The vibration feeder has a drive unit (4) comprising a vibration drive (10), a carrier arrangement (5) comprising a feeding element for the material to be conveyed and a control (26) for the vibration drive (10), wherein an acceleration sensor (27) is arranged on the drive unit (10), which when the vibration feeder (25) is operating, detects the actual acceleration of the drive unit (4), and wherein the control (26) is configured to use the actual acceleration signal of the acceleration sensor (26) for generating a regulating variable for the vibration drive (10) such that the carrier arrangement (5) vibrates essentially within its resonance frequency (f.sub.res). This makes it possible, during operation, to detect the acceleration of a drive unit (4) of the vibration feeder (25) and to generate therefrom a regulating variable for a vibration drive (10) such that a carrier arrangement (5) of the vibration feeder (25) vibrates closer to its resonance frequency (f.sub.res) or is brought back again to the same. In addition the inventive control (28) may be used to also regulate the amplitude of the carrier arrangement (4) and the associated mass flow {dot over (m)} to a required value.

A recycling kiosk for vaping devices includes a digital link for accessing digital data from a vaping device; at least two storing compartments for storing of vaping devices of different conditions; wherein the recycling kiosk is arranged to store vaping devices in the respective storing compartment based on the digital data accessed from the vaping device. A method for accepting a vaping device by a recycling kiosk is also provided.

A stacker crane, which retrieves cases from shelves and conveys the same, includes a traveling cart, a mast, a lift platform, a slide fork, and a cover. The cover is made of a flame retardant or non-inflammable material, and is supported in a detachable manner so as to move toward the top surface of the slide fork.

A fire extinguishing robotic service device is described for use with a robotic picking system grid. The fire extinguishing robotic service device is configured for driving to any location on the grid in order to extinguish a fire. The service device may also be provided with a camera sensor to locate the fire.

Systems and methods of the invention relate to managing an inventory of items within a storage container. A storage container can house one or more items for distribution among one or more users such as, for instance, employees. The storage container discussed herein provides authentication of a user, tracking of the inventory each user removes or returns, video/image capture of user during access of the storage container, wireless tracking of items housed within the storage container, among others. The storage container can provide flame retardant protection and/or electrical isolation to one or more items located within the storage container.

A storage system is disclosed where goods can be stored in containers and the containers are stored in stacks. Above the stacks runs a grid network of rails (e.g., tracks) on which load handling devices can run. To take containers from the stacks and deposit then at alternative locations in the stacks or deposit then at stations where goods may be picked. The framework may be provided with one or more of the following exemplary services: power, power control, heating, lighting, cooling, sensors, and data logging devices. The provision of these services within the framework rather than across the system as a whole, can allow for flexibility in storage whilst reducing cost and inefficiency.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes: a storage grid having storage columns arranged in rows, in which storage containers are stacked one on top of another; a rail system having 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 orthogonal to the first direction, which first and second sets of rails form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane having a plurality of adjacent grid cells; at least one container handling vehicle configured to move on the rail system, including a wheel arrangement configured to guide the at least one storage container vehicle along the rail system in at least one of the first direction and the second direction; and a service vehicle for movement on the rail system.

The invention concerns a service vehicle (2) for movement on a rail system (108). The service vehicle (2) comprises a container vehicle handling part (8) for mechanical interacting with a container handling vehicle (300) operating on the rail system (108), an operational part (3) for controlling operations of the service vehicle (2) and caterpillar tracks (6) for allowing movement of the service vehicle (2) on the rail system (108) during operation.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes an isolating housing having walls and a roof, one or more openable and closable housing openings or hatches arranged in the roof of the isolating housing, a rail system arranged above the roof, a storage tower arranged inside the isolating housing, and an automated control system. The isolating housing is arranged to isolate goods stored within the isolating housing from an outside environment. The goods are stored in storage containers. One or more wheeled container handling vehicles may travel upon the rail system. The container handling vehicles include a lifting device for lifting and lowering containers. The rail system is at least arranged such that a container handling vehicle may be positioned with its lifting device positioned above a hatch. The storage tower is accessible to the container handling vehicle or vehicles though a hatch. The storage tower includes a plurality of vertically stacked container supports, a displacement device for horizontally moving container supports in order to align the opening of vertically adjacent container supports to form a tower port beneath a hatch, and a displacement device for horizontally moving a target container support in order to position a target container at the bottom of the tower port. The container supports are in the form of horizontally movable shelves upon which may rest a plurality of storage containers. The container supports have a lateral width corresponding to a plurality of container spaces and a longitudinal length corresponding to a plurality of container spaces, thereby defining a plurality of lateral rows of container spaces. One or more of the container spaces of a lateral row is an opening corresponding in size to a storage container such that storage containers may pass therethrough. The container handling vehicle may lower its lifting device though the hatch, down the tower port, and access the target container.

A storage shelf includes: a main frame; a plurality of shelf modules each having a base plate detachably provided on the main frame, and a supply nozzle provided on the base plate; a main pipe through which purge gas supplied from a supply source flows, and a first branch provided in the main pipe and branches a flow path from the main pipe, in which the shelf modules are each provided with a mass flow controller configured to adjust the flow rate of the purge gas supplied to the supply nozzle, the first branch is connected to a module pipe via an open/close valve that opens/closes the flow path, and the mass flow controller is connected to the module pipe.