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.

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.

Systems and methods are provided for conveyor operation and maintenance that employ one or both of a “smart shoe” technology where one or more conveyor shoes incorporate features, such as an RFID tag, and a “missing pin detection” technology where one or more pin components of conveyor shoes incorporate features, such as an RFID tag, allowing selective wireless tracking and identification capability. A conveyor system comprises a shoe management system allowing interactions directly with one or more RFID readers, which can detect, store and/or monitor information associated with “smart shoe” and/or “missing pin detection” RFID tags, where interface between this application and the reader can be implemented via a socket interface. An open platform communications (OPC) wrapper can be created around the interface so that a Human Machine Interface (HMI) could interact directly with shoe management system.

A method in which a probability of the occurrence of a disruption is issued and/or a measure is initiated which reduces the probability of the occurrence of this disruption if the occurrence of a disruption is probable, bases the probability on unit load properties of a conveyed unit load. In this method, the transport of this unit load is classified with regard to whether or not a disruption occurs during the transport of this unit load. The unit load properties are fed into a learning algorithm together with the transport classification. By repeating the steps for a number of unit loads, the probability of the occurrence of a disruption during the transport of the unit loads can be computed. Further, a picking system carries out the method presented.

A method in which a probability of the occurrence of a disruption is issued and/or a measure is initiated which reduces the probability of the occurrence of this disruption if the occurrence of a disruption is probable, bases the probability on unit load properties of a conveyed unit load. In this method, the transport of this unit load is classified with regard to whether or not a disruption occurs during the transport of this unit load. The unit load properties are fed into a learning algorithm together with the transport classification. By repeating the steps for a number of unit loads, the probability of the occurrence of a disruption during the transport of the unit loads can be computed. Further, a picking system carries out the method presented.

The invention relates to idler diagnosis systems on conveyors, comprising a rail system as a track for suitable running gears and the running gear, the rail system being formed from a closed profile or tube. The rail system comprises a multi-part track holder arranged on the belt frame, a fixing rod and a running rail, the track holder being suitable for accommodating the running rail at at least one end by insertion, thus creating a track without cross-section differences. The running gear has at least one two-roller system as a guide and drive system, and at least one chassis that accommodates and connects the two roller systems and has connection options for sensor-system carriers and/or energy control module. The guide system encloses the track so only one movement (forwards/backwards) along the track is provided. The drive system moves the chassis and all the connected systems with respect to the track.

The invention relates to idler diagnosis systems on conveyors, comprising a rail system as a track for suitable running gears and the running gear, the rail system being formed from a closed profile or tube. The rail system comprises a multi-part track holder arranged on the belt frame, a fixing rod and a running rail, the track holder being suitable for accommodating the running rail at at least one end by insertion, thus creating a track without cross-section differences. The running gear has at least one two-roller system as a guide and drive system, and at least one chassis that accommodates and connects the two roller systems and has connection options for sensor-system carriers and/or energy control module. The guide system encloses the track so only one movement (forwards/backwards) along the track is provided. The drive system moves the chassis and all the connected systems with respect to the track.

A system and method for conveyor configuration and testing. The system is configured to execute the method, which includes: receive input data relating to configuration of a conveyor system; prepare a simulation of the configured conveyor system; operate the simulation of the conveyor system; determine at least one operational parameter related to the conveyor system to be monitored; monitor the at least one operational parameter during operation of the simulation of the conveyor system; determine if the configuration of the conveyor system needs to be adjusted based on the monitored operational parameter; if the configuration needs to be adjusted, automatically make an adjustment and return to operate the simulation of the conveyor system; and continue the simulation until otherwise terminated. In some cases, the monitoring operational parameters uses a machine learning model based on actual data from operating conveyors.

A system and method for conveyor configuration and testing. The system is configured to execute the method, which includes: receive input data relating to configuration of a conveyor system; prepare a simulation of the configured conveyor system; operate the simulation of the conveyor system; determine at least one operational parameter related to the conveyor system to be monitored; monitor the at least one operational parameter during operation of the simulation of the conveyor system; determine if the configuration of the conveyor system needs to be adjusted based on the monitored operational parameter; if the configuration needs to be adjusted, automatically make an adjustment and return to operate the simulation of the conveyor system; and continue the simulation until otherwise terminated. In some cases, the monitoring operational parameters uses a machine learning model based on actual data from operating conveyors.

A tray-type component supply device includes an exchanging table configured to lift and lowered between an upper position and a lower position, a conveyance section configured to receive a tray from the exchanging table and convey the tray, and a control section configured to receive a detection signal from the detection sensor and cause the driving section to operate the exchanging table, the control section including an abnormality detecting section configured to detect an abnormal state in which a height position of the exchanging table becomes unidentified, a retraction operating section configured to cause the exchanging table to move to the retraction position at a low speed when the abnormal state is detected, and a calibration and restoration section configured to calibrate the height position of the exchanging table to restore a normal state.