A flight conveyor for conveying articles while preventing injuries to an operator, the flight conveyor comprising a frame defining a trough, a drive system defining a rotating pathway and at least one flight driven by the drive system along the rotating pathway for conveying the articles through the trough, wherein the at least one flight is detachably fastened to the drive system and configured to be detached when subjected to a resistive force capable of injuring an operator.

A tool-holding arm includes a plurality of links and a tool coupling that removably secures a tool to the tool-holding arm. A first fluid spring provides a gravity-counteracting force to the tool-holding arm. A locking mechanism selectively locks the first fluid spring. An adjustment mechanism selectively adjusts an amount of the gravity-counteracting force provided by the first fluid spring.

A method handles malfunctioning vehicles on a track system constituting part of a storage and retrieval system configured to store a plurality of stacks of storage containers. The track system forms a grid pattern of adjacent cells. The storage and retrieval system includes a plurality of remotely operated vehicles configured to move laterally on the track system, wherein each of the plurality of remotely operated vehicles comprises driving wheels, and a control system for monitoring and controlling wirelessly movements of the plurality of remotely operated vehicles. The control system performs at least the following steps by wireless data communication: detecting an anomaly in an operational condition of a vehicle on the track system, registering the vehicle with the anomalous operational condition as a malfunctioning vehicle, registering a halt position of the malfunctioning vehicle relative to the supporting track system, and setting up a two-dimensional shutdown zone on the track system. The setting up a two-dimensional shutdown zone on the track system includes a malfunctioning vehicle zone including the halt position of the malfunctioning vehicle, and an entrance zone for entry into the malfunctioning vehicle zone. The entrance zone extends between the malfunctioning vehicle zone and a location at a periphery of the track system. The control system further performs ordering the remotely operated vehicles in operation within the shutdown zone to either move out of the shutdown zone, a halt or a combination thereof, and indicating allowance of entry into the entrance zone for an external operator by at least one of: unlocking a gateway at the periphery, and producing an entry-allowed signal registrable by a human operator located at the periphery such that the human operator may enter the entrance zone through the gateway.

The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for controlling a warehousing system, a guard door, and a warehousing system. The method includes: obtaining a door-opening-request signal of a guard door, and determining a target region corresponding to the guard door; determining that a state of a first goods-carrying tool in the target region is a non-operating state; and controlling a state of the guard door to be an open state. The safety of the target region where a user enters is ensured. In addition, the state of the goods-carrying tool in the target region corresponding to the guard door is controlled to be a non-operating state and a goods-carrying tool in a non-target region is kept to operate normally, and therefore, when compared with the related art of stopping all goods-carrying tools, the warehousing efficiency is improved and a hardware loss caused to the goods-carrying tool due to repeated starting and stopping is reduced.

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 service vehicle provides a platform for servicing a container handling vehicle while on a grid-based rail system of a three-dimensional storage grid of an automated storage system for storing storage containers. The service vehicle includes two or more wheel modules. Each module having a first set of wheels configured to move the vehicle along a first lateral direction of the grid-based rail system and a second set of wheels configured to move the vehicle along a second lateral direction of the grid-based rail system. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. A platform is mounted on the two or more wheel modules. The platform includes an enclosure that has at least one opening that can be closed by a barrier. The platform has a set of tracks matching the width of the tracks on the grid.

A device for a shelf system for load carriers for securing a shuttle before leaving its running rail at the end of an aisle of the shelf system, wherein the device comprises a retaining element, the retaining element having a flexible element. A shelf system and a shuttle are also provided.

A storage rack assembly includes a base steel structure which is interchangeably connected to the storage rack above. The base steel structure assembly is compromised of structural material with bolted connections which allow for the replacement or changing of damaged material due to accidental forklift contact all while the above storage system stays in place.

A conveyor for transporting and elevating articles and a method and system for conveying articles up inclines is provided. The conveyor has a conveyor belt and at least one cleat disposed on an outer surface of the belt and configured to receive and move an object along the conveyor frame. The system may also include a portable base having a base frame and at least one wheel secured to the base frame. The conveyor may also be pivotably coupled to the portable base.

A linear motor system, which is in particular a transport system and, for example, a multi-carrier system, includes a guide track having a plurality of electromagnets arranged distributed along the guide track; and at least one carrier that is guided by and movable along the guide track and that has a drive magnet for cooperating with the electromagnets to move the carrier. The linear motor system furthermore has at least one coupling element and at least one securing structure that extends along the guide track and that is held by the coupling element. The coupling element couples the securing structure to the carrier.