An exemplary embodiment may provide a robotic powered cargo handling system. An embodiment may implement a pallet-lift mechanism to lift cargo or pallets. Powered rollers may be embedded into the forks of a pallet-lift mechanism and on top of the vehicle body. An exemplary embodiment may be fully autonomous. A user or software may direct the vehicle to a pallet or piece of cargo and set a destination for the cargo. Sensors, cameras, GPS, and computer vision may be implemented to navigate and avoid obstacles. An exemplary embodiment may include independent 4-wheel steering, 4 corner height adjustment, in-hub electric motors, and pneumatic or solid tires.

An apparatus for stacking hay bales comprises a base frame securable to a motorized vehicle, a plurality of tines pivotally connected to the base frame extending to free distal ends, the tines defining locations therebetween spaced to correspond to a bale of hay and a push bar extending parallel to the base frame and movable between a retracted position proximate to the base frame to an extended position along the plurality of tines to push the hay bales from therebetween. In operation, the apparatus is used by passing at least two of a plurality of tines to each side of a hay bale, lifting the hay bale by a platform extending from a base of the plurality of tines and pushing the hay bales off the tines with the push bar.

An industrial truck includes a main chassis, a transport platform to transport goods, a lifting device to raise and lower the transport platform, and a pushing device with at least one actuatable pushing arm. The pushing device displaces the goods relative to the transport platform.

Provided is a sorting device, comprising a guide rail and a material vehicle moving on the guide rail. A plurality of sorting ports are disposed on both sides of the guide rail, and at least one electromagnet is disposed at a position of the guide rail corresponding to a sorting port; the material vehicle includes a vehicle frame, a tray, at least one magnet and at least two elastically telescopic pieces; the vehicle frame is used to bear the tray, and the tray is rotatably connected to the vehicle frame; the magnet is disposed on a surface of the tray opposite to the material loading surface, and the magnet is connected to the electromagnet in an attraction way, and the elastically telescopic pieces and the tray, for maintaining the transportation state or resetting the tray after the unloading state.

Provided is a sorting device, comprising a guide rail and a material vehicle moving on the guide rail. A plurality of sorting ports are disposed on both sides of the guide rail, and at least one electromagnet is disposed at a position of the guide rail corresponding to a sorting port; the material vehicle includes a vehicle frame, a tray, at least one magnet and at least two elastically telescopic pieces; the vehicle frame is used to bear the tray, and the tray is rotatably connected to the vehicle frame; the magnet is disposed on a surface of the tray opposite to the material loading surface, and the magnet is connected to the electromagnet in an attraction way, and the elastically telescopic pieces and the tray, for maintaining the transportation state or resetting the tray after the unloading state.

A vehicle tilting device for tilting a delivery vehicle for increasing access to items from a storage container transported on the delivery vehicle. The vehicle tilting device comprises a base structure and a tiltable platform connected to the base structure, wherein the tiltable platform comprises guiding features adapted to guide the delivery vehicle onto the tiltable platform. The tiltable platform is arranged to be connected to a delivery grid cell of a delivery rail system such that that there is a path to and/or from the tiltable platform for the delivery vehicle via the delivery grid cell. The invention is also related to an access station, a delivery system and a method of accessing a storage container.

A layer-picking load-clamping and lifting assembly for mounting on a lift truck is capable of bidirectionally side-shifting a load-clamping assembly substantially straightly along a side-shifting length. The load clamping assembly has opposed clamp arms each selectively movable along a direction parallel to the side-shifting length so as to be selectively separable in a plurality of different possible relationships.

A layer-picking load-clamping and lifting assembly for mounting on a lift truck is capable of bidirectionally side-shifting a load-clamping assembly substantially straightly along a side-shifting length. The load clamping assembly has opposed clamp arms each selectively movable along a direction parallel to the side-shifting length so as to be selectively separable in a plurality of different possible relationships.

A method of operating an automated storage and retrieval system includes: a rail system including a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction, and a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, which first and second sets of rails form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane including a plurality of adjacent grid cells, a central control unit configured to receive, transmit and process data signals of a plurality of container handling vehicles for handling storage containers of the automated storage and retrieval system. Each container handling vehicle includes a vehicle body, a wheel assembly provided on the vehicle body, the wheel assembly being configured to move the vehicle along the rail system in both of the first direction and the second direction, a vehicle control unit configured to receive data signals from, transmit data signals to and process data signals of the central control unit, and a proximity sensor system configured to detect another container handling vehicle of said plurality of container handling vehicles and determine whether or not it is within a predetermined distance. The method includes detecting with the central control unit that access of a first container handling vehicle to a target cell, which is one of the plurality of grid cells, is blocked by a second container handling vehicle, transmitting a data signal from the central control unit to the vehicle control unit of the first container handling vehicle commanding the first container handling vehicle to move into the target cell when the second container handling vehicle is beyond said predetermined distance.

An automated storage and retrieval system comprising an automated storage and retrieval grid and a delivery system. The automated storage and retrieval grid includes a container handling vehicle rail system for guiding a plurality of container handling vehicles and a delivery column adapted for transport of a storage container arranged in a stack of storage containers beneath the container handling vehicle rail system between a container handling vehicle and a delivery port situated at a lower end of the delivery column. The container handling vehicle rail system includes a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction, and a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, which first and second sets of rails form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane including a plurality of adjacent container handling vehicle grid cells. Each container handling vehicle grid cell includes a container handling vehicle grid opening defined by a pair of neighboring rails of the first set of rails and a pair of neighboring rails of the second set of rails. The delivery system includes a remotely operated delivery vehicle including a container carrier adapted to support the storage container. The delivery vehicle is further adapted to transport the storage container between the delivery port and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator.