The present invention provides a storage system (1) comprising a storage grid structure (104) and multiple container handling vehicles (200,300), the storage grid structure comprises vertical column profiles (102) defining multiple storage columns (105), in which storage containers (106) can be stored one on top of another in vertical stacks (107), and at least one transfer column (119,120), the column profiles are interconnected at their upper ends by top rails (110,111) forming a horizontal top rail grid (108) upon which the container handling vehicles (200,300) may move in two perpendicular directions, the container handling vehicles are able to retrieve storage containers (106) from, and store storage containers in, the storage columns (105), and transport the storage containers on the storage grid structure, wherein the storage grid structure (104) comprises at least one horizontal transfer section (2); and the storage system comprises multiple container transfer vehicles (6) and transfer rails (110′,111) forming a transfer rail grid (5) upon which the container transfer vehicles (6) may move in at least one horizontal direction, and the transfer section (2) is arranged at a level below the top rail grid (108) and extends from an external side (12) of the storage grid structure (104) to a position below the at least one transfer column (119,120) and comprises at least a section of the transfer rail grid (5) upon which section the container transfer vehicles (6) may pass each other and move in two perpendicular horizontal directions; and each of the container transfer vehicles comprises a container carrier (38) for carrying a storage container (106) and a wheel arrangement (32a,32b) for moving the container transfer vehicle (6) in two perpendicular directions upon the transfer rail grid (5); and wherein the at least one transfer column (119,120) extends from the top rail grid (108) to the transfer section (2), such that a storage container (106) may be transferred between the top rail grid (108) and the container carrier of one of the container transfer vehicles (6).

An automated storage and retrieval system includes a storage grid for storage of storage containers and a delivery system for transport of said storage containers between a delivery port of the storage grid and an access point of the delivery system. The access point is adapted for handling of items held in the storage containers by a robotic operator or human operator. The delivery system includes a delivery rail system including at least a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane (P1) and extending in a first direction (X), and at least a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane (P1) and extending in a second direction (Y) which is orthogonal to the first direction (X), the first and second sets of rails together defining a delivery grid of delivery grid cells, the access point, and a remotely operated delivery vehicle comprising a motorized vehicle body and a container carrier provided above the motorized vehicle body for carrying a storage container of the storage containers. The delivery vehicle is moveable on the delivery grid of the delivery rail system. The delivery grid provides one or more delivery grid cells for the remotely operated delivery vehicle at the access point as well as a plurality of delivery grid cells adjacent the one or more delivery grid cells of the access point, such that there is more than one path to and/or from the access point for the remotely operated delivery vehicle via the plurality of delivery grid cells. The remotely operated delivery vehicle is arranged to transport the storage container from the delivery port of the storage grid across the delivery grid to the access point and return the storage container to the delivery port for storage within the storage grid. The access point is provided in a container accessing station, said station being arranged for separating the robotic or human operator from the delivery rail system and the remotely operated delivery vehicle. The container accessing station comprises a cabinet comprising walls and a top cover supported thereon, wherein the items held in the storage container carried by a remotely operated delivery vehicle at the access point is reachable through an opening in the top cover.

A fermentation basket for placement in a fermentation tank during wine fermentation which includes a perforated bottom side, at least one perforated vertical side, an open top side having an upper edge with a circumference or perimeter, hoist handles, and forklift pocket legs. The basket is used in connection with a hoist bar that couples to a forklift rotating carriage and together enable manipulation and rotation of the fermentation basket, including lower the fermentation basket into, and raising out from, a fermentation tank, and rotating the fermentation basket to dump pomace after fermentation.

Production system for series production of in particular motor vehicles, includes a container storage area storing containers containing components for production, production shelves, remote from container storage area, from which workers remove components from containers. Transport for transporting containers from container storage area to production shelves. Transport has automated guided vehicle (AGV) on which transport shelf is situated and designed so containers are automatically delivered from transport shelf to production shelves in a conveying direction (delivery direction). Handling device situated on AGV, has a base body and a handling unit situated on base body. Handling unit removes containers from transport shelf in conveying direction and delivering containers to production shelf. Relative to base body, handling unit is linearly adjustable along first linear adjustment axis in conveying direction, along a second linear adjustment axis transverse to conveying direction, height-adjustable along a third adjustment axis, and rotatable about vertical fourth adjustment axis.

