Access station comprising safety mechanism

1 . An access station for presentation of a storage container from an automated storage and retrieval system to an operator at the access station, wherein the access station comprises:

an access module comprising a frame defining a drawer compartment provided within the frame and a front opening for allowing presentation of the storage container;

a drawer comprising a drawer base and a drawer front, wherein the drawer is movably connected to the frame and wherein the drawer base comprises a support on which the storage container can be supported;

a first actuator for moving the drawer relative to the frame between a presentation position in which the drawer is protruding through the front opening of the frame and a retracted position in which the drawer is retracted within the drawer compartment;

wherein the access station comprises a safety mechanism located above the front opening;

wherein the safety mechanism comprises:

a cover secured to the frame;

a safety plate movable relative to the cover between a non-activated position and an activated position;

a safety sensor for sensing the movement of the safety plate;

wherein the access station is configured to allow movement of the drawer relative to the frame when the safety sensor is sensing that the safety plate is in its non-activated position and wherein the access station is configured to stop or reverse the movement of the drawer relative to the frame when the safety sensor has sensed that the safety plate is in its activated position.

2 . The access station according to claim 1 , wherein the safety plate prevents the storage container from being retrieved from the drawer when the safety plate is in the non-activated position.

3 . The access station according to claim 1 , wherein the safety plate prevents the storage container from being retrieved from the drawer when the safety plate is in the activated position.

4 . The access station according to claim 1 , wherein the access station comprises a control system configured to control the first actuator based on signals from the safety sensor.

5 . The access station according to claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a guard defining an upper border of the front opening.

6 . The access station according to claim 5 , wherein the cover is at least partially forming the guard and wherein the safety mechanism is configured to trip in order to prevent an object from being squeezed between the drawer front and the guard during movement of the drawer from the presentation position to the retracted position.

7 . The access station according to claim 3 , wherein the safety plate is further movable relative to the cover to a container handling position when the drawer is in the presentation position; wherein the storage container may be retrieved from the drawer and/or the storage container may be inserted into the drawer when the safety plate is in the container handling position; and/or wherein the access station is configured to prevent movement of the drawer relative to the frame when the safety sensor has sensed that the safety plate is in the container handling position.

8 . The access station according to claim 1 , wherein the safety plate comprises a handle for manually moving the safety plate between the non-activated position and the activated position or for manually moving the safety plate between the non-activated position, the activated position and the container handling position.

9 . The access station according to claim 1 , wherein the access module comprises a top opening through which a storage container is retrievable from the drawer and through which a storage container is receivable by the drawer, and wherein the safety plate is at least partially obstructing the top opening in the activated position or in the container handling position.

10 . The access station according to claim 7 , wherein the safety mechanism comprises a releasable lock for preventing the safety plate to move to the container handling position, wherein the access station is configured to release the releasable lock if a predetermined condition is fulfilled.

11 . The access station according to claim 1 , wherein the safety plate is a rectangular, flat body slidably mounted to the cover.

12 . The access station according to claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises guides for guiding the safety plate relative to the cover.

13 . A method for preventing a drawer closure in an access station of an automated storage and retrieval system, wherein the access station of an automated storage and retrieval system comprises an access module comprising a frame defining a drawer compartment provided within the frame and a front opening for allowing presentation of a storage container; a drawer comprising a drawer base and a drawer front, wherein the drawer is movably connected to the frame and wherein the drawer base comprises a support on which the storage container can be supported; a first actuator for moving the drawer relative to the frame between a presentation position in which the drawer is protruding through the front opening of the frame and a retracted position in which the drawer is retracted within the drawer compartment; wherein the access station comprises a safety mechanism located above the front opening; wherein the safety mechanism comprises a cover secured to the frame; a safety plate movable relative to the cover between a non-activated position and an activated position; a safety sensor for sensing the movement of the safety plate; wherein the access station is configured to allow movement of the drawer relative to the frame when the safety sensor is sensing that the safety plate is in its non-activated position and wherein the access station is configured to stop or reverse the movement of the drawer relative to the frame when the safety sensor has sensed that the safety plate is in its activated position;

wherein the method comprises:

a) receiving a first storage container in the drawer when the drawer is in the retracted position within the access module;

b) moving the drawer to the presentation position in which the first storage container is presented to the operator;

c1) moving the drawer to the retracted position within the access module if a safety plate is maintained in the non-activated position; and/or

c2) stopping/reversing the movement of the drawer if the safety plate is moved to the activated position.

14 . A method for retrieving a storage container from or for supplying a storage container to an automated storage and retrieval system, wherein the method comprises:

a) moving a drawer from a retracted position within an access module to a presentation position;

b) moving a safety plate of a safety mechanism to a container handling position;

c) retrieving the storage container from the drawer or supplying the storage container to the drawer;

d) moving the safety plate to a non-activated position of the safety mechanism;

e) moving the drawer from the presentation position to the retracted position;

f) moving the storage container between the drawer and a storage column within the automated storage and retrieval system by a container handling vehicle.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein e) further comprises:

stopping or reversing the movement of the drawer from the presentation position to the retracted position if the safety plate is moved to an activated position.