A stacker includes a base and a vertical structure supported by the base. A lift unit includes a support surface for engaging and lifting a tray from a stack of trays. The lift unit is mounted to the vertical structure and movable vertically relative to the vertical structure. A lifting mechanism selectively raises and lowers the lift unit relative to the vertical structure. The support surface may be formed on first and second projections configured to engage first and second handle openings of a tray. The stacker facilitates several stacking/destacking methods for more easily converting a stack of trays at a first height to a stack of trays at a second height. For example, the first height may be more convenient or appropriate for use in a bakery, while the second height may be more efficient for loading in a truck.

A load planning platform may generate, according to one or more loading rules, a preliminary packing solution that simulates placing unpacked items, in a set of items, into a container. The load planning platform may generate a set of packing solutions by applying one or more available moves to the preliminary packing solution. The load planning platform may select a final packing solution from the set of packing solutions based on one or more optimization criteria associated with the container and the set of items. The load planning platform may provide access to a three-dimensional rendering of the final packing solution that differentiates each item in the set of items based on a sequence in which the set of items are to be unloaded from the container.

A load planning platform may generate, according to one or more loading rules, a preliminary packing solution that simulates placing unpacked items, in a set of items, into a container. The load planning platform may generate a set of packing solutions by applying one or more available moves to the preliminary packing solution. The load planning platform may select a final packing solution from the set of packing solutions based on one or more optimization criteria associated with the container and the set of items. The load planning platform may provide access to a three-dimensional rendering of the final packing solution that differentiates each item in the set of items based on a sequence in which the set of items are to be unloaded from the container.

State of the art automated bin packing systems fail to handle dynamic scenarios in which information on dimensions of objects to be loaded is not available in advance. These systems also fail to consider capabilities of robots used for the automated packing of objects/bins. The disclosure herein generally relates to automated bin packing, and, more particularly, to a system and method for autonomous multi-bin parcel loading system. The system handles an online object packing in which information on dimensions of objects to be loaded is not available in advance. The system is also configured to consider capabilities of one or more robots used for loading objects to containers, while generating recommendations for object packing.

A load planning platform generates a preliminary packing solution based on loading constraints for a three-dimensional container and parameters for a set of items to be loaded into the three-dimensional container, wherein the preliminary packing solution simulates placing unpacked items into the three-dimensional container according to one or more loading rules based on a sequence in which the set of items are to be unloaded from the three-dimensional container. The load planning platform generates a set of packing solutions by applying one or more available moves changing a simulated placement for one or more items in the set of items. The load planning platform selects a final packing solution from the set of packing solutions based on one or more optimization criteria and provides access to a three-dimensional rendering of the final packing solution and instructions for implementing the final packing solution.

A load planning platform generates a preliminary packing solution based on loading constraints for a three-dimensional container and parameters for a set of items to be loaded into the three-dimensional container, wherein the preliminary packing solution simulates placing unpacked items into the three-dimensional container according to one or more loading rules based on a sequence in which the set of items are to be unloaded from the three-dimensional container. The load planning platform generates a set of packing solutions by applying one or more available moves changing a simulated placement for one or more items in the set of items. The load planning platform selects a final packing solution from the set of packing solutions based on one or more optimization criteria and provides access to a three-dimensional rendering of the final packing solution and instructions for implementing the final packing solution.

In order, e.g., to improve distribution of baggage in an airport, a solution comprises positioning two or more empty totes above each other, so that the two or more empty totes are supported by a tote station by support members 206, determining, by a control system, when either a single empty tote should be released from the tote station or two or more empty totes should be released from the tote station together and at once, and in response to the determination releasing single empty totes from the tote station or releasing two or more empty totes on top of each other from the tote station. A lowermost 1604 of the two or more empty totes on top of each other supports one or more empty totes 1606 on top of it and the lowermost empty tote is, when released, supported by a support conveyor 204.

A stacker includes a base having a dolly-receiving area into which a dolly can be rolled. A vertical structure extends upward from the base. A pair of arms are pivotable toward and away from one another and toward and away from an area above the dolly-receiving area. The pair of arms are movable vertically relative to the vertical structure and are configured to engage containers supported on a dolly in the dolly-receiving area. In an alternate stacker, the pair of arms may be configured to revolve about an axis generally parallel to the arms and spaced away from the arms. In this manner the arms can dump the contents from a bin engaged by the arms.

A bundle builder and lifter assembly has a pair of parallel cross beams, and an actuator assembly for actuating the builder and lifter assembly. A pair of lift arms are moved along the parallel cross beams and each has a vertical portion and a horizontal portion forming a finger. The lift arms are also raised and lowered. A conveyor roller assembly is positioned above the lift arms and cross beams, where stacks of material are moved on the rollers of the conveyor assembly. The stacks of material are placed in a stack by the lift arms forming a bundle, which is then removed from the conveyor roller assembly.

A container processing facility (100) includes: a loading section (2) that receives a stacked container group (9) from a transport vehicle (60); an unloading section (3) that transfers a stacked container group (9) to the transport vehicle (60); a work station (80); an unstacking device (1A) that performs unstacking processing; a stacking device (1B) that performs stacking processing; a first conveyor device (41) that conveys the stacked container group (9) received from the transport vehicle (60) at the loading section (2) to the unstacking device (1A) and convey containers (90) sequentially separated from the stacked container group (9) by the unstacking device (1A) to the work station (80); and a second conveyor device (42) that conveys the containers (90) from the work station (80) to the stacking device (1B) and convey the stacked container group (9) generated by sequentially stacking the plurality of containers (90) at the stacking device (1B) to the unloading section (3).