Production system for series production of in particular motor vehicles, includes a container storage area storing containers containing components for production, production shelves, remote from container storage area, from which workers remove components from containers. Transport for transporting containers from container storage area to production shelves. Transport has automated guided vehicle (AGV) on which transport shelf is situated and designed so containers are automatically delivered from transport shelf to production shelves in a conveying direction (delivery direction). Handling device situated on AGV, has a base body and a handling unit situated on base body. Handling unit removes containers from transport shelf in conveying direction and delivering containers to production shelf. Relative to base body, handling unit is linearly adjustable along first linear adjustment axis in conveying direction, along a second linear adjustment axis transverse to conveying direction, height-adjustable along a third adjustment axis, and rotatable about vertical fourth adjustment axis.

A controller obtains dumping area data indicative the shape of an edge of a dumping area. The controller obtains material data indicative the shape of material in the dumping area. The controller decides, based on the material data, a plurality of segments into which the material is divided. The controller decides dumping positions of the dumping work according to combinations of the plurality of segments and the plurality of dumping candidate positions.

A traveling robot includes: a traveling body including a truck and a drive unit, the truck including front and rear wheels and a floor frame, the drive unit being configured to rotate the wheels; a support mechanism configured to raise or lower a holding tool configured to support a mounting plate; and a picking robot configured to load a cargo onto the mounting plate or unload the cargo from the mounting plate. The drive unit is mounted on the floor frame, and the floor frame includes a projecting portion projecting forward from a portion on which the drive unit is mounted. The support mechanism is attached to a front end portion of the projecting portion. The picking robot is provided at the projecting portion, is arranged between the support mechanism and the drive unit in a front-rear direction, and is arranged on or behind an imaginary vertical line passing through a front axle.

Robotic systems can autonomously pick a particular desired item from a mixed inventory storage location that includes multiple differing types of items. The autonomous robotic system can thereby facilitate order fulfillment and inventory management processes in an efficient manner. In particular, the systems and methods described herein can greatly reduce the amount of time required for a human worker to pick orders. The systems described take over many of the tasks related to picking items. Accordingly, the efficiency of order picking processes, as measured by the number of line items picked per human labor hour for example, is greatly enhanced.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes a grid-based rail structure and a plurality of remotely operated vehicles arranged to operate on the grid-based rail structure. The automated storage and retrieval system includes a locking device arranged in a zone of the grid-based rail structure where a human and/or a robotic operator is permitted to interact with the remotely operated vehicle or contents of a storage container that the remotely operated vehicle is carrying. The locking device is arranged to lock the remotely operated vehicle against accidental displacement prior to interaction with the human and/or robotic operator, and wherein the locking device being arranged to unlock the remotely operated vehicle once interaction with the human and/or robotic operator is no longer required.

The present invention provides a storage system (1) comprising a storage grid structure (104) and multiple container handling vehicles (200,300), the storage grid structure comprises vertical column profiles (102) defining multiple storage columns (105), in which storage containers (106) can be stored one on top of another in vertical stacks (107), and at least one transfer column (119,120), the column profiles are interconnected at their upper ends by top rails (110,111) forming a horizontal top rail grid (108) upon which the container handling vehicles (200,300) may move in two perpendicular directions, the container handling vehicles are able to retrieve storage containers (106) from, and store storage containers in, the storage columns (105), and transport the storage containers on the storage grid structure, wherein the storage grid structure (104) comprises at least one horizontal transfer section (2); and the storage system comprises multiple container transfer vehicles (6) and a transfer floor (5) on which the container transfer vehicles (6) may move horizontally, and the transfer section (2) is arranged at a level below the top rail grid (108) and extends from an external side (12) of the storage grid structure (104) to a position below the at least one transfer column (119,120) and comprises at least a section of the transfer floor (5); and each of the container transfer vehicles comprises a container carrier (38) for carrying a storage container (106) and a wheel arrangement (32a,32b) for moving the container transfer vehicle (6) in at least two perpendicular directions on the transfer floor (5); and wherein the at least one transfer column (119,120) extends from the top rail grid (108) to the transfer section (2), such that a storage container (106) may be transferred between the top rail grid (108) and the container carrier of one of the container transfer vehicles (6).