Disclosed is an accumulation device, for accumulating products conveyed within an industrial treatment line, including a set of horizontal trays, arranged in a tray zone as a vertical stack, further including a manipulator, such as a robot, for transferring products between a substantially horizontal closed belt type conveyor and the uppermost tray of the bottom portion of the stack. The trays are movable in the vertical direction, at least in order to bring at a predetermined height the tray to be loaded or unloaded. Also disclosed is a corresponding conveying installation and method.

A method for storing cardboard tubes (2) in a storing unit according to the present invention comprising the following steps: providing a storage unit with an input section for the tubes (2), a storage section (AC) comprising a plurality of storing planes (13), an output section for the tubes (2), transfer means (3) for transferring the tubes (2) from the input section to the storage section, and discharge means for conveying the tubes (2) from the storing section to the output section; providing a plurality of cardboard tubes (2) in the input section (E) of said storage unit; transferring the tubes (2) from the input section of the storage unit to the storage section; storing a plurality of tubes (2) in said storage section (AC); transferring the tubes (2) from said storage section (AC) to said output section. The step of transferring the tubes (2) from said input section to said storage section involves more tubes (2) simultaneously, whereby a plurality of tubes (2) are transferred from said input section simultaneously on a plurality of storing planes (13) of the storage section (AC).

A storage device for stackable containers for conveying items, in particular items of luggage in a sorting conveyor system in an airport, includes a lifting conveyor with a container receiving device which can be guided between upper and lower conveying planes for storing at least one container. A conveyor is disposed in the upper conveyor plane for guiding storage containers to a transfer position and a discharge conveyor is disposed in the upper conveyor plane for discharging stored containers from a transfer position. A moving device moves a container from the transfer position to the empty container receiving device or to a container placed on the uppermost part of the container receiving device and moves the most upper container placed on the container receiving device to the transfer position. As a result, empty containers can be received, housed and guided back in a simple and cost effective manner.

A storage facility for the storage of stackable goods, especially stackable postal item containers, includes at least one storage device and at least one stacking device. The at least one storage device includes storage locations. At least one of the storage locations is configured to receive at least two items of goods stacked on top of one another. A mechanism is configured to move the at least one storage location and/or a further storage location within the storage facility, and the at least one stacking device is configured to stack one or more of the items of goods into the at least one storage location from below and/or unstack one or more of the items of goods from the at least one storage location from below. A method for storing stackable goods, especially stackable postal item containers, is also provided.

A method for storing cardboard tubes (2) in a storing unit according to the present invention comprising the following steps: providing a storage unit with an input section for the tubes (2), a storage section (AC) comprising a plurality of storing planes (13), an output section for the tubes (2), transfer means (3) for transferring the tubes (2) from the input section to the storage section, and discharge means for conveying the tubes (2) from the storing section to the output section; providing a plurality of cardboard tubes (2) in the input section (E) of said storage unit; transferring the tubes (2) from the input section of the storage unit to the storage section; storing a plurality of tubes (2) in said storage section (AC); transferring the tubes (2) from said storage section (AC) to said output section. The step of transferring the tubes (2) from said input section to said storage section involves more tubes (2) simultaneously, whereby a plurality of tubes (2) are transferred from said input section simultaneously on a plurality of storing planes (13) of the storage section (AC).

A method for storing semi-finished articles including providing a tray including a plurality of compartments, withdrawing a first batch of semi-finished articles from a production path of finished articles in an intermediate stage of production process of finished articles, depositing the first batch of semi-finished articles on the tray, the semi-finished articles occupying at least part of a respective compartment, the semi-finished articles of the first batch being aligned along a first direction when housed in the respective compartment, subsequent storing the tray in a storage bay, withdrawing a first set of semi-finished articles from the respective compartment while keeping the semi-finished articles aligned along the first direction and reintroducing the first set of semi-finished articles into the production path, completing a production of finished articles starting from the semi-finished articles reintroduced into the production path.