Automated warehouse with a laser targeting system

1. An automated warehouse ( 1 ) comprising:

a plurality of drawers ( 2 ), each drawer comprising a plurality of housing zones ( 3 ) each adapted to receive an item (A);

a support structure ( 4 ) comprising a plurality of housing seats ( 5 ), each of said housing seats being configured to receive a drawer ( 2 );

at least one access portion ( 6 ) operatively associated with said support structure ( 4 ), said access portion being configured to receive at least one drawer ( 2 ) and to allow one or more items to be taken and/or stored from and/or in said drawer arranged in the access portion ( 6 );

moving means associated with said support structure ( 4 ) and with said access portion ( 6 ), said moving means being configured to move a drawer ( 2 ) between a rest position wherein it is stored in a respective housing seat ( 5 ) of the support structure ( 4 ) and an access position wherein it is arranged in the access portion ( 6 ) and vice versa;

characterised in that said access portion ( 6 ) comprises a laser targeting system ( 8 ) configured to generate at least one point-like beam ( 9 ) and at least one linear beam ( 10 ) defining a localisation track ( 11 ) to identify an item or a housing zone in the drawer ( 2 ) arranged in the access portion ( 6 ),

and in that said automated warehouse ( 1 ) comprises a control unit operatively connected to at least said laser targeting system ( 8 ) and programmed to receive information on at least one item to be taken/stored and to control said laser targeting system ( 8 ) to position said localisation track ( 11 ) according to the item to be taken/stored,

wherein said linear beam ( 10 ) is a rectilinear beam and wherein each drawer ( 2 ) has a quadrangular perimeter plan and wherein said laser targeting system ( 8 ) is configured to generate a rectilinear beam extending parallel to one side of the drawer ( 2 ) arranged in the access portion ( 6 ).

2. An automated warehouse ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said control unit is programmed to control said laser targeting system ( 8 ) so as to modify the conformation and/or length and/or position of said linear beam ( 10 ) with respect to said point-like beam ( 9 ) according to the item (A) to be taken/stored.

3. An automated warehouse ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said control unit is programmed to control said laser targeting system ( 8 ) so as to modify the orientation of said linear beam ( 10 ) with respect to the drawer ( 2 ) arranged in the access portion ( 6 ) according to the item (A) to be taken/stored.

4. An automated warehouse ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said laser targeting system ( 8 ) is configured to generate a linear beam ( 10 ) having a pre-defined conformation and/or length and/or position with respect to said point-like beam ( 9 ).

5. An automated warehouse ( 1 ) according to claim 4 , wherein said laser targeting system ( 8 ) is configured to generate a linear beam ( 10 ) passing through said point-like beam ( 9 ).

6. An automated warehouse ( 1 ) according to claim 5 , wherein said laser targeting system ( 8 ) is configured to generate a point-like beam ( 9 ) arranged in the middle of said linear beam ( 10 ).

7. An automated warehouse ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said laser targeting system ( 8 ) is configured to generate a linear beam ( 10 ) having a shorter length (L) than a dimension of the plan area of a drawer ( 2 ).

8. An automated warehouse ( 1 ) according to claim 7 , wherein said laser targeting system ( 8 ) comprises:

first motor means ( 12 ) for shifting said point-like beam ( 9 ) and/or said linear beam ( 10 ) in a direction (K-K) orthogonal to the linear beam;

second motor means ( 13 ) for shifting said point-like beam ( 9 ) and/or said linear beam ( 10 ) in a direction (H-H) parallel to the linear beam ( 10 ).

9. An automated warehouse ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said laser targeting system ( 8 ) is configured to generate a linear beam ( 10 ) having a longer length (L) than a dimension of the plan area of a drawer ( 2 ).

10. An automated warehouse ( 1 ) according to claim 9 , wherein said laser targeting system ( 8 ) comprises:

first motor means ( 12 ) for shifting said point-like beam ( 9 ) and/or said linear beam ( 10 ) in a direction (K-K) orthogonal to the linear beam ( 10 );

second motor means ( 13 ) for shifting said point-like beam ( 9 ) along a direction (H-H) parallel to said linear beam ( 10 ).

11. A method of managing an automated warehouse ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , comprising:

setting in said control unit the information related to at least one item (A) to be taken/stored;

moving the drawer ( 2 ) associated with said information from the rest position to the access position;

generating/positioning at least one point-like beam ( 9 ) and at least one linear beam ( 10 ) defining a localisation track ( 11 ) to identify an item (A) or a housing zone ( 3 ) in the drawer ( 2 ) arranged in the access portion ( 6 );

taking/storing said item (A) at the localisation track ( 11 ).

12. A method according to claim 11 comprising controlling said laser targeting system ( 8 ) so as to modify the conformation and/or length and/or position of said linear beam ( 10 ) with respect to said point-like beam ( 9 ) according to the item (A) to be taken/stored.

13. A method according to claim 11 comprising controlling said laser targeting system ( 8 ) so as to modify the orientation of said linear beam ( 10 ) with respect to the drawer ( 2 ) arranged in the access portion ( 6 ) according to the item (A) to be taken/stored.