and a tray discharge device that has multiple rotating lifting elements. The dispensing device includes lifting elements that are formed cylindrically and have a comb structure with at least two immersing protrusions that extend in parallel to one another.

Automated systems and methods for deployment of mounting tubs that support photovoltaic modules are provided in which a feeder assembly includes a screw thread assembly and a pivot arm. The screw thread assembly has at least one rotatable threaded component, and two such components in exemplary embodiments, positioned within the feeder assembly. The rotatable threaded component supports the stack of mounting tubs and rotates to separate the individual mounting tub from the stack of mounting tubs and lower the individual mounting tub onto the pivot arm. The pivot arm is configured to interact with an individual mounting tub and pivots to dispense the individual mounting tub onto a mounting surface. A sensor may be provided to detect the positions of the individual mounting tubs as they are moved, and a control system communicates with the sensor and the feeder assembly. The feeder assembly and a hopper holding the stack of mounting tubs may be mounted on an autonomous cart.

A system for loading containers onto a pallet or a dolly includes a conveyor configured to convey the pallet or the dolly from an upstream end to an opposite downstream end. The conveyor has a first conveyance device configured to convey the pallet and a second conveyance device configured to convey the dolly. The second conveyance device is vertically below the first conveyance device such that the pallet is conveyed above the second conveyance device. A loading system is configured to receive, organize, and load the containers onto the dolly or the pallet conveyed by the conveyor.

A system for loading containers onto a transport structure includes a slip sheet configured to receive the containers. The slip sheet is moveable from a first position in which the containers are received onto the slip sheet and a second position in which the slip sheet is vertically above the transport structure. A first brace member is adjacent to the second end of the slip sheet and a second brace member is adjacent to the first end of the slip sheet when the slip sheet is in the second position such that when the slip sheet is moved in a second direction from the second position to the first position the second brace member is configured to prevent the containers from moving in the second direction with the slip sheet and the containers vertically fall off the slip sheet onto the transport structure.

Exemplary systems and methods are disclosed for stacking containers in an automated storage and retrieval system. The system includes a plurality of storage stacks establishing a grid of storage locations and a plurality of buffering stacks. Each buffering stack having a hand-over location for holding containers near a surface of a grid and at least one intermediate holding location for holding the containers to be transported to processing stations or storage locations within the grid. An overhead load handler is configured to lift or lower containers from/to the top of a storage stack or the hand-over location of a buffering stack.

An apparatus includes a pallet dispensing system, including a movable frame being configured to movably hold, at least in part, a pallet stack between a pallet-storage position and a pallet-dispensation position. The movable frame is also configured to hold the pallet stack relative to a pallet transporter in such a way that the pallet transporter is permitted to vertically lift, at least in part, the pallet stack as the movable frame is provided, at least in part, with vertical-lift assistance through stored potential energy.

In order, e.g., to improve distribution of baggage in an airport, a solution comprises positioning two or more empty totes above each other, so that the two or more empty totes are supported by a tote station by support members 206, determining, by a control system, when either a single empty tote should be released from the tote station or two or more empty totes should be released from the tote station together and at once, and in response to the determination releasing single empty totes from the tote station or releasing two or more empty totes on top of each other from the tote station. A lowermost 1604 of the two or more empty totes on top of each other supports one or more empty totes 1606 on top of it and the lowermost empty tote is, when released, supported by a support conveyor 204.

A stacking storage arrangement and method of operating stacking storage arrangement. The stacking storage arrangement includes multiple container receiving spaces and a loading space arranged below the container receiving spaces. A loading vehicle that is movable in the loading space includes a chassis and a container seat that is height-adjustable relative to the chassis. A holding device is arranged between each container receiving space and the loading space and a hold-open device is arranged on the chassis separately from the container seat